Hoi An

Hoi An is a beautifully preserved ancient trading port listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. Its Old Town features winding lanes, Chinese-styled shophouses, and atmospheric lantern-lit streets that are particularly magical at sunset. The city is famous for its tailor-made clothing, distinctive cuisine (cao lau, banh xeo, white rose dumplings), and cooking schools. While mass tourism has transformed much of the original community into shops and galleries, the architectural shell remains intact and offers a slower, more charming alternative to Vietnam's larger cities.

Hoi An has no airport or train station; visitors arrive via Da Nang (30 km north) or other cities. Open-tour buses run daily from Da Nang (2 hours, 50,000 dong) and Hue (3.5-4 hours, 90,000-100,000 dong). Many travel agencies and private buses serve routes from Hue, Hanoi, Saigon, Dalat, and Nha Trang. Guesthouses can arrange tickets for a surcharge. If arriving by bus not on an open ticket, you may be dropped at a guesthouse about 10 minutes walk from the bus station, where motorbike taxis or tuk-tuks charge 20,000-30,000 dong (Nov 2023). Buses from the central Highlands going to Da Nang will stop along the highway if requested, with a 15-minute motorbike ride to town.

The Old Town is compact and best explored on foot or by bicycle. Many accommodations provide free bicycles. For longer distances, motorbike taxis and cycle rickshaws (x cyclo) are readily available. The Thu Bon River runs through the center with ferry boats approaching the city centre wharf. Cycling is highly recommended for exploring nearby rural sights including rice paddies, fishing villages, and Cua Dai Beach (5 km away). OpenStreetMap apps like OsmAnd, Mapy.cz, Organic Maps, or Maps.me help navigate to tourist attractions.

The dry season from February to August offers the best weather, though it can be hot and humid. The wet season (September-December) brings occasional flooding to low-lying areas. Hoi An is especially crowded on Vietnamese holidays and weekends when domestic tourists flock to the Old Town. The annual Hoi An Lantern Festival (held on the 14th day of each lunar month) transforms the town with thousands of lanterns and performances. For fewer crowds, visit on weekday mornings.

Hotels in Hoi An are fiercely competitive, offering plenty of choice and generally high standards. Budget options start at 90,000 dong for dorms. Most budget and mid-range hotels cluster around Hai Ba Trung Street and Ba Trieu, just north of the Old Town and within walking distance. Cua Dai Street to the east is further but popular. Beware of hotels in the northwestern outskirts near construction zones lacking the charm of the Old Town. High-end resorts line the unbroken beach stretching from Da Nang to Hoi An, with Cua Dai Beach 5 km away. Popular options include Betel Garden Homestay (beautiful landscaped garden, free bicycles, complimentary dinners), Hoi An Pho Library Hotel (rooftop pool, excellent breakfast included), and Quynh Long Villa (family-run, swimming pool, 5 minutes to center).

Hoi An has distinctive local dishes not found elsewhere in Vietnam. Cao lau (thick rice noodles with pork and greens) costs around 40,000 dong. Banh xeo (crispy savory pancakes) range from 6,000 dong per wrap at Thiên Bảo Quán to 50,000 dong at Bale Well. White rose dumplings (banh bao banh vac) at White Rose shop cost 40,000 dong. Banh mi from Madam Khanh (the Banh Mi Queen) costs 25,000-30,000 dong. Morning Market and Central Market (19 Tran Phu) offer local food courts with Hoi An specialities. Banana fritters near the morning market cost 6,000 dong each. For drinks, beer costs around 30,000 dong and cocktails 20,000-50,000 dong at riverside bars.

The Japanese Covered Bridge (Chua Cau), built in the early 1600s and renovated in 1986, is Hoi An's symbol. Museums worth visiting include the Museum of Hoi An History and Culture (7 Nguyen Hue St), Museum of Folk Culture (33 Nguyen Thai Hoc St), Museum of Sa Huynh Culture (149 Bach Dang St), and Museum of Trade Ceramics (80 Tran Phu St). Explore historic houses: Old House of Phung Hung, Old House of Tan Ky (shows Japanese and Chinese architectural influences), and Cam Pho Communal House. Chinese Assembly Halls include the Fujian (Phuc Kien), Teochew (Trieu Chau), Cantonese (Quang Trieu), and Hainanese (Hai Nam) meeting halls. Evening lantern boat rides on the Thu Bon River cost from $6 per person. The Bamboo Circus (Lune Center) offers nightly performances at 18:00 (700,000-1.6 million dong). The Hoi An Memories Show runs daily at 16:00 with main show at 20:00 (600,000-1.2 million dong for adults). Cooking classes are available at Red Bridge Restaurant (about 3 km out on Thu Bon River) and numerous establishments. Cycling tours explore rural areas with rice paddies, fishing villages, and bamboo bridges.

Hoi An is famous for custom tailoring. Men's and ladies' tailoring at Song Trang (166 Nguyen Truong To) starts from US$100 for 2-piece suits. Vanda Tailors (631 Hai Ba Trung) is highly rated. Mr. Xe (71 Nguyen Thai Hoc) charges about US$120 for 2-piece suits with high precision fitting. Avoid Yaly Couture (from US$150) which reportedly earns 30% commission from hotels. Silk items from Len Silk (74 Tran Phu), run by a 6th generation family preserving traditional hand-production techniques. Markets include Central Market (19 Tran Phu, tourist prices), Morning Market (north of center, local prices), Night Market (around drinking hotspot, overpriced), and Textile Market.

Most hotels, restaurants, and cafes provide free Wi-Fi. A citywide Wi-Fi network is also available; to connect, open your browser and click the banner at the top. For mobile data, Vietnamese carriers like Viettel, Vinaphone, and Mobifone offer SIM cards widely available for purchase.

Hoi An is generally a safe destination for tourists. The Old Town is well-policed and the main risks are petty theft and scams common in tourist areas. Be cautious of inflated prices at markets and tailor shops that earn commission from hotel recommendations. During the wet season (September-December), low-lying areas may flood. Motorbike accidents are a concern when cycling on busy roads; wear a helmet and be cautious.

My Son, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of abandoned Cham temple ruins in the Central Highlands, is the most popular day trip from Hoi An. Cham Islands offer scuba diving and snorkeling, about 20 km offshore. Thanh Ha pottery village (3 km from Old Town) preserves 500-year-old hand-making pottery traditions. Tra Que vegetable village is reachable by bicycle for culinary experiences. Cua Dai Beach is 5 km north of town. Ba Na Hills mountain resort and the Golden Bridge (near Da Nang) make a full-day excursion.

Da Nang is only 30 km north, with an international airport and beach resorts. Hue (3.5-4 hours by bus) offers imperial Vietnamese culture and is a better destination for Vietnamese cultural heritage. Nha Trang (9-10 hours south along the coast) is popular for beaches and diving. The central highlands (Dalat, Buon Ma Thuot) offer cooler climates and ethnic minority cultures. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are reachable by open-tour buses or flights.