Hoi An ancient town was the cultural and commercial center of Central Vietnam during the 16th and 17th centuries. Now it is “an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port” (UNESCO). Following is my experiences, tips and top things to do in Hoi An city, that I collected after a few trips.
>> Check out 300+ hotels in Hoi An city – Vietnam
How to get to Hoi An?
Assuming that you’re staying in Da Nang, about 30km from Hoi An, here are 3 ways to get there:
1. By bus
You can catch a bus from Da Nang bus station, which is every 30 minutes from 5am to 5pm. Ngu Hanh Son mountain, a famous attraction of Da Dang, is on the way to drop by if you have enough time. Note, when catching bus from Ngu Hanh Son, you must stand at bus stop and wave you hands to signal the driver otherwise they won’t stop.
2. By motorbikes
This is highly recommended for the view is wonderful along the drive.
Check out Da Nang Vietnam travel guide to know where to rent motorbikes and car in Da Nang.
3. Rent car from Da Nang to Hoi An
– You can contact Mr. Thanh (+8491 203 4117 ) to rent a car to go from Da Nang city to Hoi An. Price: $12.
– From Da Nang air port to Hoi An. Contact Mr. Ly +84914 064 446 or +84934 064 446. Prices: $13 / 4-seater car, $16 / 7-seater car.
Best Hotels in Hoi An city
1. Nam Ngai motel, 626 Hai Ba Trung street – Hoi An. Tel: +84 909.080836 or +84 510.3861166
2. Motel at 24 – La Hoi street. 15$/room, contact Mrs.Huong: +8490 589 2059
3. Homestay is very popular in Hoi An, you can contact Ms Chau at 9 – Nguyen Phu Nguyen, opposite to Vinh Hung resort. Tel: +84510 386 3381 or +8493 253 3977.
4. Guest house at no.1 – Nguyen Hue, near the market, restaurants and Hoi An Old Quarter. Tel: +84510 3910 828.
5. Phuong Dong hotel at 42 – Ba Trieu street, +84510 3916 477 or +84510 3916 339. Rates: $15 to $20 / double room (room is very nice), breakfast included.
Deluxe hotels
6. Green Field hotel is $25 to $30. The hotel has pool, nice rooms, and enthusiastic staffs. However, it’s located at 423 – Cua Dai street, 3 km from town center. Tel: +84510 3863 484
7. Southern hotel & villa was designed in garden style, beautiful pool, nice rooms, spacious public ground. Add: 224 – Ly Thai To street. Tel: +84510 3923 401. Rates are slightly higher than Green Field hotel.
8. A villa on the road Da Nang – Hoi An is a new, spacious, cool villa whose homeowners are very good and friendly. You even can buy seafood and bake in the garden. Rate is about $40/room (4 people). Tel: +84914 112 346
>> Check out 300+ hotels in Hoi An city – Vietnam
Top things to do & to see in Hoi An Vietnam
1. Hoi An Old Quarter (Khu phố cổ Hội An)
This is the main area that you should visit in Hoi An. Old Quarter has many ancient houses, historic sites which well preserves the architecture and culture.
– Bridge temple (Chùa Cầu ), also known under the name Japan bridge (Cầu Nhật Bản ), is the symbol of Hoi An town. The bridge was built by Japanese, who were in Hoi An in 17th century. Add: located on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai and Tran Phu streets.
– Phung Hung ancient house (Nhà cổ Phùng Hưng). Add: 4 – Nguyen Thi Minh Khai street. The house is 200 years old, built on Vietnam’s ancient architecture.
– Tan Ky ancient house (Nhà cổ Tấn Ký), another famous ancient house in Hoi An. Add: 101 – Nguyen Thai Hoc street.
– Phuoc Kien assembly hall (hội quán Phước Kiến) , a structure (is like a temple) of Chinese people who were in Hoi An in the 16th and 17th century. Add: 46 – Tran Phu street.
2. Cu Lao Cham island (a beautiful island of Hoi An)
Buying tour would make it easier and cheaper. There are many tour operators in Old Quarter, however, you should choose tour of Song Hoi (Sông Hội) at +84511 3861 332. Song Hoi organizes visits to Cu Lao Cham in 1 day, from 7h30 to 16h.
My advice is that you should not self-travel to Cu Lao Cham because it’s expensive (if you have no experience) with hassles and poor services.
3. My Son (Mỹ Sơn),
This is a complex of Cham ethnic temples, is thousands of years old. You can buy a My Son tour in Hoi An.
4. Bike tours
Guides will take you to villages on the outskirts of Hoi An city, and explore the rustic life of Vietnamese villages.
If having least 5 days, you should combine Hue – Da Nang – Hoi An. 2 days for Hue, 2 days in Da Nang and 1 day for Hoi An.
Read more: Da Nang Vietnam travel guide | Hue Vietnam travel guide
What & Where to eat in Hoi An city
1. Cao Lau (cao lầu ). This is a famous specialty of Hoi An, that looks like noodle but is not noodle. Cao Lau is very delicious and cheap. There are many Cao Lau restaurants in Hoi An, but the best is Mrs. Thanh restaurant on Tran Cao Van street, or Mrs. Be restaurant next to the well in Hoi An market.
2. Quang noodle (Mì Quảng ) is a other specialty of Hoi An. You should enjoy this dish at Mr. Hai restaurant, open from 7pm, near Hoi An cloth market. Or Van Loc restaurant on Tran Phu street.
3. Chicken rice (Cơm gà) is best made in Mrs. Buoi restaurant at 26 – Phan Chu Trinh, from 11am to 7pm and Mrs. Minh restaurant located on Ly Thuong Kiet street, opposite to Hoi An stadium from 5pm.
4 – 5 – 6. Beaten rice paper (Bánh tráng đập ), Corn porridge (chè bắp ), blended mussel (hến trộn ), 3 favorite dishes in Hoi An.
You can eat these dishes at Ben Tre restaurant, village 1 – Cam Nam. From Old Quarter, cross Cam Nam bridge, go straight ahead for about 100m then turn left, you will see a street that has many restaurants, Ben Tre restaurant is 1 of them.
7. Dumpling – cauldron cakes. Hoa Hong Trang restaurant (white rose) at 533 – Hai Ba Trung street, this is the restaurant that created this dish.
8. Duck porridge (Cháo vịt) at Mrs. Sat restaurant in Hoi An market. It’s tasty and cheap, less than $1/bowl.
9. Fish noodle (bún chả cá). There a 2 good restaurants. Mrs. Sau restaurant at old bus station, serving from 8pm to early morning. If you want to eat in the afternoon, go for Ong Cop temple (Miếu Ông Cọp ), there is a small restaurant (at intersection) but very crowded.
10. Vietnamese Pancake (Bánh xèo). Gieng Ba Le restaurant at 45/51 – Tran Hung Dao (in an alley of Tran Hung Dao street). Hai Dao restaurant at 160 Ly Thai To, quite far from Old Quarter but tasty, cheap and has comfortable space.
11. Seafoods at A Roi, Gio Bien (sea wind ), Minh Vinh near Cua Dai beach.
My advice on seafoods.
Don’t let the taxis take you to restaurants in Cua Dai beach, most of them had deal with these restaurants, so prices will be very expensive. If you want to eat seafood at Cua Dai beach, let’s tell taxis take you to the beach, then find a restaurant yourself. Remember asking the prices before ordering.
Read more: Da Nang Vietnam travel guide | Hue Vietnam travel guide
>> Check out 300+ hotels in Hoi An city – Vietnam
