Hoi An is not simply an ancient town in the central of Vietnam, but the trading center in the country for several centuries. As a result, it will be a huge pity when traveling to Vietnam without visiting Hoi An. It is time for us to show you information about this fantastic location.
Things to do and see in Hoi An
If you love to explore the history and culture of Vietnam, then Hoi An is an ideal location. Since almost all the relics from the past remains untouched, you can take this chance to contemplate the unique architecture, customs, traditions of the country.
Your main activities in Hoi An will be sightseeing and take pictures. There is a good selection of things to see here, including the well-known houses from French Colonial time. Their one-of-a-kind architecture and decorations are must-see during your trip to Hoi An. Even more than that, it is possible to watch the sparkling town at night brightened by the traditional lantern. As a result, people often considered Hoi An to be the dreamy town of Vietnam.
Additionally, we recommend you to arrive in the “Japanese Bridge”, a symbol in the area. Legend told that the Japanese built this bridge to seal the Sea Monster ensuring the safe trip for their traders. Exceptional sculptures and decorations are highlights of this location. In terms of Chinese mark in Hoi An, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall always welcome foreign travelers. This is the place where Phuc Kien people worshiped the Goddess of the sea to protect their ships from natural calamity. Numerous statues in the shape of mystical creatures like dragons, Phoenix are available in Phuc Kien Assembly Hall.
This destination is also one of the best locations to contemplate beautiful nature in the country. For sea lovers, you are advised to take a trip to Cu Lao Cham Island. Tourists can easily escape the bustling town to a wild, outstanding island in order to relax. You are offered with the rich ecosystem both on land or under the ocean. Adventurous souls will definitely adore the diving or snorkeling around the place and venture into the jungle or the caves in which the swallows live.
However, if you want to enjoy the peaceful countryside in Vietnam, feel free to visit Tra Que Vegetable Village. Various exciting activities await you in that location, including watering and harvesting vegetable and you can join a Tra Que Village Cycling Tour in the village. Finally, you can try the delectable fresh foods which you have just taken from the garden in Tra Que.
The splendid cuisine of Vietnam is a great factor about Hoi An as well since there is a huge number of restaurants, bars, food stores and so forth. Your travel to Hoi An will not complete without trying the authentic foods and drinks if the local. Thus, you should visit some of the cafés in town and taste the delicious coffee there. Vietnamese coffee and Italian coffee are two main wonderful drinks that you do not want to miss. Nothing could match a hearty breakfast and a nice cup of coffee in the tranquil morning in Hoi An.
Food lovers easily fall in love with the street foods in the ancient town. As the former trading center, Hoi An has all the superb street foods in the country, namely Cao Lau, Mi Quang (Quang Noodle) and Banh Mi Hoi An recognized by lots of international chefs. Moreover, traditional Vietnamese cakes are offered in every corner because they are simple to make yet extremely delicious. We recommend banh beo, banh trang kep and banh bot loc for first-timer coming to Vietnam.
Unless you have little time to spend in Hoi An, there are still a few other interesting things to do. The night market may be able to satisfy Shopaholic with exotic products from the region. It is a good opportunity to find a souvenir to bring home, especially the beautifully handcrafted lanterns and silk products. If you are interested in bargaining, you can make a deal with the sellers.
Finally, what historical exploration can be done without visiting the museum. There are Museum of History and Culture, Museum of Sa Huỳnh Culture, and Museum of Trade Ceramics, which keep the most valuable collection in Vietnam. For today ceramic exhibition, you can arrive in Thanh Ha Terracotta Park to contemplate many works of local craftsmen such as Temple of Literature, St. Joseph’s Cathedral or the White House, Leaning Tower of Pisa in Thanh Ha traditional village.
How to travel from Hue to Hoi An
There are quite a several options for you to consider if you begin your trip from Hue. Budget travelers will want to take a bus, buy a train ticket or rent a motorbike to reach Hoi An. The bus is the cheapest method out of all, but you may miss some beautiful scenery on the way. The problem with the train is that there is no train station in Hoi An and you have to arrive in Danang first. Motorbike is probably the best, but you need to check your health and research the way.
Other than that, more expensive option available is renting a private car or taxi and tour service. Tour services are much recommended for flexible time, means of traveling and tour guide. It is also easy to contact a tour provider from all over Vietnam.
If you need more information, you can check out the detailed article of how to travel from Hue to Hoi An
- Source: Vietnam Excursions
