Vietnam has been for years on my bucket list and now that I could finally enjoy this wonderful country it turned out to be way better than I’ve could ever imagined. We’ve been planning very well what to visit and what to do in each place and of course we had to add to our route the charming Hoi An. This little town it’s one of the most famous in Vietnam, being visited by travellers all over the world and for a very good reason.
Once you are there you’ll start to understand why so many people love the cute little town . Hoi An is also a long-established UNESCO world heritage site and therefore the buildings have been preserved just as there were years ago, here are no cars allowed, only bikes, motorcycles and walking. Pretty cool!! In this blog post I will share some of the many things you can do in Hoi An.
Getting to Hoi An
There’s no airport or train station in Hoi An so you’ve got to take the scenic route. The nearest well connected city is Da Nang, which has an airport where you’ll find daily flights going to and from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and other major cities. Da Nang is also well connected by train, as well as the extensive bus network that spans the entire region. From Da Nang, we took a Grab, but you can go also go by bus if you want to.
Getting around
We got around Hoi An only by Grab, from our hotel to the area until where the cars are allowed and from there on, we walked. One day we took a tricycle to walk us around the town, this is something I recommend you to do, the experience was super cool and you also help locals with their small business.
The Grab is an excellent choice while you are on Vietnam. Just download the app. You can actually order food, ship payment and make cashless payments all over the country with this ultra popular all in one app.
EXPLORE THE OLD TOWN
Hoi An’s Old Town is, of course the highlight of any trip. We spent hours wondering through the streets and admiring the architecture of the Asian style houses, shutters and colours, snapping pics of the colourful buildings and glowing lanterns as we made our way to the city centre. Then we continued strolling along the river buying souvenirs, until we got tired and hot and we took a rest at one of the cute bars lined up along the river, sipping a cold milkshake and then we continued exploring.
And get out there early! Morning is the best time to explore
The Old Town is the number one tourist target and it gets crowded during the day, specially at night, so if you want to catch it without tourist I recommend you to go there very early in the morning. The type of tourist here is very well behaved and respectful, but it is so refreshing to have the streets to yourself.
Rent the traditional costume
I was dreaming for so long to wear the Vietnamese traditional costume and I couldn’t help it not to rent it for a few hours. I enjoyed a lot wearing the beautiful costume and I took tons of pics. I also noticed that Asians chose to rent the costume, while non Asians, prefer the custom made outfits. Both things are great choices.
Hoi An is famous for its world class tailors. Many travellers chose a custom made suit, dress or anything other investment pieces. While there are many high-quality places, there are an overwhelming number of options and many of them operate on commission.
WALK AROUND HOI AN
Hoi An is colourful and very charming that means that you better have the camera ready all the time, because there is so much to shoot. Hoi An is decorated with colourful lanterns that are stunning during the day, but wait for dark when the lanterns are lit, it will give the city a completely different feel. To be honest, for me the night made this place really magical, I felt like in a fairytale.
The streets in Hoi An are lined with beautiful houses, secret gardens, colourful and beautifully decorated temples, lovely bars, pink hanging flowers, its lively but calm atmosphere definitely feels a world away from cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh. It can still get very busy, however. Meanwhile, the honking motorbikes and yelling market salesmen catapult you back in modern day Vietnam with a snap of the fingers.
QUANG CONG TEMPLE
We arrived very early in the morning and we could spend a peaceful time here, without plenty of people around, there was just us and another couple. The vibe in this serene place is pure, with amazing decorations, artworks and original altars. Its pink design stands out against the yellow buildings and is a perfect example of cultural influences.
In order to enter the temple, you need to purchase the Hoi An Old Town ticket at any of the ticket stalls. The price has included 5 temple entrances.
HÔI QUÁG ĐÔNG TEMPLE
What it is so special about this temple, is that its biggest annual festival, the Tet Nguyen tieu, is organized on the day of the full moon of the 1st lunar month and attracts thousands of people. This is an opportunity to celebrate the new year by wishing luck, progress and prosperity and is also the time of reunion for the Chinese. Maybe is a good idea to plan your trip during Tet to get the change to see how beautiful it gets the atmosphere here.
HOI AN NIGHT LANTERN MARKET
This is something you don’t wanna miss. The market has colorful lanterns of various shapes and pattern decoration, it creates a romantic space when you stroll around the lantern market Hoi An. It is so great when you can enjoy the beauty of gorgeous lanterns and admire the ancient town with the cool wind from the riverside here, or raining like crazy for 10 minutes.
when to visit
The lantern market Hoi An has no regulations on opening and closing times, so you can come here at any time of the day. However, Hoi An lantern market in the evening will catch a special charm that it cannot be savoured during the day. The meaning of Hoi An lanterns is expressed as shine. Quang Nam people consider the light as a symbol of people. Therefore, when offering lanterns at the shrine, it also means putting yourself under the protection of deities
ENJOY LANTERN BOAT RIDE AT NIGHT
One of the most enchanting experiences you cannot miss in the old town is taking a Hoi An lantern boat ride on the Hoai River. The magical journey with lantern boat will immerse yourself in the town’s unique ambiance in the surroundings full of the shimmering glow of colourful lanterns and flower lanterns. It is perfectly romantic, so grab your loved one and take the night ride. You can also buy a flower lantern to realise it on the river while you make a wish. This was one of the most enjoyable experience in my time here.
Best time to visit Hoi An
The climate in Hoi An is warm year round but is particularly dry from February to July. Make sure to avoid Vietnamese public holidays, especially TET, which is the biggest holiday of the year and causes shops and restaurants to close.
Madeleine 𓇼 