“Think of all the joy you’ll find when you leave the world behind.”
-Peter Pan
So what’s your favorite city in Vietnam? 9 out of 10 times, the answer will be Hoi An.
After hearing everyone rave about how much they loved Hoi An, how much we’ll love it and how everyone says to stay at least 4-5 days here, we knew we had to find out for ourselves.
How to get there:
Hoi An is located on the coast in Central Vietnam. We were hanging out in DaNang doing the famous Ha Van pass (a popular coastal motorcycle route in central Vietnam). So for us we were able to take a 40 minute bus to Hoi An from DaNang (just 1USD). There is no train station or airport in Hoi An so you’ll need to get to DaNang and transport from there. It’s very simple!
Hoi An Town is magical little escape back in time. It’s exceptionally well-preserved ancient town reflect the Portuguese, Chinese and Vietnamese influences, that have combined to produce this unique heritage site. Viewed in the architecture you can find styles from multiple eras including wooden Chinese shophouses, colorful French colonial buildings, Japanese inspired Pagodas, and Vietnamese tube houses. The ancient charm Hoi An offers is unlike any other city.
What was once a melting pot trading port from the 15-19th century is now a UNESCO world heritage site. Surprisingly, Hoi An is the only town in Vietnam that was virtually untouched during the Vietnam-American War.
The ancient town is now a pedestrian only zone full of yellow painted houses and colorful lanterns adorning the streets.
Days spent here are full of walking and taking it all in. With so many shops and colorful lanterns to look at, it’s best to just walk around aimlessly up and down each street to not miss anything.
Known for its tailor shops, Hoi An is the go to hub in all of Vietnam for customized tailoring. There are shops everywhere throughout the ancient town and even a market dedicated to tailor stalls. You can get practically anything you’d like made just by showing them an image of your desired clothing item. It only takes less than 48 hours too. Very impressive! My partner had some leather boots custom made to his feet for less than 60USD. It was fun selecting the fabric and designing the perfect boot. I would definitely recommend taking advantage of the tailors, it’s a great bang for your buck for quality items!
>>SIDENOTE: Around 4pm tourists unload in the masses from DaNang as a day trip to Hoi An. So beware the area will be more congested with people as night falls.
A must try noodle dish local to the town is Cao Lau. Full of bean sprouts, fresh herbs, pork cracklings and slices, (mine was mock meat) and probably a bunch of other stuff but the winning ingredient is the noodles that come in it, thick and homemade. Legend has it that the water used to combine the noodle dough is drawn from the town’s famous Ba Le well, known for its purity. Tourists can’t access this well so it’s kept their magical little secret. You can find it all over town for a super cheap price. You won’t be disappointed!
Bia Hoi is also found in abundance around old town. This local draft beer is made daily til it runs out and you can find it easily in Hoi An for 4-5VND(13 cents). Hard to pass up, I know.
The common mode of transportation is to cycle around town. Both locals and foreigners can be found making their way around town via bicycle. Most accommodations even include complimentary bikes for guests. We spent our days cycling around the old quarter and surrounding neighborhoods. The yellow walls of old quarter are just so picturesque!
Only 20 minutes away via bicycle is the beach, Cam An. We grabbed a few Banh Mi’s to go and rode on over for an afternoon in the sand.
It’s a very long beach with lots of places to eat and an overall nice break from the heat!
In between the beach and old town you’ll find acres stretched as far as you can see of rice paddies. We spent an afternoon getting lost in them on our bikes. It’s quiet and mellow with no one else around.
Overall I admit I understand the adoration everyone has for Hoi An. Our days were spent wandering the beautiful colorful streets, indulging in the cheap local dishes, watching the town light up at sundown, and cycling all around. It all just felt kind of perfect!
Pack your bag and escape the 21st century to Hoi An. There is magic in the air, you have to feel it for yourself!
Recommendations
Accommodation
- Le Riverside Homestay. 10 min walk from old town. Breakfast included. Ensuite with A/C.
- Golden Bee Homestay. 10 minute bike ride from old town. Breakfast/bicycle included. Ensuite with A/C.
Food
- The Banh Mi Queen. Popular, cheap banh mi stand.
- Banh Mi Phuong. Anthony Bourdain’s favorite spot so expect a line but following in his footsteps doesn’t disappoint! (ask for the off-menu tofu banh mi!!)
- Quan Chay Ba Dam. Vegan buffet run by local women. Super cheap, authentic Vietnamese food.
- Cafe 43. Good spot for (vegetarian) Cao Lao and cheap Bia Hoi.
Entertainment
- Nomad Yoga. In-studio or An Bang beach classes available. 150VND.
