Making Each Day Count

In my last blog I wrote about the first full day of tour that I had with my girlfriends in Da Nang, Vietnam, during our recent holiday in December 2024. It was a packed day of activities starting from a morning view of the Tượng Cá Chép Hóa Rồng (Dragon Carp Fountain) and Love’s Pier; to a cold and foggy afternoon of fun at Ba Na Hills’s Golden Bridge, Le Jardin d’Amour, and French Village; and finally capping the day with a ferry ride along Han River to view the illuminated Dragon Bridge.

On our third day we were off to an early start, and since I was still full from the previous night’s late dinner, I opted to skip breakfast. I did not realize our lunch would be later in the day, so thankfully our guide Sally brought with her snacks like the Vietnamese cashew nuts, some candies and dried fruit. I particularly liked the dried jackfruit and made a mental note to look for it as we passed through souvenir shops that morning.

After some leisurely souvenir shopping, our tour bus took us to Camnam Island Coconut Village where we had late lunch. Camnam Island is a quiet spit and its tranquil atmosphere provided the perfect venue to relax after our meal. Lounging at the garden swings, I had the chance to connect with fellow travelers in our tour group. After about an hour of rest, Sally led us to the Thu Bon River, where local fishermen welcomed us aboard round bamboo basket boats. We paddled along the river where our guides gave us a glimpse of the fishing livelihood, and in between stops we watched a few locals dance atop their round bamboo basket boats. Just before we headed off to our next destination, Sally surprised all December birthday celebrants (including yours truly) with a birthday cake and some tokens.

The highlight of the day was our visit to the charming city of Hoi An. Before this trip, I’ve had Hoi An marked as a To Go in my Google Maps, as I’m curious to see its historic district and port. In social media feeds I see Hoi An’s river colorfully lit with paper lanterns at night. I was so happy Hoi An was included in the group tour that we took, and I couldn’t wait to walk along its ancient town’s streets.

When we got there, Sally introduced introduced us to the iconic Japanese Bridge, a preserved wooden structure that stands prominently along the river bank. She then instructed the group of when and where we would meet after a couple of hours’ free time to explore the city. My friends and I kicked off our Hoi An adventure at a cozy café, where I enjoyed a iced long black coffee and possibly the best brownie I’ve had in years.

Afterwards, my friends and I split up and went our separate ways. With my Google Maps to guide me, I looked for the Post Office to mail a postcard for my sister as my usual travel tradition. As I headed back to the main shopping street, I only did window shopping since I only had carry-on luggage and was careful not to exceed my baggage allowance. My time was spent more on appreciating the architecture of the preserved buildings.

I went to the port just in time to see the boats and the paper lanterns come to life. It was fun watching the night scene along the river, that I almost missed the time to go back to the meeting place.

When I met with my tour group, Sally brought us to the restaurant where had a sumptuous dinner.  

After dinner, we had another couple of hours’ free time to explore Hoi An at night. Crossing the bridge to the opposite side of the river, I arrived at the bustling Hoi An Night Market. There was a variety of finds in the market, from trinkets, souvenirs, and street food. Nearby I found a massage place and signed up for a much needed 30-minute back massage. It was both affordable and relaxing.

Then, I walked back to our meeting place. We boarded a long boat at the farther side of the port, which brought us further up the river where we watched paper lanterns released on the river. Curious, I asked how the river is cleaned of the paper lanterns daily but I did not get an answer.

The boat eventually brought us back to the port, where our tour bus awaited to take us back to our hotel in Da Nang. As we drove through the quiet night, the sight of Da Nang’s beach and big waves reminded me of D and wished he was there. I think he would love Da Nang and Hoi An, and going back with him next time in 2025 sounded like a good plan.