Nothing enticed me more than the
thought of biking around Hoi An. Famous for its tailor shops and colourful
bridges, Hoi An has a rich history and grand architecture which make it an
essential stop for travelers in Vietnam. It is indeed a very important tourist
destination and one of the nation’s most wealthy towns, right at the centre of
the country.
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| Don't be scared to venture out of the main walking area and explore Hoi An out of the beaten track |
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| Old Town |
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| Walking Streets |
Our first stop was finding a
tailor shop. We had read many recommendations from Trip Advisor and Chris was
eager to have trousers and shirts custom made to wear at the office. Hanoi Old
Town must have over one thousand tailor shops to choose from so it’s really a
strike of luck whether you pick a good one or a bad one. Chris went to Mr Xe
and he was happy with the product and service.
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| Chris in front of his tailor shop |
Our main mode of transportation was a bicycle which we
rented for 1$ (20,000 Vietnamese dong) a day... Quite a bargain! Most of the
old town is comprised of “walking streets” so it is easy to navigate. Our
longest trip was to the local beach which was beautiful, but mostly we would
wander around the small streets and admire the architecture.
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| Cycling around the old town |
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| Hoi An Old Town |
Fresh beer (bia hoi) was
introduced to us in Hoi An, but it is popular all throughout the country.
People brew their own beer in barrels and sell it in bars and restaurants at a
ridiculously low price of approximately 3,000 dong per glass, the equivalent of 15 cents! It is a very light lager of only 3% alcohol and does not contain
preservatives. Perfect after biking around town. Cheers!
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| Barrel of fresh beer |
Food in Hoi An is very distinct
because it is prepared with water from Ba Le village’s famous well. The water
has a unique flavour, with a yellow hue. One signature dish which is
particularly popular is cao lau, noodles with slices of pork, pork crackling on
lettuce, bean sprouts and fresh herbs. What makes it special, of course, is the
stock made from the famous well water.
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| Street food - Don't fear it... try it! |
