10 Best Things to Do in Hoi An


Quaint streets, colourful houses, hanging lanterns and beautiful pagodas- Hoi An is an appealing town. To unfurl its major attractions, read on.

Lying on the central coast of Vietnam is a peaceful town named Hoi An with Chinese temples, rich history and flavoursome cuisine. Recently, the place has turned favourite and sprung up in many bucket lists. We definitely know the reason- it is irresistible to not be fond of this city that boasts a never-seen combination of sightseeing and food.

Declared as the UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its well-preserved mix of Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese, and French architecture, the city is a prominent trading port. Tourists like the way this charming ancient city is packed with a plethora of activities and attractions that triggers the wanderlust.

However, we have managed to handpick the top 10 things to do in Hoi An.
Let’s dive in-

Grab your beach towel and head down to the sand



Beaches are the highlights of the city. Bang Beach is the popular stretches of beaches that remains untouched by rapid development. It thus gives you a calm environment that is green and clean. What you’ll love is the array of beachfront resorts, modern restaurants and classic bars. Neighbours like the Marble Mountains, Da Nang Bay, and Da Nang and Cham Island offer stunning views. It is your choice to have a romantic getaway at villas, join the expedition of scuba diving, swimming, paddle-boarding, and surfing, or meditate in the surrounding.

Hop around in the Hoi An Old Town



The premium choice of what to do here is to wander in the old and ancient town. The attractive part of this place is you would hardly find any commotion and walking on foot is simply easier here. And the colourful streets lined up by ancient buildings, art galleries, and little shops are pleasing to see. If you love coffee, you are definitely dropping at one of the high-rated coffee houses found in every corner. After the sun has gone down, here is the perfect excuse to dig into something tasty with the food tour through local cafes, food stalls, markets, and restaurants.

Walk across the Japanese Covered Bridge



Since you are in the Old Town, one of the landmarks is the 18th century built Japanese Covered Bridge crossing a waterway. It is a magnificent piece of Japanese architecture with Chinese symbols and script on it. The two dogs and two monkeys sculpted on the bridge symbolises the fact that construction began in the year of the dog and was completed in the year of the monkey.

Gobble the tasty Vietnamese food


Hoi An is often said as the food capital of the country and why not, after all, it comes in the top 25 attractive destinations for foodies all over the world. Because not just the ancient beauty, but the streets are flooded with the stalls of delicious cuisines too. Besides some amazing restaurants as Morning Glory and Mango Mango, there are street outlets or small alleys whose menu can set the taste buds on fire. Find the best Banh My, sip egg coffee, savour street barbecue, and eat cau lao. 

Have a custom-made dress or suit



Feel like shopping? Well, it’s kind of different here because you can actually get a tailor-made dress or suit for yourself. There are over hundreds of tailors and they can design quality suit in a day or two. You might find it reliable that the hotel receptionists and drivers recommend you a tailor, but we would suggest doing your own research as this can be a trap where you get a low-quality cloth on the high price. Otherwise, the tailors who are dedicated and excellent in work are there to provide 100% satisfaction.

Learn how to cook Vietnamese food


As you eat the scrumptious local food, the instant instinct would be, ‘How wonderful if I could just cook it!’ Well, you can carry the little flavour with you back home by taking the cooking class. There are a handful of tempting cooking tours that are an impressive blend of learning as well as touring. Few examples include 6-hour vegetarian cooking class tour and Hoi An Walking Tour & Cooking Class - Small Group.

Explore the city on a cycle


The countryside is all lush and green and the Hoi An attractions are picturesque. And to discover these without hassle or the routine hop on and hop off, the bike and cycle tours are the best. It is the ideal escape from the tourist trail. Head to Hai Ba Trung street which takes you to the beach, watch the glimpses of local country life, ride through the village and its rice paddies and also enjoy the delightful Nui Son Tra peninsula. Do you need one more reason? It’s free!

Bow down at Phouc Lam Pagoda


Hoi An is blessed with prestigious temples and pagodas, each offering something different to others. Built at the end of the 17th century, this Buddhist temple is purely elegant. It is home to various renderings of Buddha and also has the golden “Buddha as a boy”. Since it’s a working temple, you can find several monks indulged in prayers and meditation.

Relax and rejuvenate by the river


Positioned at the mouth of the Thu Bon River, the Riverside district allows traveller to experience a unique voyage. With riverfront restaurants, pretty cafes and gorgeous buildings, it probably becomes a magical trip.

Shop at the Night Market


At night, Hoi An becomes active and lively. You can have multiple options to do, but before anything, stroll to the lantern market. It is spectacular and the sea of colours is running through the 30-metre-long long Nguyen Hoang Street. The stalls are filled with lanterns of different shapes, sizes and colours. The fun doesn’t end here,  besides these paper lanterns, you can buy traditional apparel and silk products. Shop for touristy souvenirs such as T-shirts, keychains, and fans. Don’t shy away to bargain and steal the best deals.

Other things to do in Hoi An include buying Museum tickets, destress and unwind in spas, tour the My Son Ruins, drink tea at Tea House, visit the heritage home of Quan Thang House, admire the Fujian Assembly Hall, and snorkel in Cham Island. Do comment how did you feel holidaying at Hoi An the next time!

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