a streetside dinner in Hoi An at Pho Xua

Watching the evening traffic go by, we sit happily from one of two small tables fronting the open air windows of Pho Xua restaurant near Hoi An’s ancient town. The street is full of tangled motor bikes, wandering tourists and restaurant hosts offering something to eat to each person who passes. Sharing a single bench seat, the table quickly fills up with large bottles of beer, veggie spring rolls, fried rice, and delicious pho. Like any good Vietnamese cuisine, the flavors are perfectly balanced - sweet and spicy - hot soups covered in fresh mint, cilantro and local greens. We’ve grown accustomed to this incredible customization of food, where noodle soups are dressed up with hot chilies, lime juice, fresh herbs and soy, each offering a unique taste.

The warm night air, full belly and calming feeling of a tall beer makes the unfolding street scene seem like a performance just for us; a travel moment that has gratefully been cemented in our minds.