We woke to yet another humid morning in Mo Duc and walking down to breakfast I was given huge hugs and birthday wishes from all my friends. We all piled into a bus and headed up to Hoi An. I was blown away by the city’s charming beauty as we walked around the cobbled streets and amongst the yellow storefronts to lunch…pizza! Finally we ate food other than rice products!

After pizza we roamed in and out of the Hoi An Old Town markets. Before heading to the fresh food market we made the first of many tea/shake/smoothie/juice stops of the weekend. In the market a guide told us all sorts of helpful tips for survival and success in a Vietnamese food market. My guide, Thahn, gave us all sorts of helpful guidelines and fun stories about the markets.

Next came one of my favorite moments of the incredible day. All of us piled into two boats and boated down the river, and the friendly captain let me and some others navigate the beautiful river running through Hoi An. We pulled up to the riverside cooking school where we would be making our dinner! Nestled in a little pocket of jungle we walked in the gardens and finally sat down to learn a bunch of awesome recipes, with varying levels of success. Hoi An pancakes, spring rolls, and sweet and spicy fish sauce are only some of the great foods we attempted to create.

Finally came my favorite part of the night where we all sat down to dinner and ate all the meals we had just learned to make a few minutes prior. The whole dining area was decorated with an assortment of cute Disney decor and finally everyone brought out a beautiful cake. With music playing we popped confetti and danced. It was a perfect night spent with great friends. We capped it all off with a trip to the Hoi An night market. I am so elated I got to spend my birthday with such awesome homies in such a beautiful city. Hoi An Day One was a sure success 🙂

– Hannah N.