With Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese and European influences, the ancient coastal town of Hoi An offers history, beauty, and endless wonders. Not to mention being a foodie’s haven. With it’s relaxing vibe, and lazy river lined with mustard merchant houses and endless colourful silk lanterns, it’s no surprise that Hoi An literally translates to ‘peaceful meeting place’.
Hoi An is especially unique as it is one of the few cities in Vietnam that managed to escape most of the bombing during the Vietnam War, despite it being the third-largest city in the country. This means that so much beautiful architecture still remains, especially in the UNESCO-listed Old Town.
Here are the 25 top things to do in Hoi An…
MUST-DO
Explore the Old Town
Hoi An’s charming Old Town is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to the 800 historic buildings here, with some said to date back as far as 2,000 years ago. Eighteen of these buildings are open to visitors and require an Old Town ticket for admission (the fee goes towards funding conservation work).
Hoi An’s Old Town is a fine example of a well-preserved South-East Asian trading port dating back to the 15th-19th centuries. It was considered by the Japanese and Chinese as the best destination for trading in all of South East Asia. Soon after though, Da Nang became the more important centre of trade, leaving Hoi An hardly being touched for around 200 years. For this reason, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. So explore, grab some Vietnamese coffee, and admire the sights and beauty Old Town has to offer.
Included in the Central Vietnam Tour
Admire the Japanese Covered Bridge
The Japanese Covered Bridge is located in the centre of the city and is widely known as the symbol of Hoi An, as well as being a romantic hotspot amongst couples thanks to its beautiful riverside setting.
Dating back to the 16th century, it was constructed by the Japanese community to link with the Chinese quarters of Hoi An. The bridge is around 12 meters long and is famous for its ornate carvings, many of which are in the shape of monkeys and dogs.
Included in the Central Vietnam Tour
Visit Phung Hung Old House
Built-in 1780 by a Vietnamese merchant, Phung Hung is a typical commercial house you would have found in Hoi An in the 18th Century. It was once used as a shop on the ground floor, selling cinnamon, pepper, salt, silk, chinaware, and glassware. Today it’s the family’s living room, and the current owner is the 8th descendant of the original owner.
Go To Hoi An Museum of History & Culture
Located in the picturesque Quan Am Pagoda, one of Vietnam’s oldest pagodas built in 1653, this stunning riverside museum contains relics spanning 2,000 years of Hoi An history.
Most of The Riverside Museum of History and Culture is a celebration of the period when Hoi An was one of the best trading posts, where traders from France, Portugal and the Netherlands mingled with those from Japan, China, Thailand, India and Vietnam along the bustling streets of Hoi An’s old town.
The museum showcases a range of artefacts such as photographs of local architecture, ceramics and pottery depicting the changing faces of Hoi An including the Champa era dating from the 7th-15th century and Da Viet from the 15th to 19th centuries.
Tip: Enjoy the 360-degree view of the old town from the top of the museum.
Tour the Tan Ky Family House
Image credit: jejim / Shutterstock.com
To really understand Hoi An’s past, visit the Tan Ky Family House. This two-century-old merchant residence has literally stood the test of time and is one of Hoi An’s most well-preserved buildings.
Built in 1741, it is an example of a merchant’s residence from the 18th century that has since been passed down through 7 generations of the Tan Ky family. Head into its courtyard to see the markings on its wall from the height of flood falls that ruined most of the city.
Included in the Central Vietnam Tour
SHOPPING / MARKETS
Get A Suit Made
Image credit: Pawel Michalowski / Shutterstock.com
Hoi An is otherwise known as the tailoring capital of Vietnam and is the reason so many people travel from across the country to get their clothes made or tailored. Understand why the textiles industry is so popular in Hoi An by heading to the markets yourself to get your own garments made.
You can get a 2-piece suit for around £75. Or, take a picture of a dress or top you’d like to make and let the designers work their magic.
With so many tailors to choose from, ensure you have enough time to browse, pick a tailor, and wait for your alterations. It never comes out perfect the first time, so allow extra some time for a few changes. Three fittings across three days usually work out best.
Visit Hoi An Silk Village
Located in Quang Nam Province, around two kilometres from the centre of the city, is Hoi An Silk Village. There are several ancient homes in the village where you can learn from local artisans about the traditional manufacturing process that this part of Vietnam is known for.
Help to make beautiful silk pieces made from real silkworms (you can even feed them and help unravel their cocoons). You can even shop here for luxury Vietnamese textiles, handmade lanterns, high-end suits and dresses.
Escape the city and treat yourself to a stay at the four-star Hoi An Silk Village Resort & Spa for the ultimate tranquil getaway.
Learn to Cook Vietnamese Food
Image credit: GROGL / Shutterstock.com
Hoi An is known as a foodie’s paradise. Legacies of the many nationalities that lived or traded here (including Japanese, Chinese and Portuguese) still remain a big influence on the food. And with so many cooking classes on offer in Hoi An, skip the guesswork and book in for a cooking lesson at The Thuan Tinh – one of our personal favourites.
After a visit to the bustling market to collect fresh ingredients, you board a riverboat to Thuan Tinh Island where you’ll start cooking (and eating) a selection of local dishes. Enjoy spring rolls to crispy pancakes and beef noodle salad to classic pho – all while enjoying the village atmosphere and watching tiny basket boats float through the water-coconut-lined waterways.
Visit the Night Market (Lantern Market)
Image credit: CPM PHOTO / Shutterstock.com
After dinner, step into the side streets and explore Hoi An’s Night Market which comes to life from 5pm. Zigzag through the 300-metre long street packed with banana pancake carts and shuffling tour groups. Once the sun has set, head to the row of stalls illuminated with hundreds of colourful silk lanterns.
Shop at Hoi An Central Market
Along the beautiful banks of the Thu Bon River lies the bustling Hoi An Central Market. Here, you find everything from silk pieces and textiles, local food, aromatic spices, and fresh flowers. Enjoy seafood served straight from the riverfront. Be sure to try some street food too which is sold out of carts in the market.
Open from 8am-7pm (but some stalls stay open a lot later).
Explore My Son Holy Land
Lovers of architecture and ancient civilizations will enjoy a full-day tour to the South of Vietnam to explore one of Southeast Asia’s greatest archaeological sites, My Son Holy Sanctuary. A cluster of partially ruined Hindu temples that have long been abandoned, though once a thriving religious site of the early Champa tribe, dating back between the 4th and 13th centuries. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the sanctuary features stone sculptures of Hindu deities and towers amid the tropical jungle.
Visit The Fujian Hall Assembly Hall
Image credit: Richie Chan / Shutterstock.com
Built by the Fujian Chinese community in Hoi An in the 17th Century, the Fujian Assembly Hall is considered one of the most sacred and opulent places in Hoi An. It was originally designed as an assembly hall and meeting place for residents from Fujian in China to socialise. It was later transformed into a temple.
The main hall here is covered in carvings of mythical Chinese creatures, and there is also a large courtyard with carved statues of 12 Midwives. Legend has it, if you pray in the Assembly Hall, you will be blessed with fertility.
Tour Quan Cong Temple
Founded in 1653, the Quan Cong Temple is dedicated to Quan Cong himself. A Chinese general, he was worshipped in Hoi An due to his qualities of justice for all, loyalty, integrity and sincerity. When Hoi An was the main trading port it once was, businessmen used to make commitments in here as Quan was considered the God of “trustworthiness”.
Tip: You can make an offering to the general and a caretaker will strike a bronze bowl to commemorate the moment.
Take a Trip to Cam Kim Island
History buffs and furniture enthusiasts would also not want to miss a trip to the Kim Bong Carpentry Village. Accessed via boat, this traditional village boasts unique carpentry styles and quality souvenirs surrounded by lush rice paddies and cornfields. Accompanied by a local English-speaking guide, you will learn about both old and existing communities that play important roles in the development of the country. See how rice paper is made and boats are built here too.
Explore Hoi An by Bike
Unlike many cities in Vietnam, cars and even motorbikes are banned from the centre of Hội An. Bicycles are truly the best way to explore the surrounding rice paddies, traditional villages, floating bridges, temples, and even beaches. Most homestays and hotels allow you to rent a bicycle from them for free, but to immerse yourself in the Hoi An lifestyle, do it like a local by booking a tour with the popular Heaven and Earth cycle tours. Choose from easy 9km cycle tours to more challenging 50km routes.
Explore Tra Que Vegetable Village
Image credit: Nguyen Quang Ngoc Tonkin / Shutterstock.com
Just 3km away from the city centre, you’ll find a fresh vegtable village that lies between the town and An Bang beach. This agricultural area and community are known for the highest-quality vegetables due to the use of locally harvested algae to help vegetables grow, rather than chemicals. The village offers everything from cooking classes to foot massages, but it’s possible to just explore the island, trying to identify vegetables and chatting with local farmers. You can’t get much fresher, local produce than this!
Chill Out on Cua Dai Beach
Image credit: Quang Vu / Shutterstock.com
Find a spot of paradise outside the ancient streets of Hoi An. Cua Dai Beach boasts a 3km stretch of perfectly white powdery sands and tropical blue waves. Just 5km from Old Town, this beach is perfect for chilling out, swimming, and eating fresh in the seafront restaurants. There are even changing huts on the beach along with a few bungalows here and there.
Join A Basket Boat Tour of the Coconut Forest
Discover the greener side of Vietnam on this off-the-beaten-track experience that takes you through the surreal coconut forests and local bamboo-making villages.
It is rumoured that the basket boats originated as a way for local fishermen to avoid paying taxes during the French colonial period. Whilst it may look a bit scary, it’s a safe way to explore the maze-like network of channels, canals & coconut palms. The basket boats are built using bamboo, cow dung & waterproof resin from tree sap. You’re likely to spot up to a thousand of the boats in the water at once!
Join us onto a guided tour, where you’ll cycle through lush vegetation and rice paddies. Jump inside a handmade bamboo boat with your local guide, taking you through the seven-hectare coconut forest. Paddle the boat yourself as you learn more about your surroundings. Watch villagers put on a splashing water performance right before your eyes.
Visit Vinpearl Land
Enjoy a full day of adventure at a world-class recreational paradise, located just 15km from the centre of Hoi An. Set alongside Binh Minh beach, this extraordinary amusement park has 5 different zones to explore. Ride the Swiss Tower that drops from a teetering 80m height. Brave the Tree Swing that will take you on a spin for your life. Explore Folk Island’s Handicraft Village and visit Water World park. Don’t miss the River Safari – a wildlife sanctuary that lets you explore the grounds via the riverway.
FOOD/DRINKS
Eat Fresh at Baby Mustard
Enjoy a fresh taste of Vietnamese food in a completely unique setting in an idyllic restaurant called Baby Mustard. It sits by Tra Que’s market gardens in a backstreet off the road to An Bang Beach. Known for its bamboo structures, the restaurant is located in an open setting overlooking its own vegetable garden and farm. It is one of our favourite spots to eat in Hoi An. Plus, it was also featured in The Guardian.
Drink on the Riverside
No trip to Hoi An would be complete without a drink on its famous riverside. Take some time out to admire the way the lights from the lanterns shimmer on the river whilst you sip on a local Hoi An beer…
Try Cau Lao
This Hoi An noodle speciality has been eaten in the city since the 17th century. Head to our favourite spot just off the main Le Loi Street, Gà Huong, for the best Cau Lao. Or, keep it street and eat in the riverside food market. Try Mrs Thu, on the right as you enter from Tran Phu Street.
Quan Dau Bac
This tiny wedge-shaped restaurant at the western end (no 147) of the main Phan Chau Trinh Street serves platters of traditional Vietnamese dishes. Perfect for trying a mix of local dishes in one sitting! There are often more Vietnamese than westerners here, which is always a good sign when eating local.
Try Street BBQ Food
End the evening with a stroll on the north bank of the Thu Bồn river after dark. Here, you’ll find dozens of little charcoal braziers set up with skewers of thit nuong. Either grilled pork, chicken or prawns come with herbs, greens, and a few rice papers to roll it up in. Dip in a spicy peanut tomato sauce, with a few toasted sesame seeds. They cost around 30-40p each.
