Just south of Da Nang lies the magical little yellow town of Hoi An. It is a coastal town that lies on the mouth of the Thu Bon River. Despite having beautiful beaches and unique countryside villages, it is the unique Ancient Town that will make you fall in love with Hoi An.
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| Photo by Huy Le |
Walking through the narrow streets, you will find rows and rows of shop houses, typically two-story establishments with homes on the top floor and shops on the ground floor, as well as Chinese-tiled roofs and colorful lanterns hanging from rusty ceilings. You will see men on rickshaws peddling with curious tourists along the alleyways and little local ladies in their traditional ao ba ba, or “street pajamas,” and non la, a “Vietnamese conical hat,” selling bright-colored vegetables, little trinkets, or local delights in baskets skillfully balanced on their shoulders on a bamboo pole.
It all blends so perfectly well together that the Hoi An Ancient Town somewhat resembles an outdoor art gallery that is extremely photogenic and effortlessly alluring.
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| Photo by Blowing Puffer Fish |
A striking detail is that many of the buildings in the town are bathed in a distinctive golden-yellow hue. It is like the city is always wrapped in sunshine. There are three reasons as to why this could be. People in this region of the world believe that yellow is a symbol of royalty and superiority, and thus, they paint significant architectural monuments in various shades of yellow. Also, yellow symbolizes luck, pride, and prosperity to the Vietnamese.
The final reason is a little more practical: yellow absorbs less heat and thus, it is better suited to Vietnam’s hot and humid tropical weather.
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| Photo by TassLa |
The Hoi An sunrise is particularly charming-the sunlight illuminates the yellow walls, and the whole city begins to wake up from its slumber. You will hear the sounds of brooms sweeping houses and streets, birds chirping excitedly, bells on bicycles ringing, vendors setting up their stalls for the day, and the laughter of school children as they greet their friends during breakfast.
Grabbing a banh mi, or “baguette sandwich,” as breakfast, and a Vietnamese coffee on the sidewalk, both adding up to a little over a dollar, will fill you up for the rest of your walk.
Hoi An will undoubtedly leave an imprint in your memory, with its gentle demeanor and poetic charm. It will be one of those places you will return to in the future that remains exactly the same as you remember it. It’s a place like no other in this world.