Hello everyone,
A few weeks ago I went back to Hoi An to see the streets with beautiful golden walls. The weather that day was not very favorable, the rain was light and the sky was cloudy, the river also became cloudy.
I wandered through the straight roads along the river, each leaf of confetti falling on my shoulder. I enjoy the quiet, rare solitude of the old town. At times like these, taking a little bit of Hoi An weather back as a souvenir or watching the old town from above with the bustling stream of people below, is also a special experience, enough to see a peaceful and peaceful Hoi An sobbing intense emotions that are hard to define. People said that Hoi An old town can't do economic work during the epidemic season, but living is better than before, no longer filled with hustle and bustle and noise everywhere.
Only listening to the music melodies echoing somewhere on the street corner every afternoon, melodious and painful. Then stop by a coffee shop along Hoai river, next to An Hoi bridge, right in the center of Hoi An city. What makes me impressed with this place is the quiet, nostalgic look from the decoration to the surrounding space of the shop, bringing a feeling of comfort and freedom.
Sakura means "Cherry Blossom", the name of a famous Japanese flower known to everyone.
Today, Cherry Blossom is the name of a restaurant located in the center of Hoi An ancient town, which is also the pride of not only the owner Horiki Yasuo and the restaurant staff, but also the joy of People of in Hoi An when they see a familiar name lying near Hoi An's Japanese Covered Bridge, one of the remaining cultural heritage.
With a very poetic location next to the Hoai River, where there are so many shimmering lights floating along the river on the full moon nights of the old town. The front of the restaurant is Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, the main road of Hoi An to bring to the folk songs of the festival, and also the road with many famous restaurants that have entered the hearts of Hoi An people and diners near and far.
With a capacity of about 200 seats, with many wonderful culinary flavors, Sakura restaurant is being voted as one of the favorite restaurants of tourists in the old town. I went at noon so the street was very deserted, I chose to sit at a table outside to enjoy the winter cold and the pouring rain.
The tables and chairs here are also relatively simple, suitable for the open space of the restaurant.
The front of the restaurant is the romantic Hoai River, on Nguyen Thai Hoc street. At this time, there are very few tourists, in addition to the rainy weather for several days in a row, people have used stuff to cover the boat. The boats lie lonely, quiet by the river, waiting for guests on the next journey to discover Hoi An. During the holidays, people can earn several hundred thousand VND a day by carrying tourists on excursions.
The front of this place is displayed with fruit baskets. Vietnam is a tropical monsoon country, so the fruits here are very unique and diverse, with 4 seasons with fresh fruits such as orange, mango, pineapple, papaya, durian, jackfruit, longan, rambutan, mangosteen... that's why juice is always popular in restaurants. The fruit is fresh and pure, the price is not expensive, it is both nutritious and close to nature. The fruit basket is also Southern-style, bringing a sense of harmony and closeness.
The main door to the restaurant is decorated with a number of lanterns bearing the symbol of cherry blossoms and clusters of traditional Vietnamese conical hats. Two familiar images and symbols of two countries.
Inside, the restaurant has French architecture, with yellow walls covered with moss, timely flavor.
The surrounding is decorated with many lanterns with different colors, things that tourists can easily see on the streets of Hoi An and Japan. The reception area has a vase of lilies with Bat Trang ceramics, leaving the first impression when visitors step in.
Bat Trang ceramics is the common name for ceramic wares produced in the traditional village of Bat Trang in Hanoi.
The raw material for making Bat Trang ceramics must be white clay, after a long process from preparation to a product, this is also one of the reasons why Bat Trang Ceramics is so special.
Bat Trang is still a commonly used object in Vietnamese families nowadays. Not just drinking water, making tea, but also a beautiful decoration. Next to the reception desk, a Vietnamese-Japanese cultural space is arranged, such as Ancient paintings of Japanese old stories, vases of cherry blossoms, incense sticks....dear and close images.
A dining table on the ground floor with airy space. Sitting here, visitors can take their eyes out of the window to the riverbank, watching the river drifting day and night.
Agarwood incense, a famous product typical of Quang, is introduced in a pair of dangling burdens that recreate the central countryside on the 2nd floor. Agarwood incense is considered an indispensable incense in spiritual, religious, and cultural ceremonies around the world.
The scent of natural incense is considered one of the best scents for meditation and yoga, as well as many other spiritual practices.
Antique water bottles in glossy black, along with living utensils made of rattan, Vietnamese bamboo, etc. are also on display.
The space on the 2nd floor is decorated according to the traditional Vietnamese house architecture. From the balcony looking to the right, it is possible to observe the cultural center of the old town.
In previous years, every evening, this place was bustling with flute music, traditional cultural and entertainment activities were held here. Bai Choi festival, folk games, enrich the beauty of this place. From here, looking far away, visitors can also admire a corner of the old town by the river, such as the Hoai river, night market, An Hoi bridge.
After an afternoon spent time here, I have an appointment with my friend to walk around the old town. Next, we stopped at another restaurant to enjoy the flavors only available in Hoi An.
The name "Cao Lau" is always a question mark for tourists when experiencing the ancient features of Hoi An. It can be said that this is a dish that is synthesized by many ethnic groups, this strange name is probably derived from the Chinese language, indicating "Delicious" dishes.
In fact, the name Cao Lau also originates from the fact that this dish is often sold on the second floor and terraces at restaurants in Hoi An, hanging lanterns above, diners can sit and enjoy the delicious flavors while eating of food while watching the peaceful and romantic Hoi An ancient town.
Cao Lau is not only special in its strange name, but especially in its recipe, from the selection and handling of ingredients to the sauce and herbs. All have created a subtle, unforgettable taste for a bowl of Cao Lau full of color, eye-catching color, and the culinary soul of the old town.
When it comes to the processing steps of Cao Lau, it is an elaborate, meticulous process that contains a chef's mind. The essence of this specialty is in the noodles. Noodles are made from the most fragrant sticky rice, soaked in ash water to cook firewood from Cu Lao Cham. In order for the noodles to be golden and delicious, we must use the ash cooked from Cu Lao Cham soaked in rice to create the characteristic crispness, dry flexibility. To add extra points to the dish, people often add a little pork skin or fried square dried Cao Lau.
Cao Lau yarn is brown rice yellow or dyed yellow. Cao Lau does not need broth but instead is meat, broth, and fat shrimp. To make pork belly, people choose lean pork thighs, marinated with spices and five flavors. And fat shrimp is also a strange auxiliary ingredient, formerly made of deep-fried pork skin, now it is replaced with flour to make Cao Lau fiber.
In addition, to make the Cao Lau dish more fragrant, it is also a bit like Quang noodles, people also add crushed roasted peanuts. The sauce when making char siu is sprinkled on, who likes to eat a little more, add a little fish sauce.
Sitting on a high floor watching Hoi Street, in front of you is a bowl of Cao Lau with golden noodles, topped with pork tenderloin (made from tender, tender, and fragrant pork), deep-fried pork skin fat, bean sprouts, Tra Que herbs and a little sauce from fragrant pork tenderloin give diners a very unique, unique and unforgettable culinary experience that only Hoi An can truly bring to customers traveler.
It can be said that with a unique aftertaste that cannot be found anywhere else like Cao Lau, those who have never known this dish will have to be interested and order a portion to discover how.
As for those who know well about Cao Lau, they have to enjoy it, even more, to satisfy their taste when traveling to Hoi An Da Nang.
Photos was taken by me and my friend Lan
https://www.facebook.com/panyny.lan
Have a great day!!!