Caption: Hoi An Ancient Town in the evening
What does it look like for a city to be named one of the "50 Places to Visit in Life" by National Geographic?
A unique ancient city of world cultural heritage, bright French-style street buildings, street coffee no more than 10 yuan, colorful satin lanterns of different colors...... This city is Hoi An, and when you are in it, you feel like you are in a bright Nanyang dream.
Caption: Lantern boats on the Thu Bon River
World Heritage Ancient Town: Hoi An
Hoi An is a city in south-central Viet Nam, 30 kilometers from Da Nang, on the seashore, formerly the foreign trade port of the Champa country, known as "Dazhan Haikou" in ancient times. As early as the 17th century, it became the most important trading port in Southeast Asia along with Malacca.
Caption: Bicycles are the main means of transportation in the ancient town
If you are traveling by plane, you need to arrive in Da Nang first, and then drive 40 minutes from Da Nang to get there. Although the traffic is slightly inconvenient, it does not affect the love of tourists from all over the world for this seaside city. During this year's Spring Festival, Hoi An received nearly 362,000 tourists, most of whom came from Europe, United States and Korea, while the proportion of Chinese tourists was relatively small.
Many of the ancient buildings in Hoi An Ancient Town are very similar to the style of ancient towns in southern China. Hoi An is the earliest Chinatown in Viet Nam, and in the 17th century, many Chinese engaged in business first established themselves in Hoi An after arriving in Viet Nam. Gradually, some Chinese will choose to settle down here. Today, there are still many older generations in Hoi An who speak Chinese and take the initiative to chat a few words when they meet Chinese tourists asking for directions or asking about local historical stories.
Caption: Chinese guild hall and ancient Chinese architecture
Caption: Chinese guild hall and ancient Chinese architecture
Caption: Chinese guild hall and ancient Chinese architecture
Because of this, Chinese-style architecture can be seen everywhere in Hoi An. The Chinese guild halls are particularly eye-catching because of their traditional architectural features, including the Hokkien Association, the Kwong Siu Association, the Chaozhou Association, the Qiongfu Association, and the Chung Hwa Association as the Five Gangs Association, as well as the Emperor's Temple, the Buddhist Temple, and the ancestral halls of each surname.
Since they have not been damaged by the war or demolished for the construction of high-rise buildings, these ancient buildings are very well preserved.
Caption: The sign of the ancient town
Caption: Cafes and handicraft shops in the old town
Caption: Cafes and handicraft shops in the old town
In addition to Chinese-style architecture, Hoi An Ancient Town also has Japanese, French and Viet Nam style buildings, the layout of the streets in all directions, a variety of bars and coffee shops, different styles of Ao Dai clothing stores, characteristic local craft shops, etc., which not only blend the simple and elegant style, but also integrate the life atmosphere of the locals, making people feel like they are in a Nanyang dream.
Caption: The buildings in the ancient town do not exceed 3 floors, and many of them are century-old houses
Caption: The buildings in the ancient town do not exceed 3 floors, and many of them are century-old houses
The most beautiful time of the day is probably from dusk. On the Autumn Bon River, the sky is colored by the sunset, spreading from a warm orange yellow to a quiet deep blue. The afterglow of the sun faded and was replaced by the candlelight of colorful lanterns. The daytime dormant ships began to wake up, and the boatmen hung lanterns to beckon passers-by to come and take the boat. Grandma on the side of the road lit a candle and carefully placed it in the lantern. A lantern carries a good wish, swaying into the distance with the water of the Qiubin River.
The romance of Hoi An has no end.
Caption: As night approaches, the boats on the Thu Bon River are busy
Caption: 3 RMB per lantern
Caption: All kinds of lanterns, mostly made of silk
Top beer consumers in Southeast Asia:
With a population of less than 100 million, it is the largest beer consumer in Southeast Asia
Due to the perennial high temperatures, Viet Nam are very fond of cold beer. Although it has a population of less than 100 million, Viet Nam ranks ninth in the world in beer consumption, with a per capita consumption of 32 liters in 2023, ranking first among Southeast Asian countries.
Photo note: Saigon Beer is the first brewery in Viet Nam's history
Why do Viet Nam drink beer so much? This dates back to the time when Viet Nam was colonized by France. In 1875, France Victor Larue founded the first microbrewery in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City), but it was not large at the time. It was not until 1977 that it was expanded, and it was officially established under the name Saigon Brewery, and after 39 years of development, it was successfully launched in 2016. Bia Saigon is also one of the oldest beer brands in Viet Nam.
Caption: A bowl of noodles + a cup of beer is the standard daily meal for Viet Nam
The second brewery was founded by France colonists in 1890 as Hommel Brewery, which was renamed Habeco after the Viet Nam government took over and the beer was called Bia Hanoi.
Saigon Beer and Hanoi Beer are named after the most famous cities at the time. Due to geographical factors, northerners are more accustomed to drinking Hanoi beer, while southerners are more accustomed to drinking Saigon beer. In the middle, Hue's own Huda and Festival beers are not as well-known as the first two.
Caption: In addition to local brands, international brand beers also have high sales in Viet Nam
The overall price in Viet Nam is relatively low, and beer is no exception, with an average price of 3-5 yuan per bottle, which can be bought at convenience stores or roadside stalls. Viet Nam are accustomed to pouring wine into a glass and drinking it with ice, on the one hand, to relieve the heat, on the other hand, to drink it longer, so the taste of Viet Nam's local beer is generally heavy.
Hanoi beer has an alcohol content of about 4.6%, which is high in concentration and is diluted when ice cubes are added. Hue beer has a strong flavor and can drink the aroma of malt. Saigon beer has an alcohol content of 4.9% and is brewed with rice on top of water, malt and hops, so you can taste a very light rice aroma in the aftertaste. In addition to Saigon beer, there is also the famous 333 in the south, which many tourists will look for, which is more malty, but mild, with an alcohol content of 5.3%.
Caption: Beer is almost a must-have drink on the table of Viet Nam
In a century-old house, drink a cup of coffee for 10 yuan
In addition to beer, people drinking coffee can be seen almost everywhere in Viet Nam. Unlike Arabica beans in China, many coffee shops in Viet Nam are dominated by Robusta beans, which are dark roasted and have a very strong taste.
Caption: Classic Viet Nam coffee
Traditional Viet Nam coffee is made using a drip pot that allows the coffee to drip into the cup drop by drop, and it takes about 10 minutes to wait from making to drinking. A layer of condensed milk is usually poured into the bottom of the cup, so that the coffee can be fully integrated with the condensed milk during the dripping process. But there are also many coffee shops that make black coffee in advance so as not to make customers wait too long.
In addition to traditional American and latte, there are 3 types of coffee that are very popular in Viet Nam: salt coffee, coconut coffee and egg coffee.
Caption: Coconut coffee (left), salt coffee (right)
Salt Coffee is made by adding condensed milk and salted cream to the coffee, and the taste is much like a milk cap with a layer of salted cream on top of the coffee, but because of the addition of condensed milk, the overall taste will be very sweet.
Coconut Coffee is a mix of coconut meat and coconut water, mixed with milk to make a smoothie, and then added to black coffee, which tastes like a coconut milkshake.
Egg Coffee is known as the "Viet Nam Cappuccino", the production process is to add raw egg yolk to condensed milk, after a quick whipping will turn white, the volume will expand, spread it on the coffee liquid, the first bite is quite soft and creamy. However, some people find the taste fishy, so it is recommended to try it with caution.
Caption: Coffee shops everywhere
Although the process of making Viet Nam coffee is relatively complex, the price is very friendly. Drinking coffee is the daily habit of Viet Nam, and cafes are not high-end places, most of them are opened on the street or at intersections, and the production standards of each store are similar, and basically will not step on thunder.
Within Hoi An Ancient Town, there are many beautiful coffee shops. The bright yellow exterior wall, the large pink triangular plum hanging down the eaves, the wooden doors and windows, and the hundred-year-old house, drinking a cup of handmade coffee in such an environment is only a matter of 10 yuan.
Caption: Cafes are almost always ventilated on all sides, with comfortable locations facing the street
Live by the sea, walk in the coconut grove and sandy beach
Hoi An is a holy place for tourism and vacation, on the one hand, because of its places of interest, cultural history; On the other hand, the beaches along Da Nang have also been named the six most beautiful beaches in the world by Forbes magazine in United States.
Caption: Four Seasons Resort Hoi An, Viet Nam
The sandy beaches around Hoi An Ancient Town are not overdeveloped, and the pristine coconut groves and white sand beaches are well preserved. Since the waves are not very suitable for swimming, there are no noisy crowds or water sports. Tourists often choose to walk barefoot along the coastline at sunrise or sunset, and the fine sand does not stick at all. There are a lot of small sand crabs and shellfish that wash up on the beach and are carried back to the sea by the next wave.
The color of the sea changes wonderfully at different times of the day. The sea in the morning is a soft pink color under the morning sun; The sea at noon is a bright light blue to dark blue gradient under the scorching sun; And the sea at sunset is a romantic golden orange color.
Caption: It has been named the six most beautiful beaches in the world by Forbes magazine in United States
There are many types of hostels to choose from in Hoi An, and travelers who like the hustle and bustle of the city tend to choose accommodation closer to the old town. Prices range from 200 yuan to thousands of yuan, and almost every hotel is equipped with a swimming pool and spa services, as well as free bicycles for cycling in the ancient town.
Large resort hotels are more built on the beach, and there will be some distance from Hoi An Ancient Town, but there will be a car in the hotel to pick up and drop off the ancient town. Travelers can get away from the hustle and bustle of the crowds and make the most of their holiday on the island.
Caption: Four Seasons Resort Hoi An Nanhai, Viet Nam has a single-family villa with a pool
Four Seasons Resort Hoi An Nanhai Viet Nam is nestled on the central coastline of Da Nang, a 15-minute drive from Hoi An Ancient Town. Unlike other hotels, all the rooms here are detached villas, there are 100 rooms in total, 40 of them have their own pools, the living room and the living room are two separate rooms, and the villas have a personal butler.
The other 60 villas do not have a pool, but they also have separate courtyards and are very comfortable. Tucked away in a lush coconut grove, each villa overlooks the beach and sea, ensuring privacy and freedom.
Caption: Cafe Nam Hai serves India fine cuisine for dinner
There are 3 restaurants with different themes in the hotel: Café Nam Hai, La Sen, a beachfront alfresco restaurant, and NAYUU, the first Japanese omakase restaurant in Central Viet Nam.
Photo caption: Cafe Nam Hai cuisine
Cafe Nam Hai offers breakfast, lunch and breakfast, and a rich breakfast buffet is served here. In the evening, the restaurant's menu changes to exquisite India cuisine, where visitors can taste authentic, classic India dishes such as butter chicken, lamb leg curry, etc.
Photo caption: La Sen, a beachfront open-air restaurant
Caption: La Sen's classic dishes
La Sen is the hotel's on-site beachfront open-air restaurant that combines Viet Nam with French cuisine. At noon, visitors can choose to enjoy a variety of delicious snacks on the loungers by the pool, and in the evening, enjoy a delicious meal while listening to traditional Viet Nam musical instruments in the open-air position on the beach. La Sen's menu is a combination of authentic Viet Nam and France cuisine, with Burgundy snails, steak, Provençal seafood soup and grilled sea bass fillet as classics.
Since the hotel has its own vegetable plantation, most of the vegetable ingredients are self-sufficient, natural and healthy.
Caption: Dior décor in the hotel
Caption: Dior pop-up store
Caption: Dior pop-up store
Caption: Public pool area
From June 15 to August 15, Four Seasons Resort Nanhai has partnered with France luxury fashion brand Christian Dior to open an exclusive pop-up store and café. Visitors can also choose to enjoy a light meal and afternoon tea at the Dior pop-up store. The hotel's public areas are also decorated with Dior, and after passing through the entrance decorated with "Diorized", visitors will be greeted by lifelike sculptures of wild animals made of seashells, beach chairs and sun umbrellas in Dior's classic sun motif. In the public pool in the resort, there is also a Dior-style mosaic, which is very photographed.
Caption: SPA massage
Caption: The SPA area in the Lotus Lake
Spa is an integral part of resort life, and Four Seasons Resort Hoi An South Sea, Viet Nam, Heart of the Earth, Spa is nestled in a lotus blossoming lake with a Buddhist-inspired philosophy that awakens the body's senses and perceives a strong connection with nature.
Using natural raw materials grown in the hotel's gardens, all treatments feature crystal bowls with frequencies of up to 432 Hz, immersive sound therapy rituals based on nature's rhythmic tones, and simple focused breathing techniques taught by therapists to help guests tune in to body and mind.
Caption: Goodnight Earth Activity
If the spa is in the afternoon, guests can join the hotel's "Good Night Earth" event held every night, where you can write a letter to the earth and write your wishes for the earth to the sound of the crystal bowl, which will be placed in the lotus pond of the spa. The lanterns are accompanied by the setting sun, carrying the wishes of the prayer bearers, and drifting into the distance with the lake.
Caption: Local street vendors wear hats and carry poles to sell fresh fruits and vegetables
From lively old towns to tranquil beaches, Hoi An is a colourful picture that blends Viet Nam's history, culture and nature. It's a city worth slowing down and savoring. It is waiting for every traveler who loves life and yearns for freedom to discover its unique charm.
In addition to geographical latitude, people and things in the time dimension are even more fascinating.
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Text, ed Estela
Image Source | Unsplash, Four Seasons Resort Hoi An, Viet Nam, Chen Xi