Hoi An is a romantic city located in southern Vietnam, about one hour from Da Nang. Hoi An is one of the most touristy
spots in Vietnam, for a good reason. You can’t help but fall in love with the city. It has incredible surroundings, rich history,
and some of the best food I’ve had in all of Vietnam. There is SO much to check out in Hoi An that’s worth visiting. Although,
Hoi An also has many relaxing spots to chill out. I’m here to tell you why Hoi An has it all!
Relaxing beaches
Just a short bike ride outside the city center, you will find some stunning beaches with stretches of white sand and clear blue water. Cua Dai beach and A Bang beach are both only about 5km from Hoi An Ancient Town. I cycled to An Bang beach. It was an easy flat path and there was even a bike path, which isn’t something commonly found in Vietnam. So, if you’re a beginner, you should have no problem cycling there. When parking your bike, there will be people flagging you down to the park. I recommend parking closest to the entrance for 10 VND, which is less than 50 cents. Other locals will say that their parking is free, but you will have to buy an overpriced drink. An Bang beach is surrounded by fresh seafood restaurants and is filled with water sports such as paddle boarding, and surfing. If you would like to rent a beach recliner and an umbrella you should negotiate the price before selecting a spot. I was able to snag a seat & umbrella for about $2. Relax, open that book, and take in the majestic views of the close by marble mountains and Cham islands.
Where to find it: Nguyen Phan Vinh, A Bang Beach, Cam A Ward, Hoi An City
Taking in the rich history in the Hoi An ancient town
Hoi An Ancient town is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is exceptionally well preserved. This town has influences from both foreigners and indigenous people. It has been stated that the earliest civilization was found here 2200 years ago. Hoi An served as a seaport for Champa Kingdom from the 2nd to 10th centuries and archaeologists have discovered the foundations of numerous Cham towers here. In the next century, turmoil broke out. In the 15th-century, peace was made and Hoi An served as one of the major ports in all Southeast Asia. During the 15th-17th century, during the China trade, the town was divided. The Japanese bridge settled across the “Japanese bridge.” You can visit this bridge today in Hoi An! Although Hoi An was almost destroyed during the Tay Son Rebellion, it was rebuilt and continued to be an important port until the late 18 century. When trade rights were given to a port town in Da Nang, Hoi An lost its status. For the next 200 years, Hoi An remained unchanged until a polish architect, Kazimierz Kwiatkowski, restored Hoi An into what it is today.
Some essential historical sites you should check out:
- The Japanese Covered bridge: the iconic bridge that split the city into two.
- The Cantonese Assembly Hall: It was a place of worship and rest for Canton merchants. Go admire the colorful shrines, statues, and dragon fountain.
- Cam Pho: It was a communal house of the Cantonese Chinese community, which is about 2.000 old. Making it one of the oldest structures in the town. The house used to hold community and religious events.
- Phung Hung Old House: Just past the Japanese bridge, you will find this larger building that has Chinese, Vietnamese, and Japanese influences. This house has been around since 1780 and occupied by the same family ever since.
- The Museum of History and Culture– For a little more in-depth look into the history of Hoi An, I recommend checking out this renowned museum. You can explore the whole space in about an hour, coming out with a better understanding of the trading history and revolutionary history during the French colonization. When the tour is over, make your way to the top floor. Here you will be able to see a panoramic view of the town.
Mouthwatering food
As I mentioned previously, Hoi An has many different cultural influences and so does the food. You can try some dumplings, that are signature to Hoi An, which represent the Chinese influence. You can fill up Banh Mi for or Ben Xeo, for a bit of French influence. You could go to town on some Cau Lao, for Chinese and Japanese influence. If you’re looking to try a traditional Vietnamese meal, that is my absolute favorite go for Bun Bo Nam Bo. Lastly, if you’re feeling a bit homesick, there are tons of international food joints in the city as well.
Here are some must stop food destinations:
- White Rose Restaurants: For the infamous White rose dumplings, made with rice paper & typically filled with pork & shrimp
- Banh Mi Phuong- For famous Chef Anthony Bourdain’s pick on Banh Mi check out this local spot. Banh Mi is a toasted savory baguette filled with different kinds of herbs, sauces, meats, and pates.
- Trung Bac Restaurant- For Cau Lao, another iconic dish of Hoi An. Cau Lau is a noodles-based dish with slowly cooked sliced pork, bean sprouts, and herbs served in a rich broth and topped with deep-fried wonton crackers. You can also find Cau Lau made with chicken, beef, and even vegetarian versions.
- Hai Son Vietnamese Pancake- For Ben Xeo, aka Vietnamese pancake. Benh Xeo is like a crepe made with rice batter. You can fill up your pancake with things such as shrimp, pork, beef, and herbs.
- The Little Menu Restaurant- For some tasty bun bo nam bo. Bun Bo Nam bo uses beef that has been soaked in sugar, pepper, and fish sauce. The sizzling beef is mixed with vermicelli, vegetables, and a pea-nutty sauce. This dish is to die for!
- MIX restaurant- for some flavorful Greek food. Featuring items such as an array of souvlaki’s, hummus & other dips, and kebab platters
Custom Made Clothes
If you’re looking for an excellent souvenir without a cheap logo posted on it, I would recommend getting some custom-made clothing. I had three pieces made when I visited. I got a wrap top, matching bottoms and shorts. The sellers will measure you and prepare the clothes for you within 24 hours. The process is quite fun; you can come up with your ideas, browse throughout any of the look books, and get inspiration in the store. The prices are negotiable, make sure you settle on a price before you have the piece made. Another piece of advice would be to give yourself enough time to make sure you can try on the clothes after they are made. That is, in case you need any extra adjustments made. There are so many tailors to choose from, it can be overwhelming. I walked into so many shops that asked for ridiculous prices. I paid about $40 for all three pieces and I’m super happy with the fit and quality.
Where to get custom clothing made:
LIME STORE: This shop was recommended to me by another tourist I met. I’m so happy I decided to check it out. It has some of the best prices, quality, and the store clerk was so kind. I never felt pressured to buy anything and the overall experience was stress-free. Many of the other shops were extremely pushy. The designs here are minimalist and made from linen. You can dress the pieces up but they are also great for casual wear. I was having trouble picking a color for my top and the owner was sweet, showing me an assortment of colors & giving me advice.
Where to find it: 107 Trần Cao Vân, Phường Minh An, Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam
All kinds of nature just a bicycle ride away
I love a city that has a little bit of both, and Hoi An sure does. Just outside the city on your way to A Bang beach. On your way, you will find a plethora of bright green rice fields. You can park your bike on the side of the road and get your perfect shot. Just down the street from the rice fields, you will find the Tra Qua vegetable garden. Cycle through the village and see the farmers doing their days work. The forty-five-acre stunning landscapes of Tra Que and has been around for 500 years and offers an exciting look into the life of this Vietnamese village. If you are looking to experience more local culture, make your way to Thanh Nam Fishing Village for a traditional look into how to cast and maintain a fishing net.
Some must visit natural spots:
- Tra Qua Vegetable Garden: Trà Quế, Cẩm Hà, Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam
- Rice fields- find them on the road leading to A Dang beach
- Thanh Nam Fishing Village- Ven sông Cẩm Nam, Cẩm Nam, Hội An, Quảng Nam
Meditate and slow things down a bit
I know just the spot if that travel stress is getting to you. Luminary life is a wellness center that offers all types of healing practices. I attended a yoga retreat here for four days — you can also just pop in for some of the classes. At the retreat, I enjoyed several different kinds of yoga & meditation practices that helped me to explore different styles. I enjoyed classes such as Hatha yoga, Yin yoga, and Sound + restore yoga. My retreat was for four days and three nights. While attending the retreat, you can stay at the homestay located next door, which provides a delicious breakfast every morning. Not only was it an affordable retreat, but also extremely educational for a person who is trying to expand their knowledge of different forms of yoga.
Where to find it: Luminary Life: 193 Lý Thái Tổ, Sơn Phong, Hội An, Quảng Nam 563956, Vietnam
Cook up something good Vietnamese-style
Vietnamese food, as you may know from my previous posts, is one of my favorites. I love trying foods that are unique to each city. Since I came to Vietnam, I wanted to take a cooking class so I could understand how to make these unique foods in the comfort of my own home. There is a wide variety of different courses you can take. From budget ones to ones that are a little on the higher-price scale but that have more to offer. I chose a class that offered a tour of the local food market, where we picked up our ingredients for cooking and learned about all the different herbs that are used. Afterward, we took a boat ride through the lake and arrived at the beautiful serene garden where our cooking class would take place. We mostly picked this class because it had a banging menu. We made fresh spring rolls, Benh Xeo, Bun Bo Nam Bo, and Pho Bo. These Vietnamese dishes are some of my favorites. The instructor would first show us an example of what we needed to do and then guide us with step by step instructions. While there, we churned some rice milk for our Benh Xeo and heated things up when cooking our Bun Bo Na Bo. After cooking each item, you got to dig in and see how well you’d done.
Find yourself the perfect class for your needs at https://www.cookly.me/
This is the cooking class that I took.
Get dazzled by the lanterns
An iconic symbol of Hoi An is the hanging Chinese lanterns. All around the city, they illuminate the streets. Walking around the old town at night will leave you breathless. The lights give the city this magical glow. Sit by the river and watch boats go by that carry tourists who are lighting their lanterns. If you wish to do so, hop on a boat, and you can do the same. My only concern is that it seems to be harmful to the environment when the lanterns dissolve in the water. Although I did ask one woman about this, and she stated that they scoop all the lanterns they can out afterward.
Chill out and sip on a beverage of your choice
I love a quick café break. Tea & dessert are the key to my heart. Just another reason that Hoi An is at the top of my list. There are so many cafes that will help you to indulge in that sweet tooth or just cool off from the scorching Hoi An sun. Either way, there is no shortage of places for you bloggers, foodies, Instagram lovers, and people just looking for a chill spot to cool off.
Here are some noteworthy cafes:
- 9 Grains Bakery & Café– This spot has decadent pastries and fresh wraps for all those afternoon cravings. They have both inside and outside seating and a strong internet connection.
- Rosie’s Café– Is a perfect destination for breakfast or lunch. You keep it light with a smoothie bowl or fulfill your sweet tooth with their French toast or chocolate brownies. They have an assortment of vegan options, so this post is perfect for the whole crowd.
- Reaching out Tea House– Is This unique spot is a silent oasis. The servers are all speech and hearing impaired, and the joy of silence is reflected throughout the experience. This traditionally decorated tea house offers an assortment you can choose from like a Vietnamese tea tasting set, or the Vietnamese coffee tasting set, and even a cookie sampler.
- GAM Gemstone Art Museum & Wine Bar– This is not only a museum but also a boutique and café. You can find you’re the perfect place to sip away, whether it be in the peaceful garden or on the balcony overlooking Hoi An.
Dive deep off the Cham islands
The Cham Islands, whether you decide to stay overnight in a homestay or go snorkeling amongst the coral reef, islands are sure to please your needs. If you’re looking for adventure, try out some of the watersports, like kayaking, and gasp at the natural beauties. The pristine beaches are a perfect place to take a load off and dip your toes in the water. There is no shortage of local eateries, and a shop selling souvenirs surrounds the beaches. If you’re keen on diving, you might make your way to Cu Lao Cham Marine Park. This houses the living coral reef system and marine life.
Some notable beaches to check out while on the islands are:
- Bai Cong Beach,
- Bai Ong Beach,
- Bai Bac Beach,
- Bai Xep
