Travels with Tricia

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At the Thu Bon River’s Edge – Hoi An, Vietnam

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Tricia A. Mitchell

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We spent several relaxing hours walking and dining along Hoi An’s riverside. At midday, some locals made meals on weathered, wooden boats.

Boat under palm trees in Hoi An, Vietnam

On the other side of the the Thu Bon River, colorful vessels sat tethered, patiently awaiting passengers.

Woman near water in Hoi An, Vietnam

Several boatmen and women along the river called out to visitors in the hope they’d hire their boats for an hour or more. (On another afternoon, we did so for two hours. While riding on the rented boat, I was thrilled to be invited to ride in a boat basket that we passed on the water. Of course I did so!)

Women talking in Hoi An, Vietnam wearing non la hats on the riverside

Ladies wearing nón lá hats gossiped about the day’s happenings.

Man at riverside in Hoi An Vietnam

Others were more contemplative…

Where in the World?

Photography & text © Tricia A. Mitchell. All rights reserved.

Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar

About the author

Hi! My name is Tricia Mitchell. I delight in telling stories about my slow travels through more than 65 countries. Some of my highlights have included sharing meals with locals in Armenia, Cambodia, and Tunisia; sipping sparkling wine with French cousins in Alsace; milking goats in a sleepy Bulgarian village; and training with a Japanese mine-clearance team in Laos. My husband, Shawn, and I are based in France’s Loire Valley.

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24 responses to “At the Thu Bon River’s Edge – Hoi An, Vietnam”

  1. 2 Rivers Photos Avatar
    2 Rivers Photos

    Really digging the first & last one :)

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      Thank you, Bashar! When I snapped them, I liked the anonymity of the first and the simplicity of both scenes. :)

      Reply
  2. umirza Avatar
    umirza

    Amazing captures of their emotions! And what an amazing country. Make sure you check out Sapa in the North!!

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      Umirza, that’s something I enjoy very much about street photography – it presents many opportunities for the photographer to capture candid emotion.

      Oh, how I’ve longed to go to Sapa! Both times I’ve been to Vietnam, though, it’s been winter, and I’ve been utterly unprepared for the chilly weather. How long did you stay there?

      Reply
      1. umirza Avatar
        umirza

        I was only in Sapa for a few days but was taken aback by the rural beauty of the place. The weather was amazing for the first couple of days but then we woke up literally in a storm cloud so decided to skip town for Lao!
        Im looking to go back to Vietnam in January and Hoi An in on my list!! Anywhere else you’d recommend?

      2. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
        Tricia A. Mitchell

        Great that you’re soon Vietnam-bound! I’m sure you have Ha Long Bay, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on your list, but I’d also highly recommend Hué for the imperial city and tombs, and Mui Ne for the sand sledding and laid-back beaches. The north can get really chilly in Jan, so make sure you have layers! (You probably remember that from Sapa.) And, see if you can try to time your visit with Tet (the Vietnamese New Year). That’s great fun to watch the people prepping for the celebrations and then participating in them!

      3. umirza Avatar
        umirza

        Brilliant recommendation and a fantastic blog. I also am very interested in your participate page and will be looking up some of them while in the area!!!

      4. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
        Tricia A. Mitchell

        What great compliments – thank you! I’m really happy that you found some nonprofits of interest on the Participate page. While traveling is fun just by itself, it’s great to also great to support some worthwhile causes while on the road. :)

  3. belocchio Avatar
    belocchio

    A boat that’s pure magic. The red and green boat promises adventures – and delivers. Tricia I do so adore your photographs and story. Viriginia

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      That’s the magic of being in any new place, isn’t it — the adventures that await! Some of the fondest memories from our trip were spent out on the water – snorkeling (for my first time), and taking boat trips on the waters of Vietnam and India. From an outside perspective, it seems so relaxing to commute by boat.

      I hope your week is going well, Virginia! Thank you as always.

      Reply
  4. marinachetner Avatar
    marinachetner

    Your post evokes such a calm Tricia! Lovely photos – I especially like the 2nd last one.

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      Hi Marina & many thanks! I also liked that gentleman’s pensive look – I wonder what he was pondering…

      Thank goodness for a zoom lens. :)

      Reply
  5. Madhu Avatar
    Madhu

    Neat post Tricia. Love the last shot!

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      Madhu, thank you! I really appreciated the texture in that scene – the weathered, wooden boats, and the glassy, smooth water.

      Reply
  6. rigmover Avatar
    rigmover

    Another stunning collection Tricia.

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      Many thanks, Mark. Vietnam is a very photogenic country. :) Safe travels to you & happy snapping!

      Reply
  7. Victor Ho Avatar
    Victor Ho

    What a great essay! It really gives you the vibe of life on the river.

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      That’s what I hoped to convey, Victor – so many thanks! All the best to you and your family for a wonderful weekend.

      Reply
  8. Monica Avatar
    Monica

    Hi Tricia, am going to Hoi An next week, do you think it’s necessary to have a guide ?thanks Monica from http://www.doindubai.com

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      Hi Monica, how exciting that you’re Hoi An bound! We spent about 3 days there and found we didn’t need a guide. One morning we did a cooking class (something we found while having dinner at one of the restaurants along the river) and another afternoon we took a two hour boat ride (which was easily arranged with a boat driver, on a spontaneous basis). The rest of the time we just strolled through the downtown. The historic spots were close enough to each other that we were able to easily explore, without a guide. Be sure to enjoy the lantern illuminated streetscapes and river by night- they’re very charming! Safe and enjoyable travels; I look forward to seeing your pictures. :)

      Reply
  9. David Avatar
    David

    Gorgeous photographs – we spent a month in Vietnam over Christmas and I think you’ve captured some of its essence beautifully.

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      David, what a great compliment from someone who’s also visited there! What spots did you visit?

      Reply
      1. David Avatar
        David

        We were in dire need of a do nothing beach holiday, so I’m ashamed to say that we spent a disproportionate amount of time down in the South lying on the beach on Phu Quoc drinking Expresso Martinis! So not exactly culture vultures on this particular trip, although we also did quite a long trip up the Mekong Delta on our way back to Saigon and the few obligatory days dodging motorbikes in the city! Next time round I think it would have to be a trip down the other way from Hanoi. And you?

      2. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
        Tricia A. Mitchell

        Sounds like you had some much-needed time de-stressing there! We contemplated having beach time in Vietnam too, but in the end decided to do so in the Philippines later in our trip.

        Like you, we also did a day trip on the Mekong Delta, the historical war sites (Cu Chi Tunnels and Museum) and the main cities along the coast, going north from Saigon: Mui Ne dunes sand sledding, Da Lat (they compare it to the Alps, because of the cooler temps and flowers grown there), Hué’s imperial city and tombs, plus Hoi An. On an earlier trip, I was really impressed by Ha Long Bay and the hustle and bustle of Hanoi during Tet (the New Year). Someday I hope to make it back to see Sapa. The culture there looks amazing!

        Hope you’re having a great weekend, David!