Hoi An

Hoi An is a city in the Quang Nam province of Vietnam, on the country's South Central Coast. Hoi An Town, which dates from the 15th to the 19th century, is an extraordinarily well-preserved example of a Southeast Asian trading port. Its architecture and street plan represent the indigenous and foreign elements that have come together to create this unique cultural site.

Best time to visit:

Although the most favorable temperatures are between February and April, December brings fresh winds to Hoi An, making it ideal for visiting the town. Rainfall is also low throughout these months, making them ideal for travel. If you want to go to the beach, plan your trip for the beginning of June, when lengthy hot sunny days are guaranteed.

How to get there:

There is no airport or train station in Hoi An. Only one mode of transportation is available: an automobile. Da Nang, which has an airport with daily flights from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and other important Vietnamese cities, is the best place to hire a taxi.

Hoi An's attractions:

• Hoi An ancient town: Hoi An Ancient Town is home to exquisite Chinese temples, a Japanese-designed bridge, wooden shophouses, French colonial houses, and old canals. Most of the historic shops have been carefully transformed to modern businesses oriented towards tourists, including innumerable tailors, souvenir shops, art galleries, restaurants, and cafés. The area was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

>> Read more: Get lost in Hoi An's Old Town

• Hoi An riverside: Because of its location on the banks of the Thu Bon River, Hoi An Riverside was a popular destination for foreign traders between the 16th and 18th centuries. The waterfront is best known for its lively bars, bistros, and restaurants serving fresh seafood, beers, cocktails, coffee and cakes, as well as local and international fare. There are numerous local boats available for charter at the docks, which you can use for a day of fishing or cruising along the tranquil river.
• Japanese Covered Bridge: The Japanese Covered Bridge, which dates from the 18th century, is one of Hoi An Ancient Town's most popular attractions. Locals say it was erected by the Japanese resident in Hoi An at the time as a means of getting over the sea to the Chinese neighborhood. The bridge was dedicated in 1719 by Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu, who carved three Chinese symbols above the entry.
• Fujian Assembly Hall: The Fujian Assembly Hall is a landmark of Hoi An architecture and Fujian craftsmanship. This World Cultural Heritage Site, which was built in 1690, was used by residents from Fujian, China, to meet and socialize when living or visiting Hoi An.
• Cua Dai Beach: Cua Dai Beach is a tranquil coastal retreat from Hoi An's ancient alleyways. Apart from weekends and public holidays, the beach is quite peaceful most of the time, with a three-kilometer expanse of white sand and calm surf. Cua Dai Beach is well worth staying for dinner after a day of swimming and snorkeling. There are various seafood eateries along the coast.
• An Bang Beach: An Bang Beach is a 10-minute drive from Hoi An Ancient Town and is ideal for sunbathing after a day of touring. An Bang Beach is home to a variety of beachside resorts, seafood restaurants, and hippy bars, all with spectacular views of the nearby mountains and islets. It's one of the few areas of beach in Hoi An that hasn't been overrun by development, so you may go swimming or paddle boarding, or simply rest on the sun loungers.
• Hoi An Museum of History and Culture: The museum is located just a 10-minute walk from the Japanese Covered Bridge and features traditional burial rites with authentic coffins on display, pictures of traditional architecture, ceramics and pottery depicting Hoi An's changing faces, and several Cham objects such as bronze temple bells and gongs.
• Hoi An Museum of Trade Ceramics: The museum is situated in a renovated timber house on Tran Phu Street and provides cultural insight into Hoi An's history as well as international links with Japan, China, and India. The relics mostly date from the eighth through the eighteenth centuries. The museum is free to enter, and visitors may get a taste of life in a traditional Vietnamese home.
• Van Duc Pagoda: Van Duc Pagoda was built in the late 17th century and that is where locals worship Buddhist deities like Amitabha Buddha, Dia Tang Bodhisattva, and Avalokitecvara Bodhisattva. The yellow-hued establishment is one of Hoi An's oldest Buddhist temples, with three worship halls, intricate animal sculptures, deity paintings, potted plants, and plenty of shady trees.
• Chuc Thanh Pagoda: Monk Minh Hai of China founded Chuc Thanh Pagoda in 1454, making it Hoi An's oldest Buddhist pagoda. The temple features a marble statue of Guan Yin (Goddess of Mercy), delicate animal carvings, lacquered pillars, and 16 grave towers of prominent monks, with a combination of Vietnamese and Chinese architectural forms.

Hoi An surrounding's attractions:

• My Son Sanctuary: My Son Sanctuary is located in Duy Tan Commune - Duy Xuyen District - Quang Nam Province which is about 70km southwest of Danang and 40km from Hoi An). This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is a notable example of the ancient Champa culture. In the midst of a tropical jungle setting, the spectacular Hindu-themed ruins exhibit many exquisite stone sculptures, temples, and towers. Read more
• Cham Island: The Cham Islands are a group of eight small islands located off the coast of Hoi An, one of which is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. Cu Lao Cham Marine Park welcomes visitors searching for a day of scuba diving and snorkeling, while Hon Lao Island has fishing communities and beautiful beaches ideal for sunbathing and water sports. Read more

Activities: 

• Top 5 things to do in Hoi An