In January 2017, we decided to visit Hoi An, Vietnam, and Bangkok, Thailand. We started with Hoi An since we heard so much about this historical town from fellow travelers from South Africa.
Hoi An is a well-preserved old trading post, dating back to the 15th century. It is situated on the central coast of Vietnam. The town’s history is reflected in its architecture, which is a mix of styles from Chinese shop houses, temples, and French Colonial buildings, all from different eras.
We visited quite a few museums in the ”Ancient Town” section.
In the Ancient Town section, you will find homes that have been turned into shops and restaurants.
The atmosphere in Hoi An is tranquil and peaceful, but it can get very crowded with tourists at certain times of the day. There are quite a few shops where you can buy quality leather shoes and handbags at reasonable prices. The town also has quite a few tailor shops where you can have garments made to your personal style. These tailors all deliver quality garments, from what I observed.
Inside one of the museums.
The Japanese-covered bridge.
The Thu Bon River runs through the ancient town.
We also took a day trip to the ”My Son” religious site, which is about 48 km from Hoi An. At the site, we learned about the ancient Champa civilization.
This religious site was built from about the 4th century until the 13th century. It was very interesting to wander around the ancient temples, carvings, and sculptures of the Cham people and listen to our well-versed tour guide. The whole area is surrounded by lush green vegetation.
After spending about 2 hours at My Son, we visited the local craft shops on the way back to Hoi An. This region of Vietnam is well worth a visit, as there is so much to see and do daily.