Instead of traveling to many places in Vietnam as advised, the family of a New Zealand tourist chose to stay in Hoi An for 11 days and “fell in love”.
New Zealand tourist Kerri King and her family, when planning to travel to Vietnam for the first time last year, ignored advice to go to many provinces such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Phu Quoc. Instead, the whole family just went to Hoi An and spent 11 days here. The first reason for the decision is that my little daughter is only 9 years old and has limited mobility. However, this choice happened to help the whole family explore Vietnam the way they wanted.
Morning at the beach, afternoon exploring culture
The hotel overlooks the swimming pool and rice fields. Image: Kerri
Hoi An brings together many experiences, so Mr. Kerri King’s family does not feel sorry for not going to other places in Vietnam. Even after returning, he wanted to return to Hoi An immediately.
Staying in just one place helps Mr. Kerri avoid the hassle of having to constantly move. About 45 minutes after landing at Da Nang international airport, they checked in at Lasenta Boutique hotel. The hotel overlooks rice fields and has a swimming pool, which his daughter likes the most.
From the hotel, the whole family can go everywhere quite conveniently thanks to Grab service for only a few USD per trip. The hotel also provides free bicycles, a very popular means of exploring the roads in Hoi An.
“We leisurely enjoyed each day, in the morning swimming at An Bang beach, in the afternoon walking around the old town with its typical yellow walls covered with bougainvillea,” he said. Although it is possible to visit Marble Mountains or Ba Na Hills, the family mostly stays around the hotel, going the farthest to VinWonders amusement park, about 20 km from the old town.
Instead of spending most of their time in the car or plane, Mr. Kerri’s family can deeply experience the activities in Hoi An, while still having plenty of time to rest.
Hoi An’s cuisine and craft villages leave many impressions
Hoi An cuisine is diverse, with international dishes, such as Mexican, American and of course local dishes. “People often mention bread, but cao lau and chicken rice are the dishes I want to come back to enjoy again and again, alongside cocktails next to the hotel pool,” Mr. Kerri said.
The whole family also went to Mot, the most famous and crowded water shop in Hoi An ancient town, to enjoy herbal tea. The cool and fresh flavor made him understand why this drink is so popular.
“I fell in love with coffee in Hoi An. After countless cups of coconut coffee and iced milk at rooftop cafes like Faifo, I was completely conquered. Now I often order Vietnamese coffee to take home,” he said.
Traditional craft villages help Mr. Kerri’s family gain a deeper understanding of culture. “The old town is beautiful, but it’s the traditional craft villages that make me really love Hoi An,” he said. At Thanh Ha pottery village, artisans guide people to mold small vases and witness how they utilize oil-free fryers as mini kilns.
In the silk village, visitors can learn about the entire process of silk production, from raising silkworms to weaving, before making their own bamboo-framed lanterns covered with silk. Although not perfect, those lamps are still hung in the house as priceless memories. They also tried wood carving at Kim Bong carpentry village and witnessed firsthand the process of making incense from cinnamon bark ground into a paste.
When they returned, Kirri’s family’s suitcase was full of handicrafts such as bronze candlesticks from Phuoc Kieu bronze casting village. Unlike souvenirs that are easily forgotten, these are items that his family uses every day.
“One of the most memorable things is watching the real-life show Hoi An Memories. With more than 500 actors, the show recreates the history of Hoi An trading port through the centuries in an impressive outdoor stage,” he added.
Kerri and his wife at Thanh Ha pottery village. Image: Kerri
Hoi An is child-friendly
Before coming to Vietnam, Kirri and his wife were worried that heavy traffic would make traveling with children stressful. But Hoi An is very easy to explore. During peak hours, the old town becomes a walking area, allowing visitors to freely roam without having to constantly avoid motorbikes.
Many experiential activities such as cooking classes or lantern making are also suitable for children, helping them truly participate in local culture instead of just observing.
What makes Hoi An a family destination is also the friendliness of the people. “The hotel staff took the time to braid my daughter’s hair, the tailor talked to us like old friends and enthusiastically shared travel tips,” he said.
After a trip to Vietnam, Mr. Kerri King believes that this place still has many things worth exploring. And for his family, Hoi An will be considered the “standard” to compare with for future trips. When ending the journey with an evening by the Thu Bon River, watching the lanterns floating on the water, Mr. Kerrin affirmed “this will not be the last time we come to Hoi An”.
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