S1 E50 | Exploring Hoi An Old Town by Day – Food, Tailors, and Yellow Streets

In this episode, we spent the afternoon exploring Hoi An Old Town during the day. After a morning of catching up on work, we headed out to see what makes this UNESCO World Heritage site so special when the sun is up.

We began with the most famous banh mi shop in town — one that Anthony Bourdain himself had visited. The sandwich was packed with fresh vegetables, tofu, mint leaves, and a fiery chili sauce that gave it an unforgettable kick. From there, we cooled down with a refreshing local drink: lemon herbal tea infused with lotus, ginger, and spices, served with a bamboo straw.

As we walked through the narrow lanes, we admired the charm of Hoi An’s yellow buildings, each decorated with pink flowering trees and tiny gardens. We also discovered why tailoring was such a big part of Hoi An’s culture. With countless shops competing, visitors could get custom garments stitched in just a few hours, and at a fraction of what it would cost in the West.

The Hoi An Old Town revealed its character slowly — from colorful houses to winding streets, from hidden snacks to quiet corners. Walking seemed to be the best way to take it all in, though bicycles and cyclos offered other fun options.

Hoi An was lively, beautiful, and steeped in history, and even though the evenings were magical, exploring during the day gave us a whole new perspective of the town.