Hoi An Town is an exceptionally well-preserved trading port from the 15th to the 19th centuries. It is also known for the most atmospheric city in Vietnam, or perhaps even in the whole of Southeast Asia. The city is full of picturesque historic houses, pagodas and cafes. It is extremely popular to buy handmade clothing. But even if you do not want to shop, Hoi An provides a relaxing destination in an otherwise hectic country. After all, a day at the beach is just a 20-minute bike ride from the city. 5 reasons to visit Hoi An
What is in this Hoi An travel guide Practical information Recommended days to stay This town is easy a place where you could spend a week, because there are so many things to do in Hoi An and around. Besides wandering around the city there are dozens of day trips you can do, and cycling tours. If you are in the right season, it is also a great destination to linger on the beach. ATM's & money exchange ATM’s can be found everywhere in Hoi An town, but less near the beach and countryside.
Local events and holidays
Best time to visit
10 best things to do in Hoi An Most sights in Hoi An can be found in the old town that you can easily explore on foot. But there is more to see and do than walk through the old center. So you have beautiful rice fields in the area, beautiful beaches, islands and craft villages. The best thing about Hoi An is that there is also a lot to do. So you can cycle through the area, take a boat trip on the river, have clothing made, take a cooking class or take a day trip to the ruins of My Son. To make clear what to do and see, check out this list of top 10 attractions in Hoi An and the most popular activities. 1. Walk through the old city Hoi An offers a breathtaking mix of ornate Chinese temples, a Japanese-style bridge, wooden shop buildings, French-colonial houses and old canals. Most of the old shops have been carefully converted into modern businesses for tourists, including countless tailors, souvenir shops, art galleries, restaurants and cafes. The best way to explore this city is on foot. Visit the city both during the day and in the evening, when the lanterns illuminate the old town. The most famous sights in Hoi An are the Japanese bridge, Cantonese Assembly hall, Fujian Assembly Hall and the Chuc Thanh Pagoda. 2. Cycling through the countrysideThe rice fields in Vietnam are extremely popular. Those you find around Hoi An may be less spectacular than the rice terraces in northern Vietnam, but they are much more accessible. One of the best thing to do in Hoi An is exploring this beautiful countryside by a bicycle ride along narrow paths through the rice fields. From the center it is only 10 minutes by bike to the countryside. You see locals with water buffalos walking the land and when you are in the right season they are nice and green. You can also use the bike to cycle to the nearby beaches and other places of interest in Hoi An. 3. Take a cooking classHoi An is the most popular place to take a cooking class in Vietnam. A cooking class in Hoi An is often more than just learning to make dishes, but there are often many other activities that you do, such as a visit to a local market, boat trips, cycling and visiting craft villages. There are dozens of restaurants that offer cooking classes. Check the options first. Which activities does it include, are there vegetarian or vegan options and how long does it take. 4. Relax on the beachIf you have been walking around for a whole day to see all the sights in Hoi An, you might be ready to relax the next day. Fortunately there are a number of beaches in Hoi An and in the area. The two most popular are An Bang Beach and Cua Dai Beach. You can easily reach these beaches by bike from the center. With a scooter or taxi you can even go to the beaches of Da Nang. 5. Take a boat tripHoi An offers plenty of opportunities to get on the water. Enjoying some of the many river roads in the city is a must – rent a boat, go paddling or take a tour where you see life on and along the water. You can walk to the river from the old town where you will be flooded by boat trips on the Thu Bon river. You can also go to Cam Thanh Village where you can paddle through the forest of coconuts with a basket boat. 6. Have clothing madeOnce an important port on the Silk Road, the perfectly preserved 15th-century trading history of the city continues to flourish today, where the tailors in Hoi An use their magic to produce high-quality clothing at a bargain price for the seemingly endless passing trade. There are many tourists who have clothing made in Hoi An and why not? It will certainly be worth your money and it will be a great souvenir and a reminder to take home. 7. Visit the marketsOne of the most popular sights is the markets in Hoi An. Markets are also one of the best places to see the local life. In the middle of the city next to the river you will find the central market where you can really find everything. Every night there is a Night Market. The 300-meter-long Nguyen Hoang Street changes into a sea of color, while vendors set up stalls selling everything from handmade jewelry and clothing to delicious snacks. This market is illuminated by hundreds of different colored lanterns that decorate the street and illuminate the stalls. 8. Visit craft villagesWhat you should definitely not miss is a visit to one of the craft liquorice around Hi. Kim Bong Carpentry Village is a special place where carpenters work to produce furniture and other items for remarkable buildings. TraQue Herb Village, a vegetable village, shows you the agricultural techniques of the local population, ranging from plowing the soil, sowing, watering, harvesting vegetables and other agricultural activities. You also have Thanh Ha Pottery Village and Phuoc Kieu Bronze Casting Village. 9. From Hoi An to HueThe route from Hoi An to Hue is very impressive and is already an activity in itself, with the highlight being the Hai Van Pass. This mountain pass is known for the TopGear TV program and offers great views of the sea, mountains and beaches. You can drive a scooter over this mountain pass yourself, you can hire an Easy Rider on the back of the motorcycle or rent a car with driver. When you go with an Easy Rider or car you often visit other sights on the route such as the Marble Mountains and Lang Co Beach. 10. Day trips from Hoi AnWhat’s also great about the city is that there are not only many places of interest in Hoi An, but also beyond. You can visit these places by day tours or driving a motorbike yourself. These are the most popular day trips from Hoi An:
Best hotels & hostels in Hoi An Where to stay The Old Town – In the heart of Hoi An is the Old Town with the iconic sights. Though there is not much accommodation right in the Old Town. If you prefer a bit more comfort or a hotel with a pool, it is recommended to search for accommodation just outside the old town. South of the old town you have the island of An Hoi, known for the famous night market and where the liveliest nightlife of Hoi An can be found. Cam Chau and Cam Thanh are located in the countryside between the beach and the old town of Hoi An. It is approximately 10 minutes by bike to the old town and 15 minutes by bike to the beach of Cua Dai. There are a lot of nice small boutique hotels and homestays around this area. You are right between the rice fields, rivers and both close to the beach and city. This makes this area the best place to stay in Hoi An. If you prefer to spend the majority of your time on the beach and visit the old town once or twice, An Bang Beach is a good option. Best hotels & hostels in Hoi An Budget hotels & hostels
Mid range hotel
High end hotel & resort
Food & drinking Restaurants Deciphering Hanoi’s street food scene can be astonishing, but it is worth keeping up and diving into. The city’s best food comes from the dozens of vendors that line the city’s sidewalks with smoking charcoal burners, tiny plastic stools and queues of locals.
Nightlife Across the river, the area known as An Hoi, is popular for backpackers. There are quite a few options for drinking. They fluctuate from night to night and are easy to find.
How to get there This town does not have an airport or train station, but neighboring city Da Nang has, making Hoi An still easy reachable. Flights to Hoi An The closest airport to Hoi An is Da Nang International Airport (DAD), located in the heart of Da Nang. It is 30 kilometers from Hoi An. From the airport, the ride to Hoi An takes approximately 30 minutes by taxi or bus. There are flights to Da Nang from all over the country, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Dalat and Phu Quoc. Busses to Hanoi Hoi An has two bus stations with buses to and from many destinations in Vietnam, such as Nha Trang (10 hours) and Hue (2.5 hours). But in Da Nang there is a larger busstation with a lot more busses and connections. Between Hoi An and Da Nang there is a public bus that stops just outside the center of Hoi An and runs through the Da Nang center. Trains to Hanoi The nearest train station is in Da Nang. Several trains a day arrive from Quy Nhon (6 hours), Hanoi (17 hours), Ho Chi Minh City (17 hours), Hue (3 hours), Nha Trang (11 hours) and Mui Ne (16 hours). At the station you have no problems finding a taxi to take you to Hoi An. How to get around Hoi An is small enough to walk effortlessly through the old city. Every day from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., the old town is closed to motor vehicles and is only accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. With a bike you have more reach and it is a cheap option to go to the beaches and explore the countryside. Most hotels offer guests bicycles free of charge or cost a dollar or two per day. Cyclos are a nice way to explore the old city. Expect to pay around 100,000 dong for a one-hour tour. If you are a confident motorbike driver there are very beautiful trips through the countryside, to the many islands and further over the Hai Van Pass and the area around Lang Co. Itinerary 2 days in Hoi An Day 1
Day 2
More tips for traveling in Hoi An Where to go next? Through Da Nang, Hoi An is well connected with other destinations in Vietnam via domestic flights. For example, you can easily fly directly to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Phu Quoc. When traveling north, your first destination is the historic city of Hue. Then you can make your way to Phong Nha and Ninh Binh. Heading south you can choose to follow the coastal road via Quy Nhon and Nha Trang or via the central highlands via Kon Tum and Dalat. Hoi An with kids Hoi An is one of the best cities to travel in Vietnam with kids. You can walk through the stunning old town when roads are blocked for motorbikes and cars, enjoy biking through the countryside, relax at the beach or make fun day trips in the area. Language Hoi An is very much developed, so it is no problem to communicate in English at most hotels, shops and restaurants.
|