Hoi An: Lantern Light and Thu Bon River at Ancient Town Golden Hour

Hoi An sits at 15.9°N on the Thu Bon River in central Vietnam, 30 km southeast of Da Nang. The ancient trading port (UNESCO World Heritage) dates to the 15th–19th centuries, with preserved merchant houses, temples, and the Japanese Covered Bridge. Golden hour lasts roughly 22 minutes. The Thu Bon riverfront (Nguyen Phuc Tan and Bach Dang streets) faces east and northeast — at sunrise, light enters from the east-northeast over the water and illuminates the colonial facades simultaneously. At sunset, the river reflects the western sky and the riverside lanterns begin to glow as natural light fades. Cua Dai Beach (5 km east) faces east over the South China Sea for pure ocean sunrises.