Lanterns and More Rain in Hoi An

Hoi An is a well preserved trading port town at the mouth of the Thu Bon River, dating from the 15th to 19th century.  When the river started filling with silt, the boat traffic could no longer access the docks and boat trade moved to Da Nang. With trade leaving the town, no modern construction took place, leaving a well preserved town of timbered and tiled structures.  By 1985, Vietnam designated Hoi An as a national cultural heritage site and it became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999.

rooftops from our hotel

known for silk lanterns

The shops are built narrow and long so that the backs are open to the river for easy loading and unloading of goods from the boats.  The front of the buildings are the storefronts, again in use today.  Families lived in the space in the middle, with an open courtyard for air and light.

central courtyard, and rain

making dumplings in kitchen

traditional family altar in home

wooden walls, family portrait

boat owner bailing out water so they can take tourists on the river

evening boat tours down river

notice the river and the sidewalk are same level

staying dry was impossible, but made fun when wearing Vietnamese poncho

food prep at the market

if we only had a kitchen!!

a few pigs feet for flavor

 A great market in center of town. The prepared food smelled wonderful!  In town we found a well stocked (relatively) wine bar in an old house. It became our refuge during pouring rain as we waited for dinnertime.

Town was full of artisans and it was fun exploring the shops.  I could have purchased many unique things, but carrying them would have been a challenge.  Really, who needs a lifesized carved quartz bicycle!

chicken feet anyone?

friend Sara checks out An Bang Beach

pouring rain at An Bang Beach

beautiful craftwork in Hoi An - silk quilts

Loved the reading material - in Vietnamese!

bicycle carved of stone! In precious stone store

It always amazed me that even though we walked by raw meats and fish, we never smelled it. Everything was very fresh.

Gambian of broken handmade and painted plates

We took the hotel bus to the beach even though it was pouring rain - monsoon!  On a sunny day, this beach would be wonderful. There were small restaurants along the sand and places to get a cold beer.  But on this day, we were the only crazy people out!

silversmith in jewelry store

everything under water

streets are always festive with lanterns

store with French sign. note the old paint, shutters

Japanese Bridge - Japanese lived on one side, Vietnamese on other side of the river

 The Japanese Bridge has a pagoda on it and was built in 1700's.  When Hoi An was an active port, Japanese arrived and lived here.  They would hang colored lanterns in front of the homes for good luck.  The locals started doing the same because they wanted that same luck. Lanterns then became a part of the town's culture.

looking through wall of Japanese bridge

Buddhist altar in Japanese bridge

nice pool at our hotel - but we were wet enough already!

Watch the boats with colored lanterns going down the river. So pretty!!!