Hoi An

Hoi An’s uneven streets are lined with yellow stucco buildings whose chipped paint and decay add to the old town’s character and charm. Every other building is a tailor shop displaying the latest fashions and their ability to recreate almost any style to fit you. Custom-fit clothes designed to our liking were hard to turn down, so we didn’t. We both got fitted for winter jackets and suits—a small touch of reality for what’s to come in the next few months. We denied that fact, however, and enjoyed picking out fabrics, liners, and getting measured, which was also a nice escape from the blistering heat.
We wandered through the large covered market, which kept away the hot sun by draping torn cloths together. Hundreds of Vietnamese women sold everything from cultured pearls to dead (but fresh) fish to dragon fruit and underwear. The mixture of humidity and dried seafood stench made us gag and forced us to turn around and exit quickly, gasping for fresh air. French colonialism is most evident in Hoi An with an influence on the town’s architecture, cuisine and cafes that beckon the weary traveler. The shaded outdoor seating is perfect to escape the midday sun and enjoy a refreshing fruit shake or cocktail (it always seems to be happy hour somewhere). At night these cafes and quaint restaurants are decorated with large lanterns that provide dim, but colorful light and a relaxing ambiance. At any time of day, we enjoyed sitting on the balcony or patio to rest our feet and watch the world go by.

We took a half-day trip 35km outside of Hoi An to visit My Son (mee-sun). These Cham empire ruins date back to the 7th century. Though some areas were damaged from bombs during the war, there are still remnants of the ancient lifestyle with red brick temples, religious statues, and intricate stone carvings.