15 Experiences To Try When Coming To Hoi An

Walking around the old town at night, enjoying Cao Lau, sewing clothes right away, and cruising on the Hoai River in the evening… are unforgettable experiences when visiting the land that used to be “the most prosperous trading port in Southeast Asia” “.

If one day you visit “world cultural heritage” Hoi An and do not know what to do. Please refer to the suggestions below to feel more deeply about life and the people here.

1. Walking the Old Town at night

A simple experience, you just need to step out on the street and see the old houses, and colorful lantern streets at night. You will feel like you are lost in a gala of light, a picture that combines the calmness of ancient architecture with rustic images and the excitement of modern life. Perhaps the most beautiful is still the section along the banks of the Hoai River, where splashes of color sparkle on the water. Hoi An is even more beautiful when there are no tourists and shops, then the old town will really return to its old, most contemplative shape.

2. Drop lights posted

Still on that evening, besides just observing, you can immerse yourself in the decoration for the light party on the riverbank. An interesting experience that many tourists like to do is to drop flower lanterns on the Hoai River. You will be the one to drop the small twinkling lights into the river, in the hope that the lights will bring luck to your family and loved ones. Besides lanterns, flower lanterns also gradually become a feature of Hoi An tourism.

3. Enjoy Cao Lau

Cao Lau is a specialty dish that anyone coming to Hoi An should try. The origin of the name of this dish is very interesting, in the past, when traders came to Hoi An to trade, they had to eat this dish on the “high floor” to both eat and look after the goods, so from there the name Cao Lau was formed. . A bowl of Cao Lau is delicious enough to have the feeling of the noodles, the sour, spicy, acrid, sweet taste of raw vegetables, the aroma of fish sauce, aromatic powder, soy sauce, gravy… and the crispy toppings melt in the mouth. You can find food at Ba Be restaurant located in the market at the beginning of Tran Phu street, the restaurant at the beginning of lane 69 Phan Chau Trinh, or the singing shop at the intersection of Tran Phu with Hoang Dieu or restaurants for foreigners along the street Bach Dang.

4. Eat the “best in the world” bread

Not long ago, David Farley – BBC reporter specializing in travel and cuisine commented “Vietnamese banh mi is the most magical in the world” in the article “Is Vietnamese bread the best sandwich in the world?” gender?” after eating a total of 15 loaves of bread at various shops across Vietnam. One of them is Hoi An bread. Indeed, in Hoi An, there are bakeries that are very popular with foreign tourists, which are Phuong bread (Phan Chau Trinh), Madam Khanh bread (Tran Cao Van) and Ba Lanh bread (Cua Dai). Hoi An bread with slices of pork, pate, cucumber, herbs and a typical meat sauce is extremely delicious and attractive.

5. Boat ride on the Hoai River in the evening

Taking a boat to see a corner of the Old Quarter at night and releasing lanterns is very popular with couples, especially those who come to Hoi An to take wedding photos. However, if you do not have a pair, you can still go with family and friends.

6. Coffee in Hoi An

Hoi An has two coffee shops with a lot of people drinking in the morning, that is Ms. Thao’s shop located right around the bend from the Japanese bridge to Bach Dang street, the customers here are mainly young people. Across the bridge is a shop for middle-aged people. Sitting at both shops, you can see the banks of the Hoai River, the scene of trawling and a block of An Hoi street. The fresh morning before the motor vehicle ban, sitting and drinking a cup of coffee after eating Phuong bread is a gentle way to start a new day in the Old Quarter. In addition, in Hoi An, there is a special tea room, serving people who are deaf. Reaching Out is at 131 Tran Phu. Coming to Reaching Out, you will enjoy a light, quiet space – great for sipping a cup of coffee and reading a pocketbook.

7. Sew fashion clothes now

Hoi An has many attractive things for domestic and foreign tourists, one of which is tailor shops, clothes, shoes, sandals, bags… get it right in the day. Forbes magazine once honored one of the “hot tailor” shops in Hoi An for its unique service and professional service. After only about 4 hours, you can receive the item you just ordered. The fashion style in Hoi An is very unique, trendy, and the price ranges from only 15-100 USD.

8. Go to the beach

Hoi An has famous beaches in the world with white sand, clear sea and golden sunshine. Cua Dai beach with long white sand beaches, coconut trees, and clear sea water, but unfortunately, Cua Dai was just damaged by sea water in mid-October 2014 and is in the recovery period. However, Hoi An also has An Bang listed in the top 50 most beautiful beaches on the planet. An Bang beach is suitable for those who are looking for a free and quiet space. You can drop your soul at a beach without umbrellas, tables and chairs, only waves, and clear water, bask in the bright sunshine, read a book, enjoy a light glass of wine, or drink a few cold beers… A very unique experience in Hoi An.

9. Find the old houses

Ancient houses are invaluable heritage that Hoi An has preserved after many wars, urbanization and destruction from nature. Every rainy season, Hoi An floods, there are years of history when the water rises, the whole floor of a house is submerged in water. But through many events, the old houses are still intact as the original, both in terms of architecture and soul. The most well-known is the Tan Ky ancient house, the first house recognized as a national monument in Hoi An and this is also the place where many heads of state at home and abroad have been welcomed. Besides Tan Ky, there are also ancient houses of Phung Hung, Quan Thang … or assembly halls of Fujian, Cantonese … bearing bold Chinese architecture, built by Chinese merchants to commemorate their homeland.

10. Snorkeling to see coral in Cu Lao Cham

Cu Lao Cham Island is about 15 km from the Old Town, is one of the places that should not be missed when coming to Hoi An. Tourism services in Cu Lao Cham have not yet developed, but because of that, Cu Lao Cham retains its wild character. Coming to Cu Lao Cham, you can experience scuba diving to see corals, make campfires, sleep in homestays and enjoy fresh – delicious – nutritious – cheap seafood.

11. Buy a lantern as a souvenir

The most common and typical souvenir in Hoi An is probably the lanterns. Choosing one to give to a loved one or bring it home to hang, is also an interesting thing to remember about the Old Quarter.

12. Coming to Hoi An on the full moon day

If you come to Hoi An on the day of the full moon festival (lunar day 14), you are really a lucky person. On this day, the ancient town of Hoi An turns off all the lights and hangs up the colorful lanterns, releasing bright lanterns on the riverbank. It is really a great space for those who love the quiet beauty of Hoi An ancient town. In addition to the full moon day, you can go to Hoi An on other special days such as the Thien Hau festival, Vu Lan festival, Mid-Autumn festival, Tet Nguyen Tieu… to be immersed in the unique cultural beauty of the land. This. Hoi An Ancient Town is small, but it will take a lot of time to understand.