Hoi An Old Town by Day: A UNESCO Heritage Site
Since I didn't plan this trip (not that I really plan things when traveling alone either), I knew absolutely nothing about the city of Hoi An. To summarize what I'd heard, Hoi An is basically a rite of passage when visiting Da Nang. With only that brief background knowledge, I just followed the plan to visit Hoi An first and then head to Da Nang since our return flight departed late. I'm saying this after having been to Da Nang, but it might actually be better to shop for clothes and basic necessities there before coming to Hoi An. Anyway, since I hadn't read anything about why this small city—especially the Old Town—was so famous or what its charm was, I had no choice but to see it with my own eyes.
To enter the Old Town, you have to buy a ticket. It costs about 6,000 KRW per person, which includes entry to the tourist attractions inside the Old Town. My travel buddy claimed we could get in for free—or more specifically, that only suckers buy tickets—but we are suckers, and even if we weren't, you have to buy a ticket. Sure, after walking around a bit, I realized you could probably just act like you bought one and wander in and out freely, but I don't know if it's worth the hassle for 6,000 KRW. There's a rumor that they only catch and check Koreans, but from what I saw, they stop everyone equally to collect the fee. Whether it's a democracy or a socialist state, nowhere lets you off the hook for taxes. Even if places like Cebu make up non-existent taxes just to give you a discount.
According to Wikipedia, Hoi An has been a famous port since the 1st century. Being a famous port means it was a trade route, which means people from various countries lived there. Chinese, Japanese, Westerners, and Indians who wanted to make money all passed through here by boat. As a result, there are many buildings left behind by merchants from different countries.
Despite this background, walking around the Old Town was a bit disappointing. The tourist spots that require a ticket are mostly old Chinese and Japanese-style buildings and bridges. As a Korean heavily influenced by our proximity to those two countries, it didn't really resonate with me. Of course, the blonde-haired tourists seemed fascinated, taking photos inside the shrines and reading the signs. Seeing that made me think that being familiar with too much isn't always a good thing.
If you walk through the Old Town during the day, you'll see many modern buildings topped with old-fashioned roofs, surrounded by trees and pretty flowers. Add in the streets packed with motorcycles—which have practically become Vietnam's trademark—and it creates a unique streetscape that belongs only to Hoi An. While European old towns focus on preservation, Hoi An's Old Town feels like it focuses on an old-fashioned vibe mixed with Vietnamese beauty. This beauty truly explodes at night when the lanterns light up brilliantly.
But all of this is only enjoyable when you walk in moderation. We started walking at 9 AM and didn't stop until 3 PM. We had coffee and ate meals in between, but in the sweltering 30-plus degree heat, we scoured the Old Town inside and out like we were on a treasure hunt. It was practically the first day of the trip, but we had way too much energy. I'm the type who likes to zone out endlessly at a cafe with a street view or take a break when there's nice scenery, but my friend—traveling abroad for the first time in 10 years—had absolutely no intention of doing that. Eventually, dehydration hit me. To think I'd be desperately looking for Pocari Sweat less than 24 hours after getting off the plane... If he hadn't told me this was going to be a relaxing vacation, I would have at least conditioned my body beforehand. The sun was still high in the sky on the first day of our trip, but I ended up passing out on the bed.
