One of the most popular winter destinations is Vietnam, which attracts tourists with its warm sea, sun, beautiful nature, cultural attractions, delicious and inexpensive food. Russian travelers are well acquainted with Nha Trang and, to a lesser extent, with Hoi An, whose beaches are in no way inferior, and the cultural and gastronomic life will give odds to other Vietnamese resorts.
Street stalls, food trucks, open markets and gastronomic workshops fill Hoi An, whose culinary heritage is as rich as its cultural heritage. It combines impressive architecture, curious history and a calm and relaxed atmosphere that invites tourists to stroll through the charming streets decorated with cute paper lanterns.
Hoi An's location close to beautiful beaches, small fishing villages and ancient ruins makes the city a major tourist destination. In addition, the city will not disappoint shopping lovers: there are many tailor shops in Hoi An, where you can tailor suits or dresses at an affordable price. Historically, Hoi An was a seaport whose commercial peak was reached between the 16th and 18th centuries. Chinese, Japanese, Indian and even Dutch traders arrived at the port in search of fur, silk, pepper and other goods. For this reason, its multicultural influence can still be felt on its streets.
It is difficult to name the main attractions of Hoi An, since the entire city, the center of which is protected by UNESCO, is a landmark. Visiting the ancient city is free. However, to see some historical sites, including pagodas, old houses or the famous Japanese bridge, you should buy tickets at any of the tourist points. A set of 5 tickets costs 120,000 VND (about 5 euros).
As befits a tourist city, there is a large selection of hotels, hostels, villas for rent. One of the best hotels in Hoi An, located in the heart of the river, is Anantara Hoi An Resort.
Built in French colonial style with terracotta roofs, rooms and suites are set in pastel-colored two- and three-story buildings, surrounded by lovely manicured gardens. It is the ideal place to escape the city noise, take a yoga class in the morning, then enjoy a massage, watch the river flow while enjoying a breakfast of fresh fruit and hot pastries. In the evening, the trees within the hotel are magically lit with flickering lanterns, creating a romantic atmosphere.
Since Hoi An is a gastronomic center, old Japanese merchant houses, tea shops, pagodas, temples, Chinese mansions and buildings dating from the later French colonial era sit side by side with bars, boutique hotels, restaurants and culinary schools where they learn to cook regional dishes. …
The most exciting cooking class is also held at the Anantara. With the help of a mentor, participants in the master class create classic Vietnamese dishes from a set of fresh ingredients prepared by the chef: Pho Bo soup, spring rolls and young papaya salad. A very entertaining event, during which you can learn how to cook Asian dishes, and then enjoy how well they turned out.
In any Vietnamese city, it is difficult to step on the street without catching the spicy, enticing smell of Pho Bo soup. If one dish can unite a nation, then it is Pho Bo, and it was in Hanoi that the dish acquired an almost cult status. As any Vietnamese chef will attest, the secret to great pho lies in creating a rich, rich broth with an irresistible aroma. Add some flair to the dish with a splash of lime juice and then season with chili.
The principle of yin and yang plays an important role in Vietnamese cuisine, where the warming and refreshing properties of the ingredients are taken into account. For example, duck meat is considered refreshing and suitable for hot seasons, while pork is considered warming in the winter months, making deep-fried pork roll an ideal winter snack. Minced pork is stewed with glass noodles, mushrooms, carrots, sweet potatoes, turnips, shallots and garlic. Then wrap the mixture very carefully in rice paper. People who smoke cigarettes can imagine that they are folding a cigarette, the principle is very similar. The roll, fried until crispy, should be dipped in the garlic and chili sauce and immediately put into your mouth. Mmmmmm, the rolls are so good they can be enjoyed any season. You can continue your gluttony in the central market, where brave travelers try fried frog legs and other exotic dishes in small street stalls.
The show with grilled ice cream is especially popular: a mixture of milk and crushed fresh fruit is poured onto an ice grill. The mixture freezes in seconds, and Vietnamese craftsmen roll ice cream into tubes and pour over with chocolate syrup. The show is really spectacular, especially when the chefs chop fruits with knives at great speed. The gastronomic performance has become so popular that it is gradually being exported to the streets of Europe.
The beauty of Hoi An lies in the fact that just three kilometers from the city there is a large beach with clean sea and white sand - An Bang, which can be easily reached through the rice fields by bike. And there are much fewer people here, in contrast to Nha Trang, so beloved by Russian tourists. Just one hour from Hoi An is the most important archaeological ruin site in all of Vietnam - My Son. Although many temples were destroyed by bombing during the war, it makes sense to stop by here for half a day. Ride a bike and explore fishing villages, experience Vietnamese rural life, and ride bamboo boats down the river.
In 4 hours by car lies the cultural capital of Vietnam, the imperial city with a dissonant name for the Russian ear - Hue. If you have time, be sure to visit it. In Hoi An, many travel companies offer a transfer to Hue, book a private driver there, and enjoy the extraordinary beauty of the road with stops at the beaches, observation platforms overlooking The Hai Van Pass serpentine, pagodas. Hue himself with the imperial citadel, tombs of monarchs, pagodas, an unusually rich gastronomic life deserves a separate article.
