A Guide to Vietnam: Hoi An
Hoi An, Vietnam (ISO 3200, 24 mm, f/4.5, 1/800 s)
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Hoi An is hands down my favorite city in Vietnam. To me, it is the perfect size, it offers so much to do and see, and it is rich in Vietnamese culture. My 2 week trip to Vietnam granted me enough time for two days in Hoi An and I made the most of it.
What also makes the city so special is its history, which can be seen in different architectural styles throughout such as in its Chinese temples, Japanese bridges, and French colonial buildings. Home to roughly 120,000, the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is also known as Faifo. It functioned as a Southeast Asian trading port from the 15th to 19th centuries. Today, it is one of the most visited places in Vietnam.
I wrote this blog post to recommend what to see and do in Hoi An from my own experiences. Although I have aged a bit, I was a bit of an adventurer at the time so I hope that my suggests are fruitful for your experience as well.
Japanese Bridge, Hoi An, Vietnam (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 s)
If you have an extended amount of time in Vietnam, I recommend seeing some other cities! Here are my blog posts below on what else Vietnam has to offer:
Mekong Delta, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City (See Blog Post - A Crash Course into South Vietnam)
Hoi An (See Blog Post - A Guide to Vietnam: Hoi An)
Hanoi (See Blog Post - A Crash Course into North Vietnam)
Ha Long Bay (See Blog Post - A Guide to Vietnam: Ha Long Bay)
Vietnam Summary (See Blog Post - A Guide to Vietnam)
How to get to Hoi An
The closest airport to Hoi An happens to be Da Nang Airport (Airport Code: DAD). The airport serves all of Central Vietnam, making it an ideal place to fly into on your trip here.
The options for reaching Hoi An from Da Nang Airport include:
Shuttle Bus - Leaves every 20 minutes between 5am and 11pm. Costs approximately 140,000 Vietnamese Dong and picks up from both domestic and international terminals.
Taxi - this will run you between 350 and 500,000 Vietnamese Dong bus is the most direct and question option.
Public Bus - Bus #1 runs every 20 minutes during peak times and takes you right into central Hoi An for 30,000 Vietnamese Dong.
If you are already in Vietnam then getting to Hoi An is done easily using Intercity bus companies like Mai Linh Express and The Sinh Tourist. These types of transport function very much like a hop-on-hop-off bus style concept, stopping along the major cities of Vietnam. You can add as many stops as you would like to your journey. You can also take a train, here is an excellent resource on that.
Click here for more information if you want to find easy transportation to Hoi An
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Hoi An, Vietnam (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 s)
Here are some places worth checking out while in Hoi An:
Japanese Covered Bridge
This city is small and easily walkable or better yet, just as enjoyable on bike. The Ancient town itself is charming with colorful facades and chill vibes. The most iconic relic from the past is the Japanese Covered Bridge in the center of town. It was built in the 18th century and is ‘said’ to have been built by the Japanese to connect to the Chinese quarter on the other side. Not sure if that’s true…but it’s what they ‘say’. Anyway, it’s gorgeous. Go see it.
Custom Clothing
There are a number of tailors and shops here that will make you anything you desire, whether it be suits, shoes, dresses, etc and even jewelry (Papillon Noir made some nice shirts for me). And the turnaround time is anywhere from a few hours to a day or two. You simply go in, bring in a photo too if you have one, tell them what you are looking for, they will take your measurements and ask you to come in a little later for a fitting, and then do any adjustments required. This is all for a fraction of what you would pay elsewhere.
Hoi An, Vietnam (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/4.5, 1/2000 s)
Bike Ride to An Bàng Beach
If you’ve hired a bike (costs about 30,000 VND a day), the beach at An Bàng is idyllic. The journey to that beach is even better. As you leave the small town, you will pass by a plethora of rice fields, farms, and ponds, an entire sea of lush green vegetation. You will undoubtedly meander your way through the roads of Cam Thanh and Cam Chau that offer such views into Vietnamese life in the countryside.
The bike ride itself depends on your level of fitness and how good your bike is but I think it took us around 30 minutes, give or take. When we arrived at the beach, we were greeted with unfettered access to the water with few other people around us. There was a restaurant or two around where you can grab lunch as well. Seeing as how my trip was a few years ago, I wouldn’t be surprised if there were many more bars and restaurants in that area now.
Hoi An, Vietnam (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 s)
Cooking Classes
No trip to Vietnam is complete without eating their cuisine, furthermore, without trying to make it yourself. There are a few kitchens in the city that offer cooking classes, like Red Bridge cooking school. Here you will learn to make just about everything that is a staple in Vietnamese cuisine. It’s delicious food and even more, a great way to meet other travelers as well.
Hoi An, Vietnam (ISO 1600, 24 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 s)
Hoi An Night Market
This is also the city of lanterns, which you will see in all their glory at night. In my opinion, lanterns make everything better whether they be on a rooftop overlooking a big city or hanging in a college dorm room to create a chill, relaxed atmosphere. Walk along the city streets after a night out, taking in the bright and colorful lanterns that hang from all the shops and stalls is quite relaxing. Between purchasing some new clothes/jewelry/lanterns here, make sure you have a good amount of space in your luggage before arriving. Two days in this city is probably enough, but no amount of time will ever be enough, since you’ll never want to leave.
Hoi An, Vietnam (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 s)
