Ancient Lantern Town Hoi An, Vietnam

OUR WORLD || Hoi Ann, Vietnam

On Vietnams central coast there is a city called Hoi An and it's well known for it's well preserved Ancient Town.

What makes the Ancient Town so unique is that it's a well-preserved example of a Southeast Asian trading port. Hoi An become the most important trade port on the South China sea for over 2,000 years and was a major trading center from the 15th to 19th centuries. It's understandable why then this place has a rich history documenting influences from cultures all around the world. making it a registered UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

1. Hoi An by Day

   Visiting the Ancient Town by day gives you a great opportunity to roam the streets when they are quietest and appreciating all the unique architecture. As you roam around the streets you can see influences from Chinese, Japense, French and Vietnamese cultures creating this unique architecture style.

   
   

Vietnamese who sat across the street from his home everyday. One day I asked to take his portrait, he following day I sat with his family and shared his photo with them.

2. Hoi Ain's Surrounding Rice Fields

   Just outside the Ancient Town in Hoi An are many rice paddies, herb gardens and farms. So if you rent a motorcycle, a bike, or decide to go for a walk you can easily explore these beautiful areas. There are many amazing restaraunts nearby where you can taste this fresh produce, additionally there are cooking experience where you can pick your produce straight from the garden then cook with it yourself.

   
   

As you roam the streets and day becomes night, the entire town transforms into this magical Lantern Town.

3. The Lantern Town by Night

   It's very clear how Hoi An Ancient Town got it's name "The Lantern city in Vietnam". At night this place completely turns into what feels like a place from a fairy tale book. The streets close down for only pedestrian access and lanterns flood every space you can imagine, over the streets, in the shops and restaraunts, on the boats on the water, absolutely every where. This truelly is a place like no other, and a must when visiting Vietnam. Feel free to walk the streets or even pay for a boat ride where you can witness the beauty from the river and release your own floating lantern.

Tourists Environmental Impact

Something I'm fascinated in is what impact tourists have on communities and the environment. So when I saw each of those beautiful lanterns being released into the water every night I was concerned of how much pollution that would be generating.

To my surprise (based on my experience in other tourist destinations) I was amazed on how much they kept their rivers cleaned. All night long and in the early hours of the morning I noticed people cleaning the rivers to make sure the streets and the rivers kept clean, or as clean as possible.

I highly recommend spending a few nights in Hoi An if you ever plan to visit Vietnam, go appreciate this Ancient Town and enjoy all it's beauty.