Hanoi to Hoi An: What a Difference

After two weeks in Vietnam I finally feel like we are getting the hang of traveling throughout this beautiful country. Currency conversion has become second nature, quick phrases of Vietnamese are much easier to remember, and overall I think we all feel a bit more comfortable. I’m constantly amazing by how different every city in Vietnam has been so far. Hoi An is nothing like I thought it would be, and I love it! The tailor shops were one of the things I was looking forward to most on this trip and so far they have not disappointed. The way of life itself is also much slower and relaxed than Hanoi. I have to say that it is refreshing to be able to find my way around the city very easily, and to not be constantly avoiding motorbikes.

However, I can’t help but wonder why these two cities are so different? Hoi An historically was one of the most famous ports for trade in the world, attracting visitors from all corners of the globe, but now has a population of only 100,000. This is strikingly small compared to the nearly 7 million inhabitants of Hanoi. With that being said I think one reason for the difference may be that the people of Hoi An have a much different view on life. Hanoi was filled with aspiring Vietnamese, enamored with western influence from the shops, fast food, and very prevalent technology. Whereas Hoi An feels much more traditional and steeped in heritage such that what we are seeing today has largely been the way of life all along.

In addition I feel like there is a large sense of ownership and pride among the people of Hoi An. They embrace their past and are proud of where they live now. I’ve found this very noticeable from the few tailors I’ve met, as well as the few locals we met on our bike tour. Some of the tailor shops have been passed down from generation to generation, and rightly so have again inspired travelers from all over the world to journey to Hoi An for hand tailored clothing. May be it is because of this wish to preserve the old traditions of Hoi An that these two cities are so different?

Although I have loved Hoi An I cannot wait to go to Ho Chi Minh City! It will be interesting to see if it is similar to Hanoi, or maybe even more so like New York City. Overall I predict that Ho Chi Minh City will represent the most developed part of Vietnam, full of technology, modern architecture (skyscrapers), and everything else you would expect to see in a major metropolitan area in the USA. I think it will be a proper ending to such a diverse trip from North to South.

Just because I couldn’t help it I have to throw in a picture of HaLong Bay. This place is easily one of the most picturesque places I’ve ever been in my life.

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