Hoi An; Just For It's Personality

Hoi An is a beautiful little town set alongside the picturesque Hoai river which was South Vietnams trading hub during the 16th and 17th centuries. Filled with French, Dutch and Japanese influence it oozes colonial charm through old streets laced with fragrant flowers and shuttered shop fronts. The old streets of the town and some of the historical buildings are Unesco world heritage listed but after reading some reviews of the ‘culture tour’ ticket which allows entrance to the related sites, buildings and museums like the museum of ceramics which doesn’t exactly draw me in! I decide I’ll be better off just wandering and absorbing the wonderful atmosphere of the place. I seek out some of the listed sites, including the Japanese bridge and some old community meeting houses and viewing from the outside is aesthetically pleasing enough. The town has retained its trading roots and shops full of wonderful fabrics abound. There are hundreds of tailors ready to create the perfect suit, ball gown and garments fitted for you in a matter of days, even hours if you’re short on time! Of course there are many shops selling tourist souvenirs but they are beautifully crafted and much less tacky than the usual fare; lacquered wood bowls, vases, silk cushion covers and table runners are as abundant as the tailors and no doubt please numerous souvenir seekers.
At night the riverside is illuminated by many beautiful coloured lanterns which are hand crafted in the town creating a magical ambience. Combined with the free cultural dance and music performances which take place along the river bank this makes for a perfect evening to relax, enjoy some delicious local food and soak up Hoi An’s flavour.
All in all I loved Hoi An simply for it’s magical atmosphere and beautiful setting and would gladly spend a week enjoying its personality.