A highlight of any trip to Vietnam, Hoi An is a town oozing charm and history, having largely escaped the destruction of successive wars. Once a sleepy riverside village, it’s now quite definitely a tourist town – with hotels, restaurants, bars, tailors and souvenir shops dominating the old centre. Despite this air of irreality, Hoi An’s charisma pervades.
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| (Vietnam) - Hoi An - An old town |
The local People’s Committee periodically clamps down on touts, and while this doesn’t mean a completely hassle-free visit, a stroll down the street is usually more relaxed here than in Hué or Nha Trang. Hoi An is pedestrian-friendly: the Old Town is closed to cars and the distances from the hotels to the centre are walkable. It’s a great place to hire a bike.
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| (Vietnam) - Hoi An - An old town |
Known as Faifo to Western traders, from the 17th to 19th centuries it was one of Southeast Asia’s major international ports. Vietnamese ships and sailors based here sailed all around Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia.
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| (Vietnam) - Hoi An - An old town |
Perhaps more than any other place in Vietnam, Hoi An retains a sense of history that envelops you as you explore it. This is especially true on ‘Hoi An Legendary Night’. Every month on the full moon, motorbikes are banned from the Old Town, which is transformed into a magical land of silk lanterns, traditional food, song and dance, and games in the streets.
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| (Vietnam) - Hoi An - An old town |
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| (Vietnam) - Hoi An - An old town |
There’s plenty to do in Hoi An. Emphatically the most enchanting place along the coast, this is one spot worth lingering in.
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| (Vietnam) - Hoi An - An old town |
1. Get on your bike
In first place, enjoy the freedom to explore further afield and to visit the lovely beach. Lots of hotels and people on the street have bikes for hire at $1 a day. Cycling past paddy fields and witnessing everyday life of the people in Hoi An is something you need to leave the old town for.
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| (Vietnam) - Hoi An - Get on your bike |
2. Full moon celebrations
If you can, try to schedule your trip to coincide with a full moon. Hoi An celebrates by turning off all electric lights, banning bicycle and moped from the old town streets, leaving the town pedestrian-friendly and beautifully lit by lanterns. People float candles down the river to bring good luck to their families and the lanterns shops look amazing with all the bright colours blazing in the darkness. Don't forget to watch some performances of traditional theatre and play Vietnamese bingo sung by two ‘callers’ accompanied by traditional instruments.
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| (Vietnam) - Hoi An - Full moon celebrations |
3. Take a cookery course
Learn how to make a selection of yummy Vietnamese dishes. The cookery course takes you on a market tour and show you how to make fresh spring rolls, beef noodle soup, fish in a caramel sauce cooked in a clay pot and wilted spinach with garlic.
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| (Vietnam) - Hoi An - Take a cookery course |
4. Get something tailored
Hoi An is the tailoring capital of Asia and every second shop wants to measure you up! It can be scary but once you take the plunge, you’ll find it addictive. There are a lot of things made, split between three different tailoring shops.
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| (Vietnam) - Hoi An - Get something tailored |
5. Street food
You can eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at street-side stalls nearly every day.
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| (Vietnam) - Hoi An - Street food |
Enjoy the food, the variety and mingling with the locals while perched on tiny stools! Imaging that you are eating down by the riverside, tucking into Cau Lau while watching the boats go by.
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| (Vietnam) - Hoi An - Street food |
Also try some desserts, including one made with black beans and ginger and another made from black sesame seeds. They’re really good, think rice pudding but with beans.
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| (Vietnam) - Hoi An - Street food |
6. Buy lanterns
There are shops on both sides of the river, all beautifully lit at night. It’s impossible to resist the colours of the fabrics and different shapes. Plus they’re really inexpensive so you can indulge yourself.
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| (Vietnam) - Hoi An - Buy lanterns |
7. Happy feet
In addition to all the tailoring shops, there are also loads of places selling custom-made shoes to any size and design. The range is incredible and there’s unlimited scope for the imagination to run wild.
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| (Vietnam) - Hoi An - Happy feet |
8. Take a boat ride
Best done at night, ideally on the full moon celebration so you can admire all the lanterns and floating candles. It’s a magical way to get a different perspective of Hoi An.
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| (Vietnam) - Hoi An - Take a boat ride |
9. Explore the old town
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| (Vietnam) - Hoi An - Phuc Kien Temple |
The old town lives up to its description of charming, with colonial buildings mixed with communal meeting houses. Remember to enjoy wandering around the streets and market, taking photos and checking out the food on offer at the different street stalls.
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| (Vietnam) - Hoi An - Explore the old town |
10. Cheap beer!
Don't forget to spend a very enjoyable afternoon at one of the riverside restaurants, taking advantage of the very cheap fresh beer, less then 10p a glass! It’s cold, light, refreshing and very drinkable.
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| (Vietnam) - Hoi An - Cheap beer |
