Joanna James
South East Asia is a treasure trove of wonders and delightful locations. Hoi An is one such hot tourist destination that remains relatively unknown when compared with what is on offer.
The town of Hoi An glows both during the day and at night; the yellow buildings reflect off the river and the colourful lanterns that hang along the streets accentuate the beauty. It is not a surprise that Hoi An is popular as a touristic destination as happiness seems to be in the air with an abundance of vibrancy, noise and easy access to the sea. Most of the hotels in Hoi An are located close to the East Vietnam Sea with the exception of Anantara Hoi An Resort which enjoys a prime bit of land by the Thu Bon River. It is along these rivers and canal ways that you can admire the city the most as the reflections create the much spoken of glow.
If you are in need of a new suit, head towards the city and stop by at one of the many tailor outlets to have attire that is perfect for you stitched. The tailors are highly skilled, hence the process is efficient; they obtain the measurements meticulously, cut and stitch the cloth with a great degree of precision and have the suit or clothing item ready for a fit on within a day.
As famous as Vietnam is for its spring rolls and sandwiches, Hoi An is for Cao Lau, a dish of pork broth, served with noodles and some vegetables. What makes the episode of dining more interesting is how reasonable the food is. So much so that one would even call it fairly cheap; with a meal and a drink easily fitting into about USD 2 -3.
For about two decades, the city of Hoi An has owned the title of a UNESCO Heritage Site where it is often stated that time has stood still. The buildings that rise on either side of you, the culture, the eating habits and the livelihoods of these people remain largely unchanged by development and modernity. Once a prominent trading port, Hoi An retains many of these traces to date. This slow movement to change resulted in Hoi An being awarded the UNESCO laurel and its people work tirelessly to maintain what is local.
Everyone raves and rants about the massages in Thailand and that is probably because of its comparative popularity. However, this need not be a reason to sideline the massages that you would receive in Vietnam. The therapists in Hoi An are particularly well skilled and have an amazing ability to tug and pummel to make you feel rejuvenated at the end of the two hours. Unlike in most other tourist destinations, a decent massage does not cost the earth either, making a daily ritual possible. Some spas are known to serve you a meal upon completion of a massage.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
