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.
cultural-immersion-vietnam
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: 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: What We Almost Missed
We followed a trail that wasn’t on Google map and ended up at a sealed gate in the cliffs. Only later did we realize we had been standing at the edge of Tuyệt Tịnh Cốc—just on the wrong side of it.
Pu Luong, Vietnam: Trekking through Villages and Rice Terraces
Trekking from Ban Don through villages and rice fields, we explored one of Pu Luong’s most visited spots, yet far quieter than other Northern Vietnam destinations. Sunrise over misty mountains and flooded terraces became a breathtaking parting gift on our final day.
Pu Luong, Vietnam: First Impressions and a Hike to Kho Muong Village
Misty mountains, silent valleys, and a hike that led us deep into Pu Luong—through rice terraces, quiet villages, and into a vast cave hidden beneath the hills.