The 9 best things to do in Hội An you should not miss
Welcome to one of the prettiest towns in all of Vietnam, if not even in all of South East Asia. Hội An is known for the colorful lantern festival and the beautiful streets. It is located in the Southern part of the country close to the city of Da Nang. Hội An is known among all travellers exploring Vietnam. it is part of the standard route leading you all the way from North to South through the country. Yes, you truly cannot skip Hội An when travelling Vietnam. Here are the best things to do in Hội An to get your own unique experience of the picturesque place.
Did you know that Hội An is considered the only remaining Old Town in all of Vietnam? Since most places have been destroyed during the Vietnam War, Hội An is truly a special place to see in the country. Since 1999 Hoi An is an UNESCO World Heritage.
Stroll through the pretty city center of the ancient town Hội An
Probably the best thing to do in Hội An is to simply walk through the streets in the city center. The center where you will find the pretty streets and sights is also called the Ancient Town. You will come across the small local shops, the beautiful cafés and narrow streets with the colorful signs and lanterns. Choose an accommodation close to the city center and spend your days strolling through the streets.
Visit the local markets (the Hội An Central Market and the Hội An Night Market)
In Vietnam, the local markets can be an extraordinary experience. With all the different food and dishes, the noise and the colorful stands this is a must-do whenever you are travelling the country. In Hội An you will find two main markets to visit.
The first one is the Central Market, which is located directly in the Ancient Town of Hội An is the biggest market travellers should visit. From delicious lunch dishes to local vegetables and specialties – you will basically find anything on the Central Market. Make sure to enter the market hall and soak in the unique atmosphere. And don´t be shy to approach the locals and talk to them.
Another market among the best things to do in Hội An is the Hoi An Night Market. If you look that place up on Google it is described as a “vibrant hub featuring local merchants”. Nothing could describe this place any better. It is indeed a vibrant place coming to life as soon as it gets dark. You can even buy some souvenirs, jewelry or local crafts.
At the Hội An Night Market, you will also find the kind of Vietnamese food some travellers like to avoid. Fried frogs or different sea food just to name some examples. But it would not be a Vietnamese experience without it, so do not be afraid to go and see for yourself.
Visit the Chùa Pháp Bào Temple (Phac Hat Pagoda)
Hội An is, different to other places in Vietnam, not mainly known for big temples. But still, there is one temple you should see on your visit. Among the best things to do in Hội An, there is a short visit to the beautiful Chùa Pháp Bào Temple. The temple is also known as the Phac Hat Pagoda.
Join a cooking class and fall in love with the Vietnamese cuisine
The Vietnamese cuisine is for sure one of the main highlights for all travellers. The different tastes and the spices are a must-try for food lovers. But have you ever considered cooking yourself? Especially in Hội An, cooking classes are very common. You will notice signs in front of restaurants at nearly every corner. And yes, this cooking class is on the list of the best things to do in Hội An.
A cooking class is your chance to get a unique insight into the Vietnamese cuisine and try it yourself. In most of the classes, you can choose the dish to cook yourself and (almost) the whole menu is yours. You should definitely go for some spring rolls and local rice.
Depending on where you book the cooking class, you should expect to pay between 9 and 20 Euros.
Walk along the river by night
You might have heard of the dark side of Hội An. The town being a tourist hotspot and the crowds ruining the beautiful atmosphere of the Ancient Town. Yes, there is some truth behind it and yes, Hội An is not only a colorful town to explore. Especially at night, as soon as it gets dark, you will see what the tourism impact does. The reason being are the popular boat rides on the river where tourists can put lantern lights in the water. Long story short: the soaked-up lanterns can be found all over the water in the next morning.
For most travellers, this is quite shocking to see that tourism has conquered this small town in such a bad way. But still, the river by night is beautiful and you should take a walk along the water. The thousands of lights and the lanterns create a unique atmosphere and remind you of why Hội An is actually that popular to visit.
Have a coffee in a cute café
Hội An is full of picturesque cafés and cute locations to stay for a while. And why not enjoy a typical Vietnamese coffee in the meantime? You can find some of the best cafés in the main streets of the Ancient Town of Hội An or along the river. On a sunny day, make sure to sit outside while ordering your Egg Coffee or you Coconut Coffee. Hmm, simply delicious…
Rent a bike to drive through the beautiful rice fields around Hội An
Renting a bike in Hội An is actually one of the best things to do in the city. Travellers love to drive through the streets on rented bikes and really soak up all the unique vibe which characterizes Hội An. You can rent a bike at basically every hotel, hostel or homestay in the area. Some are even for free and at other places you might need to pay a small amount of money to start your biking adventure.
But it is not only the city center which is worth to be explored by bike. You should also search for a good route to get out of the center and drive through the beautiful rice fields. There are quite some rice fields surrounding the area of Hội An. Locals working in the fields, buffaloes in the water and the green landscape around you – this really is a unique moment in Hội An. Plus, it shoes you a different side of the area.
Go for a shopping trip and get some great deals at the tailors
Yes, Hoi An is made for shopping lovers. Travellers who are always on the search for a good offer and love to buy some souvenirs on the way are definitely in heaven. If this is you, you need to put a shopping trip on the list of the best things to do in Hội An.
There are some small local shops in the Ancient Town. From clothing to local art or special souvenirs, you will find anything. Another option is to get your own shoes or clothing custom made. The tailors are an absolute highlight of Hoi An and almost every traveller stops at one of the shops. Getting your own leather shoes custom made? Or the suit you have always dreamt of? Hoi An is your place to do so. And of course, this is all for an incredibly cheap price.
It usually takes between 2 to 5 days for the shoes or the suit to be made. You can of course also buy a unique (yes, this is actually gonna be a unique piece) dress or shirt. If you are interested, make sure to check the tailors out at the beginning of your stay to get your order ready in time.
Visit the Japanese Bridge
The Japanese Bridge is one of the main monuments of the Ancient Town. It is located directly at the center over a river and known for its history. While it is already nice to look at the bridge from outside, you can also book a ticket to visit the inside.
When to visit the attractions of Hội An
Just like any other city, it is mostly crowded in the afternoon. As Hội An is popular among tourists, this is no exception. From around 10 am on the streets will get more and more crowded as more tourists arrive to stroll around the city and explore Hội An. If you want to get a different impression of the Ancient Town and see some quiet streets, make sure to arrive as early as possible. Between 8 and 9 am you have a good chance to be (mostly) on your own.
This time is also the best for taking pictures of the streets or the river. The best capture of the lanterns is as soon as it gets dark. The streets with the colorful lights are really a unique sight.
For more information on travelling Vietnam, check out The 8 things nobody tells you about travelling Vietnam or What to skip in Vietnam and what to do instead
