A Peaceful Morning in Hoi An Ancient Town

I am really delighted to have been born in Quang Nam, where there are many notable structures and attractions, including My Son Sanctuary and Hoi An ancient city, which account for 2/8 of the heritages recognized by UNESCO. When I was younger and studying history, anytime I mentioned these two monuments, my heart was filled with pride and I wanted I could come here to visit, and then go to the place to visit when I was older. The more I learn, the more proud I am of what my forefathers built in the past.

Hoi An ancient city is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Vietnam and throughout the world. With a small area of only 60 square kilometers, you can walk around the entire city in less than one day; nonetheless, for everyone visiting here, one day is insufficient to explore all of the old beauty, cuisine, and people.

I enjoy the tranquility of this city, and my tiny family spends a weekend here once a month. My best friend's house is close by, and whenever we visit, we can gather, eat, speak, enjoy the tranquility, and unwind after a long day at work.

Although the city is small, I always feel new when I visit. We frequently go for a walk through the streets lit by red lanterns or sit on a park bench to share what we've just experienced, our joys and sorrows with our closest friends. With that, the youngsters ran, jumped, and played in the picturesque Hoai riverbank park, eager to witness the groups of guests singing and dancing.
My son is usually drawn to colorful lanterns. He is a very active youngster, but he can stand for a long time only to look at the lanterns.

I aim to do one intriguing thing in Hoi An every time I visit, which is to get up early and walk about the city. Because the city had been buzzing all night and was still asleep at this hour, taking a walk to get some fresh air was really enjoyable.

A few year ago, When we first decided to take wedding photos, we chose went to Hoi An. According to the consultant photographer, taking images in the afternoon would be more sparkling, more colorful, but I selected the morning because I enjoy the tranquil, old atmosphere here in the morning.
Some wedding photos we took at that time

I chose Hoi An as a place to take my wedding photography

You can go about the streets in the morning and then head to a certain café; there are many ancient and exciting cafes, but my favorite is the toad cafe, which overlooks the Cau Pagoda and Hoai River. It's not entirely right to call it a cafe because individuals sell coffee from the sidewalk. Many of you will ask why they are selling coffee on the sidewalk after hearing it. Is that an encroachment on the sidewalk? But no, this is a pedestrian street, and the two uncles here have been given permission by the authorities to sell coffee on a small section of the pavement.

Back to the sidewalk cafe, one unique feature is that the tables and chairs are not set up; instead, there is a stack of toad chairs and all guests are welcome to serve themselves. If you come with two people, you will be given three chairs: two to sit on and one to replace the table as a place for drinks above. Everyone who comes here seems to be acclimated to it, and no one seems to find it bothersome or inconvenient.

From here, you can see the lovely Hoai River as well as the Covered Bridge. When customers come to this shop, some want to converse with friends, while others just want to sit and contemplate, but I believe everyone feels quite serene.
Another fascinating feature is that after about 5 minutes of sitting, you will be bombarded with invites to sample local specialties such as boiled corn, sticky rice, cakes, and other items that we often order a tray of banh beo cups full topping of fillings. Wow, It's definitely worth a shot.

I miss this city, I miss this tranquil cafe in the center of this old town, I miss local foods of them. It's been a long time since the Covid outbreak broke out in Quang Nam, and we haven't had the opportunity to gather together. I will undoubtedly pay a visit to the city in the near future.

In the next article, I'll present the unique delicacies to try when visiting Hoi An, Viet Nam. I hope you enjoy this beautiful ancient town and thank you for taking the time to read my post. Have a lovely day.