I wasn’t feeling great when I first got here which completely ruined the vibe of this truly beautiful city. This city happens to be my favourite in the whole of Vietnam so far. The streets are filled with bright lanterns everywhere. I could walk round just getting lost in the streets and be having the best time.
I checked into Vietnam Backpackers Hostel, my first party hostel since the dreaded Bangkok arrival hostel. I have to say its exactly what I needed at the time and I spent a few days just letting my hair down at a glow party and a beach party.
After this I wasn’t too sure what my plan was or what I wanted to do so I got an hours bus to Da Nang to decide whether to end my adventure and fly home or make a legitimate plan instead. Not all aspects of travelling are fun, sometimes you feel lonely and second guess every decision based solely on your mood at the time.
I checked into Lighthouse Hostel for 2 nights which held a free beer hour 6-7pm and this was where I met the most incredible people, one of them, Katie, who I’d go on to travel North Vietnam with. Its great what a few hours of having interesting conversations can achieve and how much it can change your plans.
Once I recovered this is the place I really felt like my trip came back to life and I just had the most amazing time with a truly incredible bunch of people from all over the world.
Unfortunately the weather definitely wasn’t in our favour and we all had to take a trip to the cinema to watch Joker to kill some time. I still find it strange how its a film in English but with Vietnamese subtitles. I’ve never seen a bunch of girls so happy to find popcorn either!
Katie was going back to Hoi An for a few days before flying North and since I loved the place so much and didn’t feel as though I got to see much of it whilst letting loose in a party hostel I decided to go with her.
On arriving in Tribee Kinh Hostel we met another girl, Annie, who I now plan on travelling to Cambodia with. Anyone who knows me also knows how clumsy I can be and managed to drop a luggage cage on my toe causing half of my toe nail to be hanging off, obviously whilst dramatically shouting I was going to faint. Now queue a few weeks of not being able to wear trainers.
The weather still didn’t improve, in fact it was like a monsoon the entire time I was there. We managed to fit in a massage and pamper day but the weather did result in me walking round resembling a giant blue condom.
This hostel held free spring roll making classes which was nothing short of entertainment, trying to teach a room of young adults who are trying to get drunk how to make spring rolls.
However I cant claim I behaved perfectly this time around as I attended yet another hostel glow party and glow night club. What else is there to do in the rain?! I genuinely had the best night of my whole trip so far and it was worth every second for how much fun I had.
Miracle I now have the ability to smile right? (Russell you cant call me a catfish on these, they have no filter or pout).
Theres no better way to top it off and end this part of the trip than pushing your hostel room beds together and having a girly hungover film night around one tiny iPad.
Hoi An is by far my favourite city and I could of easily spent a month here if not more. It had everything from all variety restaurants, beaches, parties, shops and the beautiful culture. This will definitely not be the last time I visit this place.
Wanderlust Adventure 