Top 10 Things to do in Hoi An that you cannot miss

Hoi An is one of the famous tourist cities in Vietnam. This place impresses visitors with its ancient beauty, peace, and unique cultural experiences. If you are wondering what to do in this ancient city, the article below will introduce to you 10 things to do in Hoi An Vietnam that you cannot miss when coming there, promising to bring you an exciting journey of discovery, that is flavorful and memorable.

Introduction to Hoi An

Hoi An is an ancient city located downstream of the Thu Bon River

A historic city called Hoi An is situated below the Thu Bon River. About 30 kilometers south of Quang Nam province is the city of Da Nang. Hoi An is a Sino-Vietnamese phrase that means “place of peace and tranquility” because, during the 16th and 17th centuries, it was a bustling port that drew traders from all over the world. As a result, Hoi An holds onto a great deal of distinctive historical and cultural artifacts that illustrate the cultural exchanges that have occurred between Vietnam and nations like China, Japan, France, and America.

Hoi An is famous for its old town, which was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage in 1999. Hoi An impresses visitors with its ancient houses, unique dishes, and extremely friendly people. friendly and hospitable. Thanks to these things, by 2023, Hoi An will be ranked second in the ranking of the 25 most popular destinations in the world.

10 things to do in Hoi An

Hoi An has many different tourist attractions, meeting many different interests and needs of tourists. Whether you are a nature lover, history enthusiast, or food explorer, Hoi An will have something special and unique to bring you the best experience. 

What to do in Hoi An? Here are the 10 best things to do in Hoi An Vietnam (Hoi An things to do)

Walk around Hoi An ancient town

Streets filled with lanterns in Hoi An

Hoi An Ancient Town is well-known as a tourist destination because of its serene, historic charm. Visitors are impressed by these 200-year-old houses that have influences from Eastern cultures like China and Japan while still having a significant Vietnamese influence.

The ideal time to stroll through the historic town of Hoi An is in the evening. You may see streets with bright lanterns and rows of old houses as soon as you step outside the hotel.

Enjoy the peaceful feeling on Hoai River

Hoai River

Hoai River is a small branch of the Thu Bon River. Sitting on small boats, going down the water, visitors will see peaceful ancient houses as well as the daily lives of the people here. Especially in the evening, visitors can participate in releasing flower lanterns on the river. According to the beliefs of the Hoi An people, each hanging lantern symbolizes a wish. Therefore, this unique activity is always loved by tourists because they can express their wishes and hopes.

Read more: Vietnam and Thailand itinerary: Ultimate guide for first time travelers

Visit Hoi An Bridge Pagoda

Chua Cau is one of the attractive tourist destinations in Hoi An

Chua Cau (Bridge Pagoda), also known as Japanese Bridge, is one of the attractive tourist destinations in Hoi An. Covered Bridge is famous for its unique architecture and traditional wooden bridge. When visiting Chua Cau, visitors can not only admire the ancient bridge but also learn about the unique history and culture of Hoi An. In addition, from Chua Cau, visitors can also enjoy the beautiful panorama of Hoi An ancient town, and the peaceful Hoai River.

Experience making pottery at Thanh Ha Pottery Village

Tourists experience pottery making at Thanh Ha pottery village

​​One of the unique things to do in Hoi An that visitors cannot miss is the experience of making pottery at Thanh Ha pottery village. Thanh Ha Pottery Village is a long-standing traditional craft village in Hoi An. Here, visitors can not only admire the traditional pottery-making process but also hear the artisans meticulously explain the steps of shaping clay with a turntable, drawing decorations, and drying it until putting it in the kiln. In addition, visitors can make their own products to take home as souvenirs or give as gifts to family and friends.

Explore Hoi An market

Exploring Hoi An market is one of the things to do in Hoi An

Hoi An Market is known as a shopping paradise with a wide range of things. Visitors can find and purchase unique souvenirs such as lanterns, embroidery, ceramics, and handicrafts. Upon entering Hoi An market, visitors appear to be lost in a world other than the sky. The bustling, raucous atmosphere of sales pitching, bidding, and laughter produces a very vibrant environment.

The cuisine is an essential aspect of touring Hoi An market. Visitors may eat wonderful street cuisine at market stalls or tiny cafés located throughout the market. Cao Lau, Quang noodles, pork rice paper rolls, mussel rice, and mussels with rice paper are some of the unique delicacies that travelers should sample when visiting Hoi An market.

This may be the best of the 10 things to do in Hoi An that all visitors must try. 

Understand about the land of Hoi An at the Hoi An Museum of History and Culture

Learn about the land of Hoi An at the Hoi An Museum of History and Culture

The Hoi An Museum of History and Culture, located on Tran Hung Dao Street in the center of Hoi An’s historic town, is a must-see for travelers interested in learning about the city’s history, culture, and people. Established in 1989, the museum has around 500 valuable objects, including archaeological relics, Sa Huynh, Champa, and Dai Viet culture artifacts, as well as historical papers, pictures, and maps that depict Hoi An’s origin and progress across numerous historical periods.

Visit Tan Ky ancient house

Tan Ky Ancient House is one of the famous ancient houses in Hoi An ancient town

Tan Ky ancient house is one of the famous ancient houses in Hoi An ancient town. This house was built in the early 18th century by the family of Mr. Le Dinh Ky – a wealthy and influential merchant in Hoi An at that time. After more than 200 years of history, Tan Ky ancient house still retains its unique architecture and has become an attractive destination for domestic and foreign tourists.

Tan Ky ancient house was built in the traditional architectural style of Hoi An with curved yin and yang tiled roofs, mossy yellow walls, and sturdy wooden columns. The inside of the house is solemnly decorated with ancient furniture such as mahogany cabinets, altar cabinets, tables, and chairs… Visitors to Tan Ky ancient house can freely visit or listen to the guide’s explanation. members for more information about the history, architecture, and culture of the house. In addition, visitors can also participate in traditional activities such as making lanterns, cooking… here.

Explore Bay Mau coconut forest

Bay Mau coconut forest is known as the “water coconut kingdom”

Bay Mau coconut forest is known as the “water coconut kingdom” with lush green coconut groves, creating a wild and poetic natural scene. Here, visitors will sit on small basket boats driven by local people to admire the style. In particular, visitors can also experience folk games such as catching fish by hand and boat racing… These games not only bring visitors relaxing moments but also help them better understand the culture of the country. local people.

Swimming at Cua Dai Beach

Cua Dai Beach is one of the most picturesque beaches in Hoi An, Quang Nam. This location is noted for its vast expanses of beautiful white sand, crystal blue sea water, and lush green coconut palms. Cua Dai Beach is great for travelers looking to swim, participate in water sports, or simply rest and enjoy the fresh air.

Watching coral in Cu Lao Cham

Scuba diving to see coral is one of the most popular activities among tourists

Cu Lao Cham is an island in Hoi An City recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage and World Biosphere Reserve. Cu Lao Cham is famous for its beautiful beaches, clear blue sea water and diverse marine ecosystem. Visitors coming here can participate in many recreational activities such as swimming, diving to see coral, fishing, kayaking…

Scuba diving to see coral is one of the most popular activities for tourists when coming to Cu Lao Cham. This place has a rich and diverse coral ecosystem with more than 300 species of coral and 700 species of fish. Visitors can scuba dive or shallow dive to see colorful coral reefs and amazing marine life.

Note when visiting Hoi An

To have beautiful experiences and memories in Hoi An, when visiting this city, you need to note the following:

The best time to visit Hoi An

Visitors can come to Hoi An at any time of the year, but the best time is from February to May. This is the time when the weather in Hoi An is quite mild, with little rain, and lots of sunshine, very suitable. for sightseeing and tourism activities. This is also the time when many festivals take place in Hoi An such as Thu Bon Festival, Thien Hau Resurrection Ceremony, Fish Sacrifice Ceremony, Cau Bong Ceremony…

In addition, tourists can visit Hoi An from June to August, this is the time when Hoi An’s weather starts to get hotter and more rainy, but this is also the peak tourist season in Hoi An. The period from September to January is the time when the rainy season in Hoi An begins. However, this is the ideal time for visitors to see the ripe golden rice fields.

How to get to Hoi An 

Visitors can come to Hoi An by many different means of transport such as:

• Plane: The closest airport to Hoi An is Da Nang International Airport. Visitors can fly from major domestic and international cities to Da Nang, then travel to Hoi An by other means such as taxi, bus, passenger car or motorbike.
• Train: Train tickets are cheaper than plane tickets, and you can see beautiful scenery along the route. However, the travel time from Hanoi to Hoi An is quite long, about 15 to 20 hours.
• Coach: There are many coach companies operating routes from major cities in the country to Hoi An. Visitors can easily choose the car company that suits their needs and preferences.
• Motorbike: Traveling by motorbike is a suitable choice for those who want to freely explore places on the way from Hanoi to Hoi An. The distance from Hanoi to Hoi An is about 800 km long. Travel time by motorbike from Hanoi to Hoi An is about 2 to 3 days. Tourists need to pay attention to traffic safety issues when traveling by motorbike.

Hoi An is a destination not to be missed for any tourist coming to Vietnam. The 10 attractions suggested in this article are just a small part of the colorful picture of Hoi An. Come and explore Hoi An to feel the simple life of the old town, enjoy delicious specialties, and immerse yourself in the vibrant festival atmosphere. Surely you will have unforgettable experiences in this heritage land. If you want to book a tour to Hoi An, please contact Vietnam Allure Travel for specific advice.

Read more: Vietnam itinerary: Discover the beauty of Vietnam