The ancient town of Hoi An is a well preserved trading port dating back from the 15th century. The moment you enter the center of town, (also known as the Old Quarter) you feel as if you have stepped foot in a completely different decade!  The streets are lined with charming, french colonial buildings with vibrant florals that have made their way up the walls. Lanterns hang overhead and stone sidewalks pave the path to a variety of shops.  The shopping in Hoi An is AMAZING!  Very different than most cities we have visited in Vietnam.  You will find your typical souvenir shop here & there, but the vast majority of shops on the streets of Hoi An are more modern with an upscale feel.  This city will make ANYONE in the shopping mood!  As a natural born shopper, I took advantage of all the unique boutiques & custom tailors and spent my fair share of Vietnamese Dongs here!!

When the sun sets, the river that runs through the old quarter becomes the main attraction. Wooden row boats float down the river while tourists release paper lanterns into the glowing water. By the end of the night the river is filled with colorful candlelit lanterns…It’s very romantic really 🙂  I loved Hoi An at night. 

The aged stone walls, hanging lanterns and endless boutiques made this town easily one of my favorite stops throughout our trip.  I could go on and on about this town but words don’t do this charming place justice.  

During our stay in Hoi An we took part in an authentic Vietnamese cooking class where we did everything from shop for our ingredients at the local market, to learning the steps to cook a 4 course Vietnamese meal.  This was by far our FAVORITE excursion that we have done.  We not only gained knowledge in cooking the local cuisine, but also the Vietnamese culture.

More to come on our last stop in Vietnam!

Until then…một hai ba yo!  or one, two, three…cheers!

xo Brittany