Hoi An is an old port city located in central Vietnam. Also known as the city of lanterns; this wonderfully unique place is famed for its night markets, custom tailors and for the well preserved Ancient Town. Keep reading for a list of things that will make you completely fall in love with Hoi An, Vietnam.
Visit The Night Market
This Night Market is well known throughout the country for its buzzing atmosphere and illuminated streets. The stalls are filled with everything from trinkets and souvenirs to beautiful hand crafted lanterns. Open from around 5-10 pm daily; this is a great place to practice the art of haggling and check out the different vendors. A huge portion of the market is dedicated to local food stalls so make sure to come hungry! Th Night Market is a great place to dive into the culture of Hoi An, Vietnam.
Help Design Your Own Clothing
Hoi An is the tailor capital of Vietnam offering custom suits, casual wear, leather products and everything in between. The prices are unbelievable and you can be involved in all the decisions along the way. My biggest piece of advice is to shop around before committing to a tailor! It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer volume.. but some are definitely better than others. We would highly recommend Faifoo Tailor as they did a fantastic job for us and the prices and customer service were excellent.
Keep in mind that it takes a day or two for your clothes/accessories to be made. We bought quite a bit including leather shoes, dresses, skirts, and a custom suit for David. If you don’t have room to haul it all around with you; the Post Office has very reasonable shipping options to get your new clothing home!
Spend Some Time at The Beach
An Bang Beach is a quick taxi ride or a relatively short bike ride from Hoi An, Vietnam. Between the white sand and clear, warm water it is an excellent place to lounge and unwind for the day.
Explore The Ancient Town
The Old Town is a fusion of indigenous and foreign cultures. With a combination of Chinese and Japanese influence as well as European elements; it was actually declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Old Town is a great place to explore the old buildings and immerse yourself in the history of Vietnam; all free of charge!
Float Down The River in a Basket Boat
There are multiple tours in Hoi An offering this fun and unique experience. Float through the stunning coconut forest while you learn about local fishing and customs. You can also combine this tour with a cooking class or a fishing lesson!
Take a Day Trip To Ba Na Hills
Ba Na Hills is a relatively new mountaintop resort complex about 90 minutes drive from Hoi An. To get there; rent a motorbike, take a private car or visit Ba Na Hills as part of a tour. Top attractions include riding the longest cable car in the world, The Alpine Roller Coaster, strolling through the french village and of course visiting the iconic Golden Bridge. TIP: The crowds can get a bit insane; so plan to go first thing on a weekday.
Try a Cooking Class
Thuan Tinh Island offers a fun local experience including a market tour and a traditional cooking class. Hang out with the friendly instructors and cook delicious food for around $35 USD per person. Hotel pick-up is at 8:20 am or 1:45 pm and a book of recipes is included at the end of the day.
We hope you love your time in this city as much as we did. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comment below with your experiences in Hoi An, Vietnam!
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
9 Unforgettable Things to do in Vietnam
Caving in Phong Nha National Park
10 Things to Know Before Backpacking Southeast Asia
Driving A Motorbike in SE Asia
Leave a Reply