We spent days 80 through 88 in Hoi An, Vietnam. It is a beautiful port town on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. Hoi An is best known by tourists for its inexpensive hand-made-to-order clothing. We did not have any clothes made (long trip — small bags), but enjoyed our visit immensely. This was our first experience with the hot, tropical weather. By the third day we were convinced that waking up with the 5am town announcements over the loudspeaker outside the bedroom window was not the worst thing ever (we certainly thought so the first two mornings). Our daily routine turned into: up at daylight, back to the room for schoolwork and afternoon nap, then out again in the evening. I have divided the photos into three categories: the beach, the town, and the countryside.
The Beach
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- Running from the waves.
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- I am not sure where the ocean ends and the sky begins. We were drenched by a rainstorm on our way home from the beach this day. Stray dogs are everywhere in Vietnam. The ones we came in contact with were kind and gentle. Good thing, because Anna attempts to pet every dog she sees.
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- Fishermen coming to shore before the rain starts.
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- The beach was a couple hundred meters from our homestay. We studied under the palm trees a few mornings.
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- More studying to the sound of waves.
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- This is the first of many women who stealthily talked us into buying their many wares. A typical scenario: She approaches us with her heavy basket filled to the brim with small trinkets (hair pins, mirrors, cards, etc). She sets her basket down and asks us where we are from and about our family, then tells us about herself and family. We are now feeling like we made a new friend. Then she transitions into her basket of goods, “You look. You do not like. You do not buy. Just smile and I’ll be happy.” Well of course we buy — mostly because we now like you!!! This sales tactic worked on us over and over again. We finally decided to leave the beach area after the third woman (who can say no to the kind pregnant woman who can barely lift her basket and is earning money to keep her kids in school?) made her sale. We did learn about the Vietnamese culture while talking to these ladies. Over and over again we were told “One boy, one girl is lucky.” School is not free in Vietnam. Two children are encouraged in Vietnam, but if you do not have the lucky one boy and one girl, you can try for a third child. I am not sure if this is a government mandated policy or just widely practiced. Vietnamese women take extensive measures to cover themselves from the sun, as you can see in the photo. The temperature is at least 90 degrees and she has 3 long sleeve shirts on and all the coverings around her neck and face. White skin is considered beautiful. I told each woman that in America people with white skin sit in the sun to get darker. For the first time in my life, I was continually complimented on my pale, white skin.
The Town
Hoi An seems to be a bit of a haven for artists. The shops are full of fantastic local crafts.
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- Colorful boats waiting to transport people across the river.
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- Yellow buildings and colorful lanterns line the streets of Hoi An.
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- The Japanese Bridge
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- Fishing nets with beautiful old building as a backdrop.
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- Lanterns being made in a local shop.
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- Anna watching ladies hand-embroider wall hangings. Their fingers moved so fast– they put my feeble attempts to cross stitch to shame.
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- Anna followed this puppy into a local artist’s shop. The painter kindly offered to take a picture of Anna with the puppy. I wish the painting in the background would have fit in my bag.
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- Wood carver
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- Buddha
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- Full Moon Festival. We planned our stay around this night. On the night of the full moon, all exterior lights are extinguished and lanterns are lit and floated in the river.
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- Here is our boat! We are ready to float our lanterns
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- A magical experience.
The Countryside.
We biked around the area a few mornings. We did not get lost (like in China), but we did have to brave the unpredictable traffic. Biking around the countryside turned out to be my favorite activity in China and Vietnam. Life there is such a contrast to my regular life.
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- Fisherman in the river. Our restaurant sat riverside,so we watched the fishing process repeatedly. Nets are tossed over the side. The fisherman then slaps the water with a long bamboo pole (we guess to scare the fish into the net). Finally the net is pulled back into the boat to check for fish.
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- Picturesque
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- While we were biking, a local invited us (for a fee) on a tour of the coconut groves. Trang (our tour guide and the owner of Eco Green Tour) was so fun and informative. He (and his mom) sang songs, made us jewelry from coconut leaves, taught us to fish for crabs, talked with us about local culture, and gave us a history lesson. He said that the Vietcong hid in these groves for weeks while being bombed by Americans from above. The water is only a few feet deep (except for a few scattered bomb craters). The Vietcong survived off coconut and the crabs that live in the base of the trees.
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- Crowns made of coconut leaves.
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- Moving day. 🙂
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- Water Buffalo.
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- The roots of the coconut tree help stabilize the ground during the rainy season. They are planted along roadways, riverbanks, and oceanfronts to help protect buildings and infrastructure.
–KLaff
This looks like a wonderful place. The shoreline, palm trees, beautiful town, friendly people. I’m glad we have become friends with Vietnam.
The Vietnamese people are amazing. It is a credit to their resilience that a mere 40 years after over a century of war, they have chosen to look forward instead of dwelling on the past.