Today, after an 8 hour train ride, we arrived in Hoi An, Vietnam. Located on the South China Sea, Hoi An is an historic market town located on the Mekong River. There are some 120,000 inhabitants and the town is well known to backpackers.
There wasn't a great deal of western people around, but there were noticeably more than in other Vietnamese towns we visited such as Da Nang and Nha Trang. The architecture is very reminiscent of Chinese towns and as slightly different from what we have been used to seeing in Thailand and Cambodia.
We spent a couple of nights here and during our time we toured the endless rows of markets which seem to go on for miles and miles! The people are very friendly, and coupled with the towns 'bohemian' atmosphere it was one of the most enjoyable towns I have seen so far on my travels.
Hoi An usually attracts attention due to is sale of rare cottons and silks. If you want a perfectly tailored item of clothing for a very cheap price - Hoi An is the place to find it.
On our last evening we took a Mekong Rover boat tour at sunset which is a perfect way to see the town. During our ride, our boat operator allowed us to ride the boat!
If you are in Vietnam in the future then make sure Hoi An is on your agenda. It is a lovely town, with lovely people and will leave a lasting impression. The food is cheap, there is no hustle and bustle of city life and most of all it is totally different to anything else you will see in Vietnam.
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