Day 38 - Hoi An

We keep thinking we have found our favorite spot and then we find another one! Hoi An (translated means "peaceful meeting place") is another UNESCO world heritage site and is known for their garment production and quick custom tailoring. There are loads of tailor shops all over the city. Lauren decided to have something made as a "fun activity", as many people do when they visit Hoi An....When in Rome! You can see below the process of style and fabric selection followed by measurements being taken. It all only took about 20 minutes. We will see how the skirt and blouse come out tomorrow!

The town is absolutely lovely! It is all old low-rise yellow buildings that house street after street of shops, cafes, tailor shops and restaurants. Everything is open air and casual and there are loads of bougainvillea covering the roofs. And- there are colorful lanterns EVERYWHERE! Lanterns are the signature sign of Hoi An. More to come on that!

The city's historic district (or old city) is recognized as a well-preserved example of a Southeast Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. Its buildings and street plan reflect a blend of indigenous and foreign influences. We visited three different ancient Chinese temples and Quy explained to us (contrary to the non-religious information we received in Hanoi) that locals utilize a blend of Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism as they all have rooted history in the area and overtime people have adopted various principles from each one (the ones they connect with the most) to create their new religion.

One concept Lauren especially liked was the "Lady Buddha" who is highly respected and praised (photo #3). She represents all women because they are generally responsible for running the entire household while the men typically only have one responsibility (i.e. farming, fishing etc.).

Next, Steve was happy to finally capture a photo of a "Family of 4" on a scooter. Fortunately, they all have on helmets. That has primarily not been the case in Southeast Asia, and Quy told us that the Vietnamese law says no one under the age of 12 is required to wear a helmet. Yikes!(photo#1)!

We also visited an ancient home from the 1600s. It is still occupied by the same family, five generations later. We were greeted by the eldest man of the house, the women from the family were make dumplings to sell (photo#2) and even we even saw the youngsters departing to make dumpling deliveries to local restaurants. Quy ordered some "White Rose" dumplings for us that were delicious!

For lunch we enjoyed some local Bahn Mi then browsed around the town for the afternoon.

In the evening is the "Festival of Lanterns" and it happens every night! First, the boats adorned with lanterns start tooling up and down the river with happy tourists on board. Each boat is unique and decorated with a selection of lanterns by each owner so there is a never-ending parade to watch. In addition, the entire city is lit up with colorful lanterns everywhere you look. Vendors also sell candle lit lanterns that can be launched onto the river for good luck. It is truly a festive atmosphere like we have never seen!

We were able to snag a table at a restaurant right on the river so we could enjoy a front row seat to all of the action.

Vietnamese Fun Facts:

• People are very committed to taking care of family members, especially their elders. Quy explained that this cultural philosophy is why there is virtually no homelessness or begging. Families will always feed and house each other.

• We received advice about crossing the street- 1. "Look for a gap in traffic" 2."Once you go don't hesitate - keep going in a straight line and people will avoid you (we hope)!

• Soup is eaten at the end of a meal opposed to the beginning in American or British cultures