Dining and Dusk in Hoi An

October 02, 2019

As night began to fall, our guide collected us from the hotel for the short drive into the ancient town of Hoi An.  Here we were to start our evening with a wonderful dinner by the lovely Thu Bon river that runs through the town.

While our meal was superb, and the riverside setting perfect, we were keen to commence our evening’s exploration.   So after we’d finished, we met up with our guide again and set off into this picturesque 16th-century town.

Launching our own Lanterns

We headed first along the very banks of the river, tracing it as it snacked along towards the sea.  The buildings and houses which open to it are long-standing and washed in fading pastel shades, mostly a soft canary yellow.  Along the river’s edge and across the river itself are strung beautiful, delicately crafted lanterns.  These have almost become the symbol of the town itself.

We came upon some local women who, from their boat on the river, were launching small paper lanterns onto the dark river’s surface.  Each illuminated with a small candle inside.   Our guide explained this was done as a way of paying respects to their ancestors.  It was a peaceful, contemplative sight.

After some minutes watching them, he suggested we might launch our own upon the waters.  Soon we stood at the very edge of the water with small paper lanterns in hand.  Candles lit, we slowly eased the little lanterns into the gentle flow of the river.  They moved gracefully away from the bank and we simply watched in silence as they floated further out.

Hoi An Ancient port town

The Ethereal Glow of the Japanese Bridge

We felt serene as we turned away from them.  Thinking our own private thoughts we continued quietly on into the heart of the town.

Unlike other towns and cities in Vietnam we had experienced, Hoi An runs at a much more gentle pace.  The streets were almost devoid of motor traffic at this hour, with most people walking or on bicycle.  This added to the magic and the atmospheric heritage feel.

We wandered the cobblestone alleyways that glistened under the soft dreamlike glow of the hand-painted silk lanterns.  When we came out of one of these small lanes before us stood the ancient Japanese Covered Bridge awash with colored lights.  Although we had seen it during the day, its nighttime beauty caused us to stop and catch our breath.  It glowed as if a picture from the pages of a children’s fairy book.

Art Appreciation

Wandering back through the old quarter we appraised some of the works of the many local artists that call Hoi An their home.  We stopped at the local photography studio displaying magnificent black and white and colors photos of Hoi An and the surrounding region.  The delicate ink drawings and watercolors of the Vietnamese hill tribes sorely tempted us to buy.

As the Lights Dim

Back at the river’s edge, we sat and quietly soaked up the romantic, twinkling scene while enjoying fragrant Vietnamese tea.  Our guide spoke of his growing up in the Heritage-listed town and the stories of his family.  Slowly the lights began to be dimmed and Hoi An was closing for the night.  Cruising through the streets back to our hotel we reflected on a truly magical and sublime evening experience.

Hoi An Ancient Town