Our modern life is bustling and hustling nowadays. Stressful deadlines, hectic crowds, and endless anxieties and worries about work, life, and the future. Sometimes, relaxing moments have become a rare and quite “luxury”, especially for the younger generation like Millennials or Gen-Z. However, in the middle of the chaos of life, I found an exit gate to a peaceful land that healed my soul – Hoi An.

Immersing in nature

I cannot remember how long I lost the connections between my body, my mind, and nature. The office job has trapped me into the blue screen of the desktop and the grey view packed by plenty of skyscrapers. I cannot find a proper place in my mind for myself since my head is full of external noises and unremitting thoughts. However, like my miracle, my sore body started being loose and my mind gradually became silent and zen while sitting on the bamboo basket boat in the middle of the coconut forest of Hoi An.
Located at the brackish water area between three rivers (De Vong, Thu Bon, Hoai) and the estuary area of Cua Dai beach, the forest is surrounded by thousands of coconut trees and small local villages which create a tranquil, peaceful, and calm scene. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the little sounds of the water lapping the side of the boat, the wind “playing” on the coconut leaves, and the laughs of the children from the villages. Resonance with the music of nature, the sightseeing was like a dynamic but harmonized silk painting embroidered and painted by the artists in Hoi An. It was a marvelous combination of fifty shades of green from the forest, the deep clear blue of the river, and the dazzling sunlight. These chill, pleasant, and restful settings seemed to take out all of my negative vibes and leave the positive energy deep in my heart and soul.
A “good-for-all” experience
Talking about transportation Hoi An can be considered one of the most eco-friendly cities in Vietnam. To go around the city of Hoi An, it is really easy to reach all the famous attractions, such as the old quarters’ area or the Japanese bridge, by foot or by boat. Nevertheless, I chose to go bike since it allowed me to go not only to the famous locations but also to the local villages to meet and connect with people.

The architecture of Hoi An is an amazing collaboration between Western and Eastern cultures but unique in its own way, which you cannot find anywhere else in Vietnam or in Asia. With the rustic but colourful design of the houses in Hoi An, combined with the relics from the French and Japanese colonies areas, the city’s architecture illustrates the long-lasting glory of Vietnamese history amazingly through the unique language of arts. When admiring these masterpieces, I honour and treasure more the values and beauties of life.

Meeting locals was an eye-open moment for me. By engaging with locals, I enjoyed the chill vibe that they brought to me and found many new perspectives of life through their lens and thoughts. It helped me to see the world more gently and simply, eliminate all unnecessary thoughts that triggered me for a long time, and feel my presence in the moment with my full attention.

Not only through nature and human interactions, but Hoi An also healed me through one of the most balanced and flavorful gastronomic experiences that I have ever had in life. The taste of the amazingly delicious local cuisine lifted my passion for food and saved my taste which had been lost due to tons of fast and delivery food – one of the typical consequences of living in a busy modern society. Additionally, I felt even more delighted when I knew that Hoi An committed to banning dog meat for culinary purposes. This progressive movement contributes enormously to the changes in animal food products and the welfare of animals. The sense of not harming a petting animal like a dog while traveling makes my experience more peaceful and meaningful.

After the travel experience in Hoi An, I came back to a calmer and more mindful version of myself. I indulged in the experience fully and free myself from all the stresses. If you want to live the same experience as mind, you can go to the website of AVT Travel, and click on “Build your trip” where dedicated and enthusiastic people will get to you and design your own “dream healing journey”. Or if you want to discover more places for a longer fantastic experience, please check out the “comfort travel” inside the “Travel Style” section on the website. I hope you can find yourself and trace back to your core value through your unique travel experience.
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