From a surprise birthday setup on our bed to cake by the pool, roller coasters at VinWonders, dodgem car chaos, and a traditional Cao Lầu dinner in Hoi An. Emmett’s birthday abroad was different to home, but every bit as special.

A rainy start couldn’t slow us down on Day 45. From indoor workouts and noodle breakfasts to the kids reopening their roadside shop, market shopping for Austria, pool time, and a relaxed family dinner, it turned into one of those unexpectedly great slow travel days.

A sleepy start turned into a family bike-and-run adventure, three solid hours of kid-run business at the front gate, cheap local eats, slow coffee in a garden oasis, and a dramatic coconut explosion on the tiles. One of those simple days that somehow felt full from start to finish.

What started as a relaxed morning by the pool turned into hours of confidence building, creativity and unexpected chaos as the kids opened their own street-side shop in Hoi An. From handmade multilingual signs to scooter key panic and elephant pants for the whole family, Day 43 was simple, funny and full of small moments that matter.

We started 2026 the right way, a sunrise run through rice fields, bamboo basket boats in the coconut forest, bodyboarding at the beach, and a few reminders about travel budgets and sensitive skin. A full, messy, beautiful first day of the year in Hoi An.

Day 41 of our worldschooling adventure brought us to a lantern-lit New Year’s Eve in Hoi An. From poolside breakfasts and scooter rides to fireworks, flying toys, tailor-made shirts and early bedtime reflections, it was the perfect family way to close out 2025 and step into 2026.

We left Da Nang craving space and landed in the quiet rice paddies of Hoi An. After a false start with accommodation, we finally found a place that felt right. Bikes with backseat cushions, one of the best curries I’ve ever had, pool races at 24 degrees, and proper room for the kids to breathe. Day 40 felt like a reset in all the right ways.