Hoi An travel guide – The best guide for 2023

15/06/2023 Trinh Lu

For a variety of reasons, Hoi An is consistently ranked among the best tourist attractions in Vietnam. Read this Hoi An travel guide all the way through to the end to learn more about this city in preparation for your forthcoming trip.

ABOUT HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN

Hoi An Ancient Town is one of Vietnam’s most beautiful cities. It is a charming town in Central Vietnam. Hoi An Ancient Town has currently recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its intact old village and its beauty. From the 15th through the 19th century, this ancient town served as a significant trading harbor for traders traveling from all across Asia.

Hoi An travel guide - Hoi An

Hoi An is beautiful at any time of day

Foreign cultures have historically been introduced to Hoi An. Vietnamese tube dwellings, wooden Chinese temples, vibrant French colonial structures, and the recognizable Japanese Bridge. Hoi An Ancient Town is a prime example of how the Vietnamese culture at home coexists with Western, Southeast Asian, and East Asian influences.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT HOI AN

According to the Hoi An travel guide from Dideden, Hoi An Ancient Town is an appealing and famous place in Vietnam that is appropriate for tourism all year. Hoi An’s weather is as follows in each season:

The dry season (from February to August)

From February until the end of April, this is the best season to visit Hoi An. The weather is cold and sunny at that time, with occasional light showers. As a result, the Hoi An travel guide finds it is an ideal time for you to have a variety of outdoor activities or travel.

From May to August, there is no rain in Hoi An throughout the summer. It is possible that some days may be quite hot. As a result, if you are visiting Hoi An at that time, you need to bring sunscreen or other sun-blocking stuff.

The Hoi An travel guide finds the most beautiful time for travelers to explore Hoi An Ancient Town is from February until the end of April.

Hoi An travel guide - The best time to visit Hoi An

February until the end of April is the finest time to visit Hoi An, Vietnam.

The rainy season (from September to the end of January)

It is important Hoi An travel guide note for you is during this time, Hoi An is frequently flooded, making it difficult for tourists to move about. Even on rainy days, there are plenty of intriguing things to do in Hoi An. If you wish to visit Hoi An during this season, you should watch the weather and plan your own itinerary ahead of time.

HOW TO GET TO HOI AN

The following are some transportation suggestions for your planned vacation to Hoi An:

The first suggestion that the Hoi An travel guide made for you is by airplane. Traveling by airplane is the most convenient way to get to Hoi An. You may book plane tickets to Da Nang from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City and then continue your journey to Hoi An by bus or taxi. It will only take you one hour, and the fee will range from 400,000 to 1,600,000 VND per trip (from $17.05 to $68.05 per trip).

Hoi An travel guide - By airplane

The airplane is the fastest way to get to Hoi An

Besides airplanes, the Hoi An travel guide suggests that you can travel by rail. Your train ride will end at Da Nang Station or Tra Kieu Station, with a total travel duration of around 15 – 20 hours. The ticket price ranges between 230,000 and 2,224,000 VND (between $9.78 and $94.59), depending on the route and seat class.

Besides airplanes and by rail, the Hoi An travel guide also recommends the coach as one of the best ways to travel from Ha Noi to Hoi An. There are coaches that go from Hanoi to Hoi An and from Ho Chi Minh City to Hoi An. Every excursion will cost between 320,000 and 480,000 VND (between $14 and $20).

>> More: Top 10 Fantastic Cities To Visit In Vietnam

HOW TO GET AROUND IN HOI AN

For a better experience at Hoi An Ancient Town, the Hoi An travel guide recommends some means for you to get around and explore Hoi An.

  • By bicycle: This is the ideal way to travel around and experience the quiet life of the historic town. Some hotels in Hoi An provide complimentary bicycles to guests, or you may hire a bicycle for around 40,000 VND per day ($1.7 per day).
  • By motorcycle: Renting a motorcycle can make it easier for you to get from one location to another in Hoi An. The daily rental fee ranges from 120,000 to 150,000 VND (from $5 to $6.38).
  • By cyclo: A cyclo is a common mode of transportation in Hoi An Ancient Town. To obtain the best pricing, take a cyclo on Phan Chau Trinh Street or Tran Phu Street, which are both around 150,000 VND/trip/hour (around $6.38/trip/hour).
  • By taxi: Many visitors prefer to go by cab. A 4-seat cab in Hoi An costs roughly 11,000 – 15,000 VND/km ($0.47 – $0.64/km) for trips under 30 km and 9,000 – 12,000 VND/km ($0.38 – $0.51/km) for trips beyond 31 km.

WHAT TO DO IN HOI AN

With the Hoi An travel guide, there are many activities for tourists to see and do in Hoi An’s center, including:

Visiting some cultural assembly halls

  • Phuc Kien Assembly Hall: This is a spot where traders go to pray for good weather for their forthcoming excursions. The assembly hall still has its distinctive construction, complete with a three-door gate, a shrine, and several big incense coils.

Hoi An travel guide - Phuc Kien Assembly Hall

Once you are at Hoi An, you should go to Phuc Kien Assembly Hall.

  • Quang Dong Assembly Hall: This ornate and sophisticated structure was completed in late 1885. This location has several gorgeous and one-of-a-kind ceramic antiques. The patterns in these objects, in particular, depict the daily lives of the ancient Cantonese people.

Hoi An travel guide - Quang Dong Assembly Hall

The architecture of Quang Dong Assembly Hall is magnificent

  • Trieu Chau Assembly Hall: The overseas Chinese community constructed this Hall in the middle of the 19th century to commemorate Ma Yuan. It is the perfect cultural destination in Hoi An and has numerous significant historical possessions thanks to its unique original architecture.

Hoi An travel guide - Trieu Chau Assembly Hall

The Trieu Chau Assembly Hall is crucial to Hoi An culture.

Exploring the architecture of ancient houses

  • Tan Ky Ancient Mansion: This is Hoi An’s oldest mansion, dating back over 200 years, and was once the residence of the noble Le family. Tan Ky Old House still has its unique old architecture as well as plenty of room for showcasing various antiquities.
  • Phung Hung Old House: Unlike other old houses, it has a particular beauty as well as a relatively modern structural design. The structure is composed of high-quality wood, which contributes to its gorgeous appearance.

Japanese Bridge Hoi An

Another appealing activity that the Hoi An travel guide recommends for you is taking pictures at the Japanese Bridge. The Japanese Bridge in Hoi An is regarded as a landmark of the historic town and a tribute to Hoi An’s numerous cultural influences.

Hoi An travel guide - The Japanese Bridge

Hoi An’s Japanese Bridge makes an excellent background for photographs.

People worship Bac De Tran Vo within the temple. Bac De Tran Vo is said to preserve the land and provide good fortune to the villagers. This bridge is unique in that it is printed on 20,000 VND polymer currency.

Making a custom suit at Hoi An Ancient Town

For the Hoi An travel guide, making a custom suit is one of the indispensable things to do and see in Hoi An. Hoi An is a well-liked location to create customized suits since the city is well-known across Vietnam for its textile industry.

Hoi An travel guide - Custom suit

Visit a store and select your preferred fabric for your custom suit.

There are several tailoring businesses located around the city. You may have anything manufactured just for you, including shoes, coats, suits, and wedding gowns.

Shopping for Local Handicrafts

Beautiful regional handicrafts are well known in Hoi An. There are many shops, boutiques, and night market stalls where you can get affordable, charming items if you enjoy shopping.

Hoi An travel guide - Handicrafts

Handcrafted items and local artwork are produced by minorities to make wonderful presents or souvenirs.

A vast range of products with a strong emphasis on bespoke tailors and Vietnamese souvenirs, the latter of which included anything from tacky souvenirs to what appeared to be high-quality art and textiles.

Celebrate Hoi An Lantern Festival

The full moon is celebrated globally at the UNESCO Heritage Site by reviving old customs. Every lunar month, on the fourteenth day, from 17:30 PM to 22:00 PM, is the Hoi An Lantern Festival. The town’s lights have all been turned off, and lanterns will now light up the streets. In addition, the Hoai River was lifted by floating lanterns, giving off a magnificent radiance.

Hoi An travel guide - Lantern

If you visit Hoi An, you should not miss the thrill of dropping lanterns. It stands for the Hoi An people’s spirituality and cultural heritage. You may take a boat on the river for a brief journey through a fairy tale. To make a wish, take a light and throw it into the river. Check the dates in advance, just to be sure.

WHAT CAN WE TASTE AT HOI AN

The Hoi An travel guide recommends Hoi An Night Market, which is a famous food market in Hoi An for you. Many travelers who visit Quang Nam are familiar with Hoi An Night Market. At that market, you will be immersed in a lively shopping environment and drawn to several foods with distinct regional flavors. Cao Lau, Quang noodles, Banh Mi, Wonton, Water Fern cake, Hoi An chicken rice, and other Hoi An dishes should be tried here.

The Hoi An travel guide sure that you are very thrilled to be looking for meals here. With its abundance of street cuisine, eateries, and food markets, Hoi An is undoubtedly a foodie’s delight.

Hoi An travel guide - Cao Lau

Cao Lau is a must-try when visiting Hoi An Ancient Town

When visiting, be sure to try some of the local Hoi An specialties. Below are the top three foods that the Hoi An travel guide hopes you should try in Hoi An. Try as many dishes as you can!

  • Cao Lau (includes Cao Lau noddles, pork crackling, bean sprouts, lettuce, and herbs)
  • Banh Mi (Vietnamese baguette)
  • Banh Bao Banh Vac (The transparent rice paper is wrapped to imitate the shape of a flower, also known as a white rose dumpling)

ATTRACTIONS NEAR HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN

If you want to explore outside of Hoi An Ancient Town, consider the following suggestions:

Vin Wonders Nam Hoi An

Vin Wonders Nam Hoi An is an amusement park that is located around 17 km from Hoi An Ancient Town. It offers a variety of amusements in the adventure land, the water park, the River Safari, and other areas, all of which have a distinctive design with five subdivisions.

Hoi An travel guide - Vinwonders

VinWonders Nam Hoi An will provide you with the opportunity to participate in a variety of exciting activities.

As a result, this location promises to provide you and your significant other with a wealth of engaging activities during your Hoi An excursion.

Cham Island

The Hoi An travel guide equips you with an ideal destination which is Cham Island. Cham Islands gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in nature and take part in a variety of exciting activities. Thanks to its breathtaking landscapes, this is the ideal location to learn about the residents’ culture and religion.

Hoi An travel guide - Cham Island

The Cham Islands are a great location for a vacation.

The Hoi An travel guide finds a number of magnificent monuments, including Hai Tang Temple, the Cham people’s historic well, and the Nest Craftsman temple,…

Tra Que Vegetable Village

The Hoi An travel guide recommends Tra Que Vegetable Village for those seeking peace and freshness in Hoi An. Tra Que Vegetable Village must be the perfect place to go for them.

Hoi An travel guide - Tra Que Vegetable Village

Visitors to Tra Que Vegetable Village can experience life as a farmer.

When arriving here, you may participate in some thrilling activities like living like a farmer for a day, taking a foot bath with Tra Que herbs, or showing off your culinary abilities in workshops. Additionally, there are several well-known delicacies with distinctive flavors that you might enjoy.

An Bang Beach

An Bang Beach is regarded as one of the best beaches in Hoi An, Vietnam. An Bang Beach has a calm blue sea, long white sand, and gentle waves that lap at the coast.

Hoi An travel guide - An Bang Beach

An Bang Beach is an ideal option if you want to immerse in the cool ocean atmosphere.

Moreover, it is still mostly untouched by urban growth, so pack this Hoi An travel guide and come to An Bang Beach to unwind and escape from daily stress.

>> More: Unique traditional Tet space at Da Nang beach

TIPS FOR VISITING HOI AN

  • At the Hoi An night market, a lot of stores have lanterns. Pick the one that appeals to you the most, but be ready to wait in a queue because this is a popular photo spot. Additionally, the time you have to shoot the shot is limited.
  • If you want to have a custom suit, be sure that spend at least two days in Hoi An to give the tailors enough time to produce an excellent piece of apparel.
  • Don’t forget to stay hydrated if you’re traveling in the burning summer months! The temperature there during our visit ranged from 34 to 37 Celsius.

To sum up, that is all the tourist information that the Hoi An travel guide provides for you. Hoi An, which means “peaceful meeting place,” has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 for its well-preserved old town. Do you want to explore Hoi An Ancient Town? Pack your baggage, together with this Hoi An travel guide, and made your trip! Together with Dideden, wishing you a wonderful experience in Hoi An.

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