After four weeks in Hoi An, we expected Da Nang to be just another beach city. Instead, we discovered ancient Champa history, mystical caves, sunrise walks, bustling fish markets, Monkey Mountain, and a dragon breathing fire into the night sky.
Vietnam
Hoi An: Life Around Tết
Tết in Hoi An was not just a single celebration—it was a gradual transformation. Over four weeks, we watched flowers appear, markets change, families gather, and traditions unfold as the town welcomed the Lunar New Year.
Hoi An: Vegetable Gardens, Woodcarvers and Waterways
Beyond Hoi An's Ancient Town lie peaceful villages, traditional crafts, rice fields and waterways. Join us as we explore Tra Que and Cam Kim on foot, discovering a quieter side of Hoi An that many visitors never see.
Hoi An: Exploring the Ancient Town
Hoi An Ancient Town lived up to its reputation for lantern-lit streets and historic charm. Yet our favorite moments came during the quieter hours, when the crowds faded and the town's history, architecture, and atmosphere could be appreciated at a slower pace.
Our First Days in Hoi An: Kumquat Trees, Snails and Karaoke
Before Hoi An’s lanterns and Ancient Town, we found its everyday rhythm in the streets around our apartment — neighborhood festivals, local food, and unexpected evenings shaped by kumquat growers and karaoke. These early days revealed a side of Hoi An that guidebooks rarely show.
Hue: From Empire to Everyday Life
Hue reveals itself beyond its imperial monuments — through quiet museums, family homes, and unexpected encounters. From royal palaces to private ancestral houses, the city blends history and daily life in ways that feel personal, lived-in, and unexpectedly human.
Hue: Imperial City, Tombs, and Living History
A day inside Hue's Imperial City and a journey through three royal tombs revealed the city's imperial past. Along the way, we discovered peaceful gardens, grand mausoleums, a living monastery, and a few unexpected moments that became some of our strongest memories of Hue.
Hue: Exploring Beyond the Courtyard
Our walks in Hue slowly expanded beyond the Imperial City walls, across canals and old streets, until we reached the Perfume River, where the city’s layered geography and everyday life began to come together.
Hue: Life Around the Courtyard
We arrived in Huế after a long train journey, unsure of what to expect from our new home. In the days that followed, it slowly began to make sense in ways we had not anticipated.
Ninh Binh: Tràng An Boat Route 3 and What Came After
Our final day in Ninh Binh began with a boat journey through Tràng An Route 3 and continued with a walk through karst landscapes. A freshly prepared fish meal and a fading sunset in Tràng An completed a day of contrasts and discovery.