Day 6: Hoi An – Hospital Detour & Slow-Motion Wandering

Another short night in Vietnam, and especially for Andi, who’s clocking in a grand total of 2.5 hours of sleep. His knee was still giving him grief after our Ninh Binh adventure (Hang Mua Cave, you’ll haunt him for a while), so after breakfast, we decided it was time for a pit stop—not at a café, but at the hospital.

Apparently, Andi is starting a new travel tradition: sampling the inside of hospitals in every country we visit. Last time it was Bali, thanks to a run-in with a stray dog. This time, it’s his knee begging for attention in Hoi An.

The hospital—a private one, thankfully—was a pleasant surprise. Clean, organized, and with staff who could manage a conversation in English. Even better, there was an American doctor on hand, there mainly to help hapless foreigners like us. Super handy! After some prodding, poking, and professional advice, the verdict was clear: Andi needs to take it easy. No more staircases, temples, or marathon walks for now. We’re in Hoi An for a couple of days, so it’s the perfect place to slow down and recover before our next leg to Cambodia. Though, telling Andi to do “nothing” is a bit like telling a local vendor not to sell lanterns at night—impossible!

But let’s be real: who can resist the charm of Hoi An, even if you’re hobbling? We couldn’t help ourselves in the late afternoon and ventured into the Old Town. Hoi An’s Ancient Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, famous for its yellow-washed shophouses, narrow alleys, and swoon-worthy lanterns strung everywhere. It’s a place where history feels alive: centuries-old merchant houses, Chinese temples, and weathered wooden bridges. Even with a dodgy knee, Andi insisted on weaving through the crowds, though “weaving” might be a generous word—picture more of a slow-motion slalom, wincing whenever someone darted across his path. On the other hand, Lizz is thankful to be back to full health and can play nurse-slash-tour-guide-slash-crowd-control.

Hoi An really comes alive at night, glowing with thousands of lanterns and buzzing with people. But with Andi’s knee protesting every step, we decided to keep today’s excursion short. Instead, we’ll check out the museums and historic sites tomorrow, hopefully when the crowds are thinner and the walking’s less hazardous.

A Few Tips & Fun Facts about Hoi An:

Lantern Heaven: If you love colors and night markets, you’ll adore Hoi An after sunset. The Japanese Covered Bridge and riverside are especially magical.

Tailor Town: Hoi An is famous for its bespoke tailors. If you ever fancied a custom suit or dress, this is the place.

Car-Free Old Town: Most of the Ancient Town is pedestrian-only, which is great—unless you’re trying to dodge selfie sticks, bicycles, and the occasional motorbike sneaking in.

Foodie Paradise: Don’t miss local specialties like cao lau noodles, white rose dumplings, and banh mi. Even Andi manages to hobble for food!

Ticket Needed: To enter some of the main attractions (like the Assembly Halls or old houses), you need to buy a ticket at the main entrances to the Old Town.

So, that’s Day 6 in a nutshell: a little less action, a bit more caution, but still soaking up the magic of Hoi An—one careful step at a time. Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery (and maybe a few more hours of sleep) before we hit the road again!