Today, we were flying to Hoi An. Our flight was scheduled for 8:20 AM, so we booked a cab on Grab and reached the airport by 7:15 AM. After clearing security, we had some time before boarding, so we grabbed breakfast and tea at a cafe right next to our gate. It was a relaxed start to the morning as we sat there, sipping tea and watching passengers trickle in, waiting for the boarding announcement. The Vietnam Airlines flight was smooth, but I had expected some food onboard—turns out, they only served water. We landed at Da Nang Airport around 9:45 AM.

Upon arrival, I had a brief moment of panic when my checked-in bag didn’t show up on the conveyor belt. As the last few passengers left and the hall emptied, I had to track down an airline staff member to help locate it. After some searching, they found my bag stuck due to loose ends getting caught on the belt—what a relief!

With my luggage finally in hand, our next stop was an Apple store in Da Nang to buy my long-awaited iPhone. After some back-and-forth due to the language barrier, I managed to make the purchase, though they insisted I unbox the phone at the store for reasons I couldn’t quite grasp. Once that was sorted, we headed straight to our Airbnb in Hoi An. The hosts were warm and welcoming, and the place itself was clean, spacious, and comfortable.

After freshening up, we set out to explore Hoi An’s famous Tran Phu Street, the heart of the town’s historic district. The street had everything—museums, pagodas, apparel stores, cozy cafes, and countless souvenir shops. And, of course, it was adorned with the iconic colorful lanterns that Hoi An is known for. We stopped to try a local herbal drink called Mot Water, which I really enjoyed—so much so that I had another one! After lunch at a nearby eatery, we returned to our room for a short rest.

By evening, we headed back to the old town to see it in all its illuminated glory. If the street was beautiful during the day, it was absolutely mesmerizing at night. The lanterns were now glowing, the streets were buzzing with people, and vendors lined the walkways selling an array of street food. The river was dotted with boats carrying tourists, and Halloween-themed lanterns, along with traditional candle-lit ones, were gently floating on the water. The scene reminded me of Rapunzel’s dream in Tangled—except, instead of lanterns in the sky, they shimmered across the river, casting a magical glow on both banks.

We indulged in some street treats, including ice cream and a fresh fruit platter, before deciding to unwind with a foot massage—a much-needed break after a full day of walking. With our legs rejuvenated, we grabbed dinner and finally made our way back to our Airbnb, exhausted yet fulfilled.