Gray and yellow.
We entered Vietnam at Da Nang* and continued directly to Hoi An. It was only about 30km but still included two different touts hopping into our taxi for a ride…and to pass off their business cards.
When we reached our hotel I was delighted to find flower petals and swans on the bed. Then I immediately felt a little awkward because I desperately needed a nap but didn’t know what to do with the petals!
After resting up we set out to explore the town. Recent rains caused a bit of flooding but nothing too troubling.
Despite being quite the tourist town today, Hoi An was once a major international sea port before being passed over for Da Nang in the 18th century. While trade in Da Nang began to prosper, Hoi An was largely forgotten. Changes began happening all over Vietnam, but not in Hoi An.
Hoi An is considered to be an extremely well-preserved example of an Asian sea port during the 15th to 19th centuries. The town is a UNESCO World Heritage site not only because of the high level of preservation, but also for the fusion of cultures displayed in the architecture.
The yellow buildings were certainly something to look at against the gray skies.
After our walk around town we stepped into a small restaurant for dinner just as the sky went dark.
*I was later told that entering via Da Nang is incredibly unusual. The proprietor at one of our hotels asked me repeatedly where we got our visa and then explained that he’s never had a guest who entered the country the way we did. It felt pretty normal to us!
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