Every time when you visit Asian destinations something new or unique travel experience you’ll get. Each country has a special ability to prove that our cultures, nature, destinations and cuisine styles are totally different.
In the same way today we are going to discuss one of Vietnam’s most underrated and more beautiful destinations waiting to you to explore. Hoi An is a most popular UNESCO World Heritage Site in Vietnam which welcomes backpackers from its vibrant lantern lit streets, traditional wooden houses and vibrant markets.
Ranging from a more scenic city to a hub of traditional festivals and shopping centres/ delicious cuisines, Hoi An stands as Asia’s ‘Tailoring Capital’. If you plan to visit Hoi An this year then you’d need to remember below 12 unique things to make, which are highly recommended.
Related Search: Vang Vieng- Adventure Capital of Laos.
12 Unique Things to Do in Hoi An, Vietnam
1. Start Your Day from Ancient Town
The Ancient Town of Hoi An is a vital travel point to start your journey. This ancient town is filled with colorful hanging lanterns, yellow painted buildings and timber frame houses which represent the cultural and traditional legacy of Vietnam.
Located in the heart of the Hoi An, while you stroll amidst these ancient attractions you are much blessed to spot ancient Buddhist temples, narrow streets and bustling markets where local peoples are busy in selling craft items like lanterns, silks, leather items and even some souvenirs. If you are tired after exploring the town, don’t worry there are ample cafes and bars available to serve you Vietnamese coffee and cocktails. Each architectures here in this ancient town blend by the Chinese, Japanese, French and even local Vietnamese architectures, don’t miss to observe it.
2. Relax at An Bang Beach
Another epic beauty of Hoi An is An Bang Beach, which is often known for its eye-catching sandy beach and ideal locations to take water activities like swimming, sunbathing and even beachside dinings. Visitors can even spend most of their time at An Bang Beach in order to appreciate its crystal clear waters and sunset views.
Visitors should take just a short drive from the centre of Hoi An to get more water activities like kayaking, surfing, bamboo basket boating, jet skiing and even paddleboarding despite just swimming. It’s pristine and calm water and relaxed atmosphere makes even your activities more fun-filled and joyful.
If you want to enjoy any of these activities, you have to pay an entry fee of 20,000 VND or $1. Attend beachside restaurants and drink beer or cocktails at a very affordable cost.
3. Attend Lantern Making Workshop
One of the most unique activities offers hands- on experience to visitors which passes from many generations. Hoi An Lantern is a local based traditional celebration representing fortune, happiness and prosperity.
Participating in the Lantern Making workshop helps us to understand the art of making unique lantern techniques, not only that you can bring your own created lantern to home. During his workouts he/she can pick own silk fabrics and follow instructors for clear making. Schedule your workshop at Hoi An Lantern Making Workshop now based on your conveniences, usually it starts from 45 minutes to 3 hours of activity.
If you come during Lantern festivals then you’re much blessed to enjoy lanterns through the city streets, doorways and strung across roads especially during night time. Cau An Bridge is another popular place to enjoy these lanterns, where thousands of boats are floating on rivers with a unique color of lanterns.
4. Cross Japanese Covered Bridge
While exploring Hoi An, you may cross the Japanese Covered Bridge so often. It is an historic icon in the city built during the 18th century representing the brilliance of Japanese architecture and deep cultural significance of this region.
The primary purpose of building this interesting bridge is to cross and to connect neighbourhoods of Chinese quarters across the water. But today it does not just stand as a connecting point, moreover a place where elaborate decorations and carving are eye -catching things exist to explore to us.
However, there are some attractions like ‘Tran Vo Bac De’, a small Buddhist temple located inside this bridge, some minor statues of monkeys and dogs along with bridge, don’t miss to watch. During the 17th century people believed the bridge as a symbol of spiritual temple which protects peoples from natural calamities during uncertain events. Make sure that don’t forget to pay 1,50,000 VND or $6 to enter the bridge.
5. Explore Hoi An Night Market
Night market of Hoi An welcomes visitors through its 50 different vendor shops who are so busy in selling colorful lanterns, clothes, local street foods, locally made handcrafted items and some mouthwatering cuisines options
Located in the central part of the city-ancient town, the night market is filled with bustling colourful lanterns, especially during night time. Each time when you walk amidst its shops your eyes go to the region’s most unique items. But Hoi An Market does not just exhibit unique stuff, it includes cheap and affordable items that are placed everywhere such as bowls, wooden spoons, chopsticks, spice grinders, cute bags, lanterns, kids toys (most of home appliances) and local street foods.
The night market opens every day from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM. If you’re coming with your family, try to purchase home appliances, eat at local tasty foods and buy lanterns for your children.
6. Enjoy Full Moon Festival
Hoi An city’s Full Moon Festival turns the entire city into a full moon, when light off all electric bulbs and are illuminated by lanterns. Every lunar month of the 14th day the city witnesses a massive festival where we can see thousands of colorful silk and paper lanterns in the city’s streets, and even in the Thu Bon River boats.
Each time enjoying Full Moon Festivals with vibrant lanterns you will observe people make wishes for each other and do honours for their ancestors and leave the lights on the river. This process has been passed on from many generations and interestingly it is alive even today. Festivals are celebrated with folk games, traditional Vietnamese Bai Choi music and night markets.
7. Spend Your Time with Local Cooking Classes
If you’re a foodie and would like to learn different cuisines or have a habit of trying cooking class while travelling, then Hoi An is a completely friendly destination to you. Each cooking class you are taking here blends with selected local fresh ingredients, surely it can be a great travel experience to you.
Each cooking class in Hoi An is a great way to connect Vietnamese daily lifestyles and learn daily cuisines through the most simple and practical lessons. Participants must go to the nearest markets to buy fresh vegetables, if you’re good at bargains then chat with vendors and bargain to get vegetables/meats or cooking items at very affordable prices.
After buying everything the guide will instruct you about different techniques about how to slice, add flavours and seasoning. Usually cooking classes are held by the village families and they help us to make dishes like banh xeo, cao lau and fresh spring rolls. Travellers must pay $22 to take any best cooking classes in Hoi An that last around half a day. We recommended book Your Cooking Class at Tropical Cooking Tours to make more charming’s countryside cooking experiences.
8. Discover Cham Ruins in My Son Sanctuary
My Son Sanctuary in Hoi An is a popular ancient Hindu temple complex recognised by the UNESCO World Heritage Site for its Cham ruins and Cham kingdoms temples and brilliances of unique constructions.
Take rented bike travel Cham Ruins located just outskirts of the city where once Cham Kingdom ruled and made it their political capital city between the 4th to 15th centuries. During the Cham period they built over 70 Hindu temples, not only that each temple is very rich in construction.
Under My Son Sanctuary complex these 70 temples are bifurcates into A to H groups and each are built with the help of mortarless constructions by red bricks. While exploring these Cham Ruins you’ll realise that most of the temples are dedicated to Shiva deity and today only 50 ruins remain due to 1969 US carpet bombing effects during the Vietnam War.
9. Admire the Beauty of Fujian Assembly Hall
Both Japanese and Chinese had a lot of architectural and cultural advantages to the Vietnamese, especially when it comes to their traditions. In this way Fujian Assembly Hall is another spectacular attraction that was created by the Chinese people during the 17th century.
The Fujian Assembly Hall is a most sacred shrine to Vietnamese, purely dedicated to the goddess of the sea, Thein Hau. But we need to observe here how brilliantly this temple shrine was built. Firstly its ornate gates and intricately decorated dragon sculptures surely will leave visitors in awe inspiring situations. However, the interior roof decorations and carving like palette of colors are eye-catching.
Since it’s a Chinese construction here we can see murals from Chinese mythology and folklore, especially shrine walls. Gold accent, stylish carvings also represent deep Chinese influences. The shrine opens every morning 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM without expecting any kind of entry fees. So, visit this totally different shrine where a variety of traditions and culture exist.
10. Take Cycle Ride through Hoi An Countryside
We hope that if you visit Laos or Siem Reap, surely you’ll experience cycling in its countryside, since most visitors would prefer to do that. Hoi An countryside is a great place for cycling through its local or traditional villages exhibiting different sides of the city, if you’re really tired after exploring the bustling city.
Take rental bikes/ bicycles from Hoi An Bike Rentals and start your bike to the most remote area of Hoi An, especially the region’s epic rice paddies areas, local traditional villages and beaches like Cua Dai. Cycling through the region’s countryside is a great way to understand Vietnamese daily lifestyles, local farming techniques and an easy way to see rural lives under Cam Thanh Coconut Village, Woodworking Village of Kim Bong, and Tra Que Vegetable Villages.
Plan to spend 2 more days exploring remote areas of Hoi An and look for the best place to stay. Roving Chill House is the perfect place for you. Located where easy access to major countryside attractions and watch the nearest rice fields from your room itself. Check whether your hotels offer rental bicycles or not, if not then visit nearest hotels/homestays where bicycles are offered, which normally provide low fees per day.
11. Visit Nearest Thanh Ha Pottery Village
One of the hidden gems in Hoi An city, but travelers need to travel 3 km from Hoi An’s ancient town. Here backpackers can explore the process of pottery, different sorts of handmade pottery bowls, mugs and tea sets.
The village has more than 500 years of pottery legacy well known for its traditional hand thrown techniques. Just people rely on soil which is available locally, through which they make fantastic and finest handmade century old ceramic craftsmanship items.
Visiting Thanh Ha Pottery Village is super easy, there are plenty of bikes, taxis or even boats available to reach. We are not going to disclose any process of making or different types of pottery stuff available here, we suggest you visit and explore everything from top to bottom. Make sure that it is also one of the great ways to experience Vietnamese rich cultural heritages and traditional lifestyles. But all you need to do is pay 35,000 VND for adults/ 15,000 VND for children and visit between 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
12. Join Any Coconut Basket Boat Rides
Out of unique things to do in Hoi An, probably joining Coconut Basket Boat Rides is a more unique and special one. This eco-tourism activity lasts a maximum of 3 hours, but the interesting part here is that through circular colorful baskets called ‘thung chai’ visitors get a close view of how local fishing activity works and see how intelligently people throw nets to rivers to catch fishes.
Activities like crab fishing, boat spinning and local Gangnam Style music performances we can enjoy while riding in a boat. There are a number of villages that offer basket boat rides, but ‘Green Coconut Village’ is an ideal choice for many visitors.
The village includes Bay Mau coconut forest which is a great place to see vast nipa palm growing areas. They use traditional bamboo round boats and this helps fishermen to navigate very easily in water to help fishing. These all things will be allowed only to those who are ready to pay 1,00,000 -1,50,000 VND or $5.68 -$5.72, or you can book Basket Boat Tour for get cooking classes along with Boat rides.
Best Time to Visit Hoi An
Best time to visit Hoi An is also a deciding factor to your overall journey. Primarily 2 major seasons help visitors to make their trip more memorable.
1. Winter
Starting from February to April, Winter Season starts immediately after the rainy season. February is a month when temperatures rise upto 79℃ and lows upto 69℃, it helps visitors walk so pleasantly through the city major attractions and makes the city more walkable.
These 3 months witness a longer period of sunshine and help us to cover cities sightseeing, cultural and historical attractions in a daytime.
2. Dry Season
People even love to visit Hoi An during the dry season. Despite the heavy hottest period and long hours of sunny, dry season (from February to August) witness 25℃ to 35℃. If you like to spend most of your time with beach activities or want to enjoy basket boat rides then the dry season is for you.
Besides these 2 options some travelers also prefer to reach this Vietnam city during the rainy season. Season starts from September to January, but this rainy season causes more heavy floods and rains. Despite its uncertainty and floods, the season welcomes visitors with low accommodation prices, less crowds and offers romantic atmospheres.
How to Get Hoi An
Getting to Hoi An is not straightforward, since the city doesn’t contain any kind of official airport or train stations. But the city is close to Da Nang (30 km away) and all you need to do is book your tickets to Da Nang.
1. By Air
Da Na International Airport welcomes most of the flights including those who are booking their tickets to Hoi An. Flights arriving from Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Singapore. Have a plan to cover your Hanoi trip along with Hoi An, then there are direct flights available from Hanoi to Da Nang International Airport.
Since Hoi An is just 30 km away from Da Na International Airport, there are plenty of taxis, shuttle buses and private transportation are waiting for you to transfer to Hoi An, it will take just 45 minutes to reach.
2. By Train
Same like air route, if you have a plan to come through the train better to book a ticket to Da Nang Railway Station. The station is located just 30 km away from the city, but the interesting part is while traveling by train you’re much blessed to enjoy Vietnam’s coastal line and catch scenic routes from Hue and Nha Trang, that covers epic hugging coastlines and mountain ranges.
3. By Bus
Looking for a budget friendly option then the bus route is an ideal choice for you. From different parts of Vietnam buses are running to Hoi An including sleeper coach buses. Coming by bus requires long hours to reach, but don’t worry 12Go helps you to find and book different bus options from most cities in Vietnam including how long it would take to reach your destination.
Where to Eat
Food is the ultimate fuel to energise your travel journey, so you need to eat frequently. I know you did before and you have to do it here too. Each time you’re visiting a destination the most important thing you must do along with activities is to try its locally influenced foods. Each destination has unique styles, flavours and ingredients in their foods even in Hoi An too.
Choosing the nearest restaurant is a crucial task, there are plenty of restaurants offering delicious cuisines within 1 km of the city limits. Banh Mi Phuong is the nearest restaurant that serves pork belly, sausage, pork floss, Vietnamese sandwiches and variety of tofu options. Each food is filled with or served along with pickled carrots, cucumber, fresh cilantro and butter mayonnaise.
Another popular restaurant available in Hoi An’s old town, Secret Garden often caters most of Vietnamese traditional cuisines with little western styles. Looking at major meat dishes on one roof, Phi Banh Mi is for you. Where pork, beef, chicken, tofu and fish cuisines served with more friendly way. Order ‘Phi Special’ which contains special dishes with crispy bread.
Trying coffee at Hoi An is a good idea, if you find any coffee houses nearby your restaurants or within your restaurant don’t miss to try out. Faifo Coffee and Uncle Hoan Coffee Houses are popular here. Go through the best coffee shops and find which one is near you.
Where to Stay in Hoi An
As we know that Hoi An is a small city so choosing the right accommodation options near the city’s main part is very important. As we said in the beginning, city is more affordable and one of the cheapest places in the world to find great staying options.
But the biggest question here is where to stay in Hoi An, don’t worry choose to stay near Old Town, Cam Thanh, Cam Chau or An Bang Beach. Since there are a good number of hotels available and easy access to cover most of the things to do in Hoi An, so we recommend you to stay in these areas.
If you made a plan to stay near Old Town then we suggest you book your accommodation at De Vivre Hotel. Offers lovely boutique stays with pools at a very affordable price of $30. Or looking at premier or high end hotel options, Hoi An Historic Hotel ($80) or Anantara Hoi An Resort ($300) fit for you. Both premier hotels boast colonial style architectures and classical spacious rooms.
In the same way, plan to explore beaches like An Bang or Cua Dai and stay near these areas, then The Four Season is the most elegant and premier hotel available to you. It contains world class private villas, infinity pool and mouthwatering dining options at the price of $900. However, the region even boasts a mid-range hotel of AIRA Boutique Hotel ($90) and budget friendly hotels like Coconut Tree Homestay (unique bamboo style home stay) available at $25 per night.
Alsahar Boutique Villa is available to those who are staying near Cam Chau. You can book a stay at just $30 per night. However, The Mansion is another staying option available to you in Cam Chau with the price range of $40.
Hoi An Eco Lodge and Spa nearest to Cam Thanh, offers budget friendly rooms with complimentary shuttle services and afternoon tea.
My Final Thought: Is Hoi An Worth Visiting Destination?
I think after reading everything from the beginning to the end, surely you need to decide whether Hoi An is worth visiting or not. If you ask with me, Hoi An is 100% worth visiting landmarks in Asia, some extent even in the world too. What I personally love about this destination is the cheap affordability, easy access and easy to get hotels in different parts of the city.
Cities ancient history, deep cultural legacies and nature friendly attractions will keep every visitor in awe inspiring situations. However I’d love to say that each unique thing here you’re going to do when you’re visiting offers a different travel experience to learn, don’t miss to enjoy it.
Related Articles: Things to Do in Luang Prabang, Laos.
For More References:
For Free Walking Tours in Hoi An: Civitatis.
For Cooking Classes: Gioan Cookery School.
For Rental Bikes: BeeBike Hub.
