What to do in Hoi An: the ancient gem of Vietnam

Hoi An is, hands down, the most beautiful city in Vietnam. The Old Town, which is a UNESCO world heritage site, is a reflection of the influence of Chinese, Japanese and French influences. The colonial yellow houses are iconic, and at night, the city becomes magical with the charming lanterns being lit all around town. It is also a foodie gem, with some of the nicest restaurants in the country and being the capital of Banh Mi, my favourite sandwich in the world. Hoi An is also a place to unwind, with a very different rythm than other cities in the country, so make sure you save some days for this magical town and use your stay to relax.

This post is part of my 3-week Vietnam itinerary. Check it out in the link below!

→ Ultimate 3 weeks Vietnam Itinerary: North to South

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13 top things to do in Hoi An, Vietnam

1. Have a stroll through the streets of Old Town Hoi An

The most beautiful thing to do in Hoi An is to just wander around the Old Town. The iconic yellow buildings will give you a warm feeling of nostalgia. Just have a walk, enjoy the details of the architecture, have a coffee in one of the towns many terraces and, when the night comes, enjoy the fairy tale feeling of the lanterns lighting up.

It is a perfect place for a walk because, unlike most of Vietnam, it is not filled with motorbikes. In fact, the traffic is forbidden in the Old Town. You will find yourself slowing down your rythm, stopping at little art galleries, silk workshops or cafés. Let the feeling of nostalgia and magic of Hoi An sink in.

Old Town ticket

Technically, you should purchase a ticket (120,000 VDN, 5€) to enter the Old Town. However, we were never asked once for the ticket. The only place you will actually need it is to enter to the main attractions in the city, which are included in the ticket.

2. Cross the Japanese Bridge

When it comes to landmarks, Hoi An is not in shortage either. Perhaps the most photographed landmark in the city is the covered Japanese Bridge. This iconic site was built in the late 16th century when Japanese immigration to the city was strong.

You will need the Old Town ticket to cross it. It is strange but you only get one ticket to cross the bridge, so afterwards you cannot cross it back, but if you tell the guards that your ticket stub was taken on the way they will let you cross.

3. Go shopping in the Hoi An Market

The Hoi An Market (Chợ Hội An) is a perfect reflection of the essence of the city. Unlike other markets in the coutry, Cho Hoi An seems to be much more organized, with a section for fresh foods, a section for meals and a section for clothes and other items.

However, don’t miss the stands surrounding the market, where the selling and buying gets much more exciting. Freshen up your haggling skills! For a more authentic experience, visit the market early in the morning when it’s most bustling.

4. … and continue in the Hoi An Night Market

If you haven’t had enough of shopping, you can continue in the Hoi An Night Market, located on the other side of the river. This market is CLEARLY aimed at tourists, but it is still fun to walk around, buy some souvenirs and eat some snacks.

Travel tip: the Night Market opens at 5 pm and closes at 10 pm. If you want to avoid the crowds, go in the latest hours where the crowds are busy having dinner.

5. Buy traditional silk lanterns

The most iconic souvenir you could buy in Hoi An is the beautiful silk lantern. The lanterns were first introduced to Hoi An in the 16th century through the Japanese immigration, and the Vietnamese adapted the lanter to their own design, making it foldable for easy packaging and with Vietnamese silk in the exterior.

You can buy them literally everywhere in the city, but I ended up buying them in a little shop located in a back alley of the Cho Hoi An. The owner was really nice and very skilled at making the lanterns. The shop is called CHIP and is located in 42 Bach Dang.

Want to get crafty? There are many lantern-making workshops around the city so you can learn how to make your own Vietnamese silk lantern. Adn you can keep it! It is not usual to get a souvenir that you made yourself!

6. Enjoy the calmness at Quan Cong Temple

The Quan Cong Temple is a 17th century pagoda dedicated to Chinese general Quan Cong, who at the time was a symbol of loyalty and justice. The bright red and pink colors typical of Chinese temples has a great contrast with the otherwise yellow Old Town. The inner yard works perfectly as a sanctuary for calmess in contrast with the busy streets of Hoi An. It is a perfect place to have a break and introspect.

Travel tip: this temple is a bit tricky on where you can wear shoes or not. Keep an eye on the signs!

7. Be amazed by Vietnamese architecture at Ba Mu Temple Gates

This beautiful 1626 temple is a stunning example of Vietnamese architecture of the 17th century. It stands out in between the simple architeecture of the colonial houses. This temple was opened recently so now it can be visited inside. However, the most iconic part of this temple is its front facade, with a pond, a round structure and the two main doors.

8. Watch the town from above

If you’ve been reading my articles for a while, you should not be surprised about this recommendation. Watching a city from above always give you a new perspective (and it’s often accompanied by booze, so there’s that…). With Hoi An is even more special, since there are no skyscrapers or viewpoints in the city because the Old Town has been very well preserved.

There are a few places with a nice view in Hoi An’s Old Town, like Kha My Café, with its garden and view of the river or Market Bar, with a view on a crossroad and a more “fancy” style. However, my favourite rooftop bar in Hoi An is The Chef Restaurant & Café. This hidden gem is disguised as a book-souvenir shop, but if you go in and climb up the stairs, you will find an amazing rooftop terrace with 360º views in the heart of the Old Town, while still preserving the charming ancient vibe.

9. Enjoy the delicious food scene in Hoi An

For a foodie like me Hoi An is a dream come true. It just makes sense: delicious Vietnamese cuisine with their own local style in a charming ancient town surrounded by lanterns and music. What’s not to love!

Among my favourite dishes in the city are the BEST SANDWICH IN THE WORLD, the Banh Mì and the Cao Lau local noodles. Have a look at this post in order to discover the local dishes of Hoi An so you can squeeze the most out of your gastronomic journey:

→ Hoi An food guide: 7 must-eat dishes in Hoi An

Also, to help you navigate through the buzzling food scene of the city, here’s a list of my favourite restaurants in town:

→ 10 Must-Try Hoi An Restaurants

10. … and learn in one of its Cooking Classes

The delicious food, the cozy environment and the lazy atmosphere make of Hoi An the perfect place to do a different kind of tourism: less visiting monuments and more learning local stuff. For me, there is nothing that brings you closer to other cultures than gastronomy, so learning a few Vietnamese recipes was one of the highlights of my trip. It gets even better when it’s by the hand of one of the most prestigious cooking schools in the city: the Red Bridge.

→ Vietnamese Cooking Class in Hoi An with Red Bridge

11. Take a boat along the river

The Thu Bon River is the artery of the city, so it is adds another layer when you want to explore it. There are plenty of options when it comes to boats in Hoi An. You can go old school and try the traditional basket boats (Thung Chai), use regular (but more efficient) row or motor boats or jump in one of the tacky lit boats at night.

We chose to take advantage of the boat ride that was included in our class at Red Bridge Cooking School, which was only for us, making the trip much more intimate.

Here are some fun options to enjoy the river while exploring the Hoi An area:

12. Take a day trip to Da Nang

What Hoi An has of cozy and traditional, Da Nang has it of modern and international. Da Nang is the sister city of Hoi An, located only 30 minutes away. It is an epicenter for expats in Vietnam, and it has many foodie locations, some interesting architecture and some nice beaches.

There are plenty of things to do in Da Nang and around. Visit the Dragon Bridge, the Lady Buddha and the Marble Mountains. If you have time, go visit the Ba Na Hills and the scenic Golden Bridge (the instafamous bridge held by giant hands).

Klook.com

13. Spend a day in the beach

I have to say that Vietnam didn’t strike me as a beach destination. There are many beach areas (obviously when you see the length of the coastline), but they are not remotely as beautiful as other SEA neighbours like Thailand or the Philippines. That being said, with the heat that strikes the country most of the year, it is really nice to dip yourself into the South China sea to cool down, and it helps get a tan that lets your coworkers know that you’ve been on vacations. Hoi An is a good place to have a beach day, as An Bang Beach is only a short bike ride away from the center.

Another option is to hop on a boat and spend a beach day at the Cham islands, just in front of the coast of Hoi An. The Cham islands are a perfect escape to sunbathe and do some snorkeling.

Klook.com

When to go to Hoi An

Hoi An is located in Central Vietnam and it has two main seasons: the dry season, that runs from March to September; and the rainy seasons, from October to February. Temperatures are highest between May and August (like, really high) and from October to December there is risk of typhoon, which often leads to flooding of the city.

Therefore, the most pleasant time to visit Hoi An is between February and April, which has lower rainfall and milder temperatures. That being said, I visited in November and we had a wonderful experience, sunny days at the beach and bareable temperatures. Just stay updated on typhoon alerts during your trip in Vietnam and cancel your stay in Hoi An if it coincides with one.

How to get to Hoi An

By plane

Hoi An is one of the main cities, together with Hue, that people visit in Central Vietnam. However, it is quite far away from the two main international airports: Hanoi (798 km) and Ho Chi Minh City (940 km) through SLOW roads.

There are several ways you can get there though. The fastest is by plane to Da Nang airport. This is the option we chose and it saved us a lot of time, since we were going directly from Hanoi. To find the best deals, get your plane tickets in advance on Skyscanner.

By land

Other options are by bus or train. Generally in Vietnam trains are slower and more expensive than buses, and the difference increases with longer journeys. Buses also tend to be more comfortable, so I suggest you choose the bus if you don’t plan to take a plane.

That being said, a bus ride from Hue will be around 6h, from Hanoi 17h and from Ho Chi Minh you will be looking at a 20h bus drive. The flights from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh are 1h 20′ more or less. The prices of plane tickets are not that expensive compared to western standards and, in most cases, not much more expensive than a bus or train ticket, so unless you have all the time in the world and can stop at different villages on the way, I suggest you take a fast and cheap plain ticket (choose Vietnam Airlines instead of Vietjet).

Where to stay in Hoi An

This is a more complex question, so I wrote a list of my favourite places to stay in Hoi An by budget and by neighborhood, so you can accurately choose what hotel would suit best your wallet and your traveling style:

→ Where to stay in Hoi An: best accommodation in Hoi An by neighborhood

If you don’t want to plan

If you don’t feel like spending time planning your trip, you can have a look at these pre-planned activities in Hoi An. You can find more in Get Your Guide or Klook:

Closing statement

Hoi An is one of the most charming cities I’ve ever been to. I really encourage you to include it in your itinerary in Vietnam. The streets, the atmosphere, the food… everything contributes to a laid back yet rich experience that is only gonna leave you wanting more.

Continue reading

If you are into good food, make sure you read these posts to bring your Hoi An experience to the next level!

Hoi An food guide: 7 must-eat dishes in Hoi An

10 Must-Try Hoi An Restaurants

Vietnamese Cooking Class in Hoi An with Red Bridge

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