I start the day with the famous egg coffee. Until now, I still hadn’t tried it, and I figured it was time. Its sweetness reminds me of the Vietnamese coffees I used to drink back in Berlin, and it gives me a good sugar rush to face the heat.

Walking through the small streets of the old town, I can’t help but notice that it’s built entirely for tourists—from the yellow, photogenic walls that serve as backdrops for countless posed photos, to the traditional Vietnamese women carrying fruit with the classic wooden carrying pole, stopping tourists to ask for a photo... and then money. I have to admit, this is one of the most iconic photos you can take in Vietnam.

The experience so far confirms my gut feeling—at least until I wander outside the old town, sit down at a street food kiosk, and try Cao lầu, a local noodle dish made of yellowish noodles unique to this region. At least the food feels authentic.

The afternoon is dedicated to fishnets, and I’d rather pause the words here to leave space for some of the photos from the session.

Now, you might ask yourself: isn’t it too early for today’s missive? You’re right. Tomorrow I’ll be visiting a fishing village for sunrise, and the pickup is at 4:45 AM. So I’m heading to dreamland early.

In the end, I had to force myself to book something that would actually get me up that early :)

Till tomorrow,
— M