The charming town of Hoi An has long been a favorite to
millions of travelers coming to Vietnam. Once a major trading port in Asia, Hoi
An today still retains its prominence, but as one of the most alluring
destinations in the region. Here’re 5 interesting things to do in Hoi An ancient
town:
1. Biking around the town
Hoi An is a very compact town, and on both sides of the
streets, there are many things to see and many places that makes you want to
stop by. With that in mind, biking is perhaps the best way to explore Hoi An as
you can stroll around the city with ease but still able to witness the charm of
the town at a very slow pace. If you want to travel further, bike to the
peaceful village of Tra Que or to the pristine Cua Dai Beach.
2. Wandering aimlessly with a camera
There seems to be a countless number of small alleys cutting
through the streets of Hoi An. Many of which don’t even appear on the map or
any tourist guidebooks. Therefore, the best way to discover these hidden
corners of the town is to wander aimlessly. Once you enter these small alleys,
it is very likely that you will find a secret cafe, an old house or temples or
even just a chicken rice stall. You will then need a camera with you to capture
your own secret corner.
3. Enjoying a drink in a unique café
There’re not many finer places that offer so many unique cafes like Hoi An does. A café here can be a garment store or even a gemstone
museum. Often times, you may opt to take a seat within the house to enjoy reading
a book in a quiet space or sit outside on the terrace to watch people goes by
or the glorious sunset.
![]() |
Gemstone Art Museum (also known as GEM), is also a famous cafe in Hoi An |
4. Enjoying the local cuisine
Hoi An cuisine is very tasty and unique, not like any other
local cuisines in Vietnam. The most famous dishes that are considered must-try in
Hoi An are Mi Quang (spiced noodles with pork, shrimp and peanuts), Cao Lau
(noodles, pork, lots of fresh herbs and chili paste) and Com Ga (Hoi An chicken
rice with onions, coriander and a special spicy sauce). Perhaps the best way to
enjoy Hoi An cuisine is to take a seat on the plastic stool nearby the Thu Bon
river and order a bowl of local delicacy.
![]() |
A bowl of Cao Lau |
5. Releasing colored lanterns onto the river on a full moon night
When walking along the riverside, you will encounter some
lovely ladies or little girls who offer beautiful and colorful lanterns. It is
believed that the act of setting a lantern afloat will bring good luck for the
releaser. On full moon nights, there’s even a “Lantern Night” when the river
will be at gorgeous with plenty of vivid lanterns floating. This is a scene
that you will not want to miss while in Hoi An.
![]() |
A lantern night in Hoi An |
Read more: laos adventure tour, myanmar adventure tours
Post a Comment