Hoi An

A charming ancient town with well-preserved buildings featuring Vietnamese, Chinese, and French architectural influences, and famous for its lantern-lit streets and tailor shops. It attracts visitors seeking a slower pace and cultural immersion away from Vietnam's larger cities.

Things to do

• Ancient Town Walking Tour — Stroll through the UNESCO-listed old quarter with its lantern-decorated streets, French colonial buildings, and Chinese shophouses dating back to the 15th century.
• Japanese Covered Bridge — Visit this iconic wooden bridge built in the early 1600s by the Japanese community, featuring a small temple and offering the most photogenic spot in town.
• Lantern-Making Workshop — Create your own traditional silk lantern at one of many local workshops scattered throughout town, a hands-on craft experience unique to Hoi An.
• Tailoring Experience — Visit one of the famous tailor shops to commission custom clothing—Hoi An is renowned for bespoke tailoring with quick turnaround times and affordable prices.
• An Bang Beach — Relax on this uncrowded sandy beach just 3 km north of the old town, lined with beachside restaurants and a slower pace than nearby Da Nang.
• Handicraft Workshops — Tour workshops producing traditional conical hats, woodcarving, and silk weaving to see artisans at work and purchase authentic souvenirs directly.

Food to try

• Cao Lau — Hoi An's signature noodle dish featuring thick, chewy noodles topped with pork, herbs, and crispy crackers, believed to be unique to the town's water.
• White Rose Dumplings — Delicate steamed shrimp dumplings wrapped in tapioca dough and folded into a rose shape, a local specialty served at most restaurants in the old town.
• Banh Mi — French-Vietnamese influenced sandwich with pâté, pickled vegetables, and meat on a crispy baguette, reflecting Hoi An's colonial heritage.
• Fresh Spring Rolls — Rice paper rolls filled with shrimp, herbs, and vermicelli, served fresh with peanut dipping sauce and available from street vendors and restaurants.
• Weasel Coffee — The region's specialty Vietnamese coffee made from beans processed through civet digestion, served strong and sweet with condensed milk.

Local customs & good to know

• Lantern Festival Timing — Visit during the full moon each month when the town celebrates with a lantern festival, though the experience is most magical between September and May when weather is cooler.
• Dress Code Respect — Wear respectful clothing when visiting temples and religious sites—cover shoulders and knees as a sign of respect for the spiritual spaces.
• Haggling Expected — Bargaining is standard practice at markets and with street vendors, though prices in established shops are usually fixed; polite negotiation is part of the cultural transaction.
• River Etiquette — The Thu Bon River is central to local life and tradition; respectfully observe fishermen and boatmen at work, and avoid touching or disturbing their equipment.