“Hoi An — Lanterns and Slow Light” (Vietnam)

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22 October 2025

Hoi An feels like it’s forever caught between a dream and a memory. Yellow walls lean against narrow lanes, and riverside cafés spill soft music into the afternoon air. As the sun dips, lanterns bloom — red, blue, gold — floating like whispers across the Thu Bon River.

You walk slowly, because here, time prefers walking. Tailors call out gently, the smell of pho curls through the air, and children chase the drifting lights.
Every turn feels like a painting, and every reflection holds a story.
Hoi An doesn’t ask you to hurry — it teaches you how to glow quietly.

Rajat Chandra Sarmah / Guwahati, Assam, India
Instagram: @rajatchandrasarmah5 | YouTube: @ConverseWithASmile