Hoi An

Hoi An Overview

About 400 years ago, Hoi An was a busy trading port with traders from all over the world, creating a diverse culture between East and West. Today, it is one of the rare ancient towns still preserved with almost intact. Hoi An ancient town is always at the top list of tourist destinations in Vietnam for many reasons.

This small town is an excellent combination of Eastern and Western cultures. In Hoi An, you can find the quintessence of Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and European countries. Its beauty is not only in cuisine but the architecture and the local traditions, too.

Explore Hoi An

Hoi An Map

hoi an town

Hoi An Attractions

Hoi An is famous for its traditional architecture with the harmony of old houses, walls, and roads. Many years passed, but it still retains its ancient beauty in every little thing and even in the local personality.

Streets in the old town are in the chess-board-like arrangement. Walking through each of those pretty and peaceful streets, visitors can not only enjoy delicious food but also see a part of the daily life of people here.

Visiting Hoi An, you must not forget exploring some places. They include Chua Cau – the symbol of the town, famous ancient houses, and spiritual constructions such as Quan Thang, Duc An, Tan Ky, etc.

Hoi An Restaurants & Dining

No need for luxury restaurants, the ancient ones with heirloom recipes are attractive enough for every tourist when coming to Hoi An.

Ba Buoi Chicken Rice – No.22, Phan Chu Trinh Street

This brand has been present in Hoi An since the 50s of the 20th century. Like many places, the chicken rice here also includes rice, boiled chicken, and accompanying vegetables. Thanks to the family’s secret, the restaurant gets crowded every day.

Banh Mi Phuong (2b Phan Chau Trinh Street) or Banh Mi Madam Khanh (115 Tran Cao Van)

These are two Hoi An Banh Mi brands rated by domestic and foreign tourists as the best in the world. A unique feature that helps these two brands cling to customers is their esoteric sauce. The owners make the sauce on their own, and only the heiresses will know.

hoi an nightlife

Hoi An Nightlife

At night, Da Nang comes with the shimmering beauty of many attractive and beautiful entertaining places.

Boating on Hoai river

An exciting experience that a lot of tourists like to do is to drop flower lanterns on the Hoai River.

You and local service providers boat on Hoai river. Then, you drop small flower lanterns into the river. The locals believe that the lights will send the luck to your beloved family in the future.

Walking along the old town 

You step out into the street and watch the old houses and colorful lanterns as well. You will feel like you get lost in the world of the light, the ancient architecture, the countryside, and modern life.

Drinking coffee

What could be more exciting than sipping a cup of coffee in the ancient town? Some recommendations for you are Cocobox, The Chef, Mót, Hoi An Roastery, Faifo Coffee, etc. You can enjoy the melodious music from the street loudspeaker and watch the flow of people on the streets.

Hoi An Weather – Best time to visit

The period from February to April is the best time to visit Hoi An. According to travel experience, the weather in the town in these months is often pleasant and cool with few rains.

From May to July is the end of the dry season in Hoi An. It will be a great time for you to visit Cu Lao Cham, Cua Dai beach or other beaches in Da Nang, too. However, this period is also the peak time of the tourist season. So, the travel cost may be increase and finding hotels is challenging a little bit.

No matter which months you choose to come to Hoi An, there is one note to bear in mind. You trip will be surely more perfect if you come on 14th day of the lunar calendar. It is a great chance to experience the night festival on the full moon of the ancient town.

hoi an shopping

Hoi An Shopping

Everyone knows that the lantern is one of the most beautiful symbols of Hoi An. So, don’t forget to buy them as souvenirs. You can find these products in Tuoi Ngoc and Ngoc Thu lantern shops on Tran Phu street or shops on Le Loi street. Price is not too expensive for sure.

Besides, sewing clothes in this ancient town is worth trying. It is not only beautiful, cheap but also extremely fast. Getting your body measurements, the workers only need few hours to finish sewing for you. They can also ship the clothes to your places if needed then.

Some well-known garment places in Hoi An include Thu Thuy Shop, Yaly Couture, A Dong Silk Tailor and Bao Khanh Silk Tailor.

Hoi An Where to stay

Hotel, homestay and villa are three common options to stay when visiting Hoi An.

Hotel

It is the most popular accommodation in Hoi An with many hotel groups to choose from. From small hotels located close to the center to luxury hotels or high-end resorts by the sea are all available. Depending on the purpose of the trip, you can choose the hotel that best suits.

Homestay

With this accommodation, you can stay and try many daily activities with local people.

Villa

In recent years, this form of accommodation has grown in Hoi An. The quality is relatively good and the price is much cheaper than the big hotels. The villa also has a small pool along with dining services.

hoi an sky

Hoi An Itinerary for Ideal days?

To fully explore the beauty of Hoi An, a 3-day-2-night tour is the most ideal one for you. With 3 days 2 nights, you will be able to experience famous destinations, enjoy delicious food and discover many interesting things.

Day 1: Exploring Hoi An ancient town

It is time to visit major destinations in the town. They include pagodas, ancient house and more. You visit craft stores, explore traditional handicrafts and enjoy specialties. In the evening, you watch colorful lanterns and boat on the Thu Bon River.

Day 2: Visiting Cu Lao Cham island and Thanh Ha pottery village

Cu Lao Cham island is the first destination on this second day. The highlight of the day is to sit on the traditional circle fishing boat and explore the coconut palm forest. Next, you visit the Thanh Ha pottery village. You will create your own ceramic products there.

Day 3: Enjoying the final day in the Hoi An ancient town

On the final day, you surely must cycle around the town in the early morning, eat “banh mi” and drink coffee. Then, you go shopping for souvenirs.