bigtravelbuzzHoi An: Vietnam’s premier tourist destination, with its charming lantern-lit streets of the Old Town that hugs the riverbanks. Japanese, Chinese and French influences are reflected in the street scene, lined with traditional old wooden and yellow colonial buildings. Needless to say, the baguettes sold on street corners are also delicious! As a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a long history, Hoi An has perfectly preserved its history. Here you’ll find 14 must do in Hoi An, Vietnam.
14 best things to do in Hoi An, Vietnam are:
1. Stroll through the old streets of Hoi An
Spend hours leisurely strolling the streets admiring the French and Asian style homes, shutters and colors. The architecture exudes a nostalgic atmosphere and is perfectly preserved due to its UNESCO status.
Stop by one of our charming cafes. The terrace offers quaint city and river views.
At night, the streets are lit up with paper lanterns, creating a charming and romantic atmosphere.
2. Quang Cong Temple
Quan Cong Pagoda’s temples are decorated in bright gold and red, typical of Chinese temples. It stands out against the yellow building and is a perfect example of cultural influence. Enjoy the tranquility of the courtyard. However, please take precautions such as removing your shoes when standing in front of a sacred statue.
To enter the temple, you have to buy a Hoi An Ancient Town ticket from one of his at the ticket booth.
3. Japanese bridge
Hoi An’s iconic sight is the majestic Japanese Bridge over the river. Built during the Japanese immigration in the late 16th century, this bridge is he one of Hoi An, Vietnam’s most popular attractions.
See the fascinating and well-preserved architectural details of the bridge during the day, and see it beautifully lit up at night.
A Hoi An Old Town ticket is required to cross the old bridge.
4. Day trip to Da Nang
Da Nang is a large and developed city located half an hour from Hoi An. It’s home to delicious culinary hotspots, interesting architecture like the Dragon Bridge, and arguably some of the best beaches in Vietnam. Also visit Lady Buddha and Marble His Mountain.
5. Hoi An Market
Immerse yourself in the hustle and bustle of local life with a visit to Hoi An (Chợ Hội An) Market. You will find fresh vegetables and fruits, flowers, spices, baskets, meat and fish. Experience the morning heavy crowds and beeping motorbikes, a must-see in Hoi An.
You can also visit him in one of the many tailor shops in the nearby Hoi An Tailor’s Market to get high quality bespoke suits and dresses at very reasonable prices if you’re good at bargaining. let’s
6. Hoi An Night Market
Spot hundreds of glowing lanterns along Hoi An’s night market. You can find vendors selling clothing and other items. Unlike the day market, the night market is tourist-focused and is located across the bridge.
Probably the most popular market in Vietnam, it tends to get crowded after dark. Hoi An Night Market is open from 5pm to 10pm.
Tips: Visit the market after 8pm, when the crowds have subsided.
7. Arrive at the teahouse
Run by a deaf and speech-impaired man and woman, this charming tea house is a must-see in Hoi An. It’s an incredibly peaceful environment as silence is respected and commands and communication are given using voice cubes and body language. Not only is the tea, coffee and biscuits great, but it’s a great way to put tourism to good use.
8. Hoi An Free Bike Tour
Vietnamese students organize a free bike ride to practice their English. Get to know Hoi An like a local by cycling through rice fields, cooking traditional food, and visiting the less-visited suburbs of Hoi An.
9. Ba Mu Temple Gate (Tam Quan)
This impressive Sanmon Pagoda was recently opened to the public. Dating back to 1626, the ancient temple and beautiful color complex features a circular open circle flanked by two large doors. This is a prime example of the typical style of Vietnamese architecture.
10. Banh Mi – best in Hoi An!
French colonial influence made its way to Vietnam with the introduction of the baguette. Stuffed with meat, coriander, cucumber, pâté or cheese, chili and mayonnaise, the banh mi sandwich is now a traditional Vietnamese dish.
Hoi An is also called the banh mi capital of Vietnam, so there’s no better place to try this incredible Vietnamese sandwich.
Tips: vegetarian or vegan? You have to try the oh so good Banh Mi stand at this place.
11. Hoi An Cooking Class
Vietnamese cuisine is arguably one of the best in the world and within Vietnam, Hoi An takes precedence for its explosive flavors. For this reason, cooking classes are very popular and there are many options. Cooking classes typically last 3-5 hours.
Tan Dong Organic Farm will show you how to grow organic vegetables and herbs on the farm and how to cook traditional Vietnamese dishes. Cycle through the rice fields and paddle in a small basket boat.
Another option is the Tuan Tinh Island – Cooking Tour. This tour will take you to a market to purchase ingredients for your cooking class. A nice boat ride will take you to the cooking class location.
12. Boats along the river
Enjoy a leisurely river cruise on a traditional Vietnamese basket boat! Thung Chai is the name of this round wicker boat made of bamboo. Try navigating for yourself and you’ll find that the shape of the boat makes it nearly impossible not to go around in circles.
There are many ways to learn this and spend an entire morning or afternoon learning about this ancient craft. A must see in Hoi An!
13. A Bang Beach
Hoi An’s main attraction is the Old Town, but his other big attraction is the seaside. An Bang Beach is his 4km sandy beach with sun loungers and relaxing beach bars. Enjoy beautiful sea views while sipping a drink here.
14. Precious Art Gallery
Check out photographer Rehhan’s amazing gallery showcasing the culture and significance of ethnic groups in Vietnam. This series of photographs was taken over his eight years and documents his 51 of his 54 remaining tribes in Vietnam. New photos have also been added. Also on display are several traditional folk costumes, all of which offer a true insight into his history of one of Vietnam’s most important cultural aspects.
How to get to Hoi An, Vietnam
Hoi An is located in the center of Vietnam and although it does not have an airport, it is easily accessible. The nearest airport is Da Nang, just 45 minutes by car. Regular public buses run for just $1, and taxi options are available. With daily flights from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang, more and more international flights are becoming available.
Bus
Flying is the quickest option, but there are also sleeper buses that depart from various parts of Vietnam and some night trains that run from Hanoi to Da Nang.
Walking around
It cab be easily accessible by foot and bicycle. The pedestrian street is a great place for a stroll. Rent a bike and cycle between beaches and rice fields. Some hotels and guesthouses in Hoi An also provide bicycles, so it is wise to look for hotels with bicycles.
Entrance ticket to Hoi An Ancient Town
To enter Hoi An Ancient Town, tickets are required to enter some buildings. Buy your ticket at one of the counters along the edge of the city center. Tickets are 120,000 VND (US$5) and you don’t have to walk through Hoi An.
Hoi An Restaurants
Hoi An is a gourmet destination with established local and international cuisines. These are our favorites:
- Nú eatery (Fusion Vietnamese)
- Streets Restaurant (International)
- Nourish eatery (International, Vegan)
- Quán Cao lầu Bá Lễ (Vietnamese)
- Vegetarian Ban Mi (Vietnamese)
- Avo’s and Mango (International)
- The Espresso Station (Best coffee)
- Nhan’s Kitchen (Vietnamese)
Where to stay in Hoi An
Depending on what kind of excursion you want, you can stay on the beach or in the heart of the old town. It’s best to stay away from the old town, as it’s cheaper to stay and has easier access to the beach and old town.
Best time to travel in Hoi An
Hoi An’s climate is warm all year round, but he is especially dry from February to July. Avoid Vietnamese public holidays when shops and restaurants are closed, especially TET, which is his biggest public holiday of the year.
Recommendation: A very popular monthly lantern festival in Hoi An, while his festival is beautiful, it also creates an unbelievable amount of garbage in the river. It is recommended not to participate.