Visiting the city of Hoi An in Vietnam, you may not believe that you are in Asia. Cute little houses, clean streets, lack of dust and fuss, dozens of cozy cafes and luxurious restaurants make Hoi An an ideal travel destination.
Keep reading this ultimate travel guide on best things to do and places to visit in Hoi An city. This information will help first timers to plan perfect vacation in this coastal city in Vietnam.
How to get to Hoi An resort in Vietnam
Hoi An city is located on the coast of the South China Sea, 835 kilometers from the country’s largest city, Ho Chi Minh, 845 kilometers from Hanoi – the capital of Vietnam. In addition to the sea, Hoi An has a picturesque Thu Bon River.
It is impossible to get to the city by plane directly, because there is no airport in Hoi An. If you choose a tour to Hoi An, then you need to fly through Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. In one of these cities, you can transfer to a plane flying to Da Nang city, adjacent to Hoi An. Resort is located around 30 kilometers from the airport.
There are also trains to Hoi An. But this option is not the best: the fare is high (from Ho Chi Minh City – 1 million VND), and the conditions are not the most comfortable.
How to Get from Da Nang to Hoi An
There are several ways to get from Da Nang to Hoi An:
- Take a taxi. Local carriers charge from 15 to 20 USD for this distance.
- Take a mini-bus running between cities. It departs from Da Nang airport and will take you to the hotel you need. Departure every one and a half hours, the fare is 100,000 VND (or $ 5) per person.
- If you want to have the most budget-friendly trip, then from the airport go to the Da Nang bus station and take the local bus.
But the most convenient way to go to Vietnamese resort Hoi An is by bus. It follows directly from Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Hanoi and other major cities. The fare to the desired resort will be from 200 to 350 thousand VND, depending on the place of departure.
Hoi An Attractions
Hoi An resort is called an open-air museum. Once here, you will feel the atmosphere of the old port city, built about ten centuries ago. Narrow streets, tiled roofs and many beautiful pagodas will make feel like you’re traveling to China.
Check Historical Places
The resort keeps more than 800 historical monuments. The most ancient are the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, the temple of Quan Kong. Next to the famous Japanese Bridge is the building of Cantonese Assembly, and around it are beautiful fountains and Chinese dragons. Many monuments can be visited for free. But you can book a city tour, the price is 120,000 VND.
Visit Old Town
The main feature of the old town is the lack of car traffic. All streets become pedestrian from 8:30 to 11:00 and from 15:30 to 21:30. An ideal opportunity to arrange a romantic walk with your soulmate. In addition to buildings with a touch of antiquity, in the Old Town you can find many lanterns hanging everywhere. Their variety is worth the attention of travelers.
Photoshoot in Traditional Clothes
For more authentic experience, don’t miss the opportunity to try on traditional Vietnamese clothes. You can rent an outfit for the day and and take lots of beautiful pictures.
Walk along Thu Bon River
The ancient city comes to life with the onset of twilight. Bright lanterns are lit along the Thu Bon River, crowds of people appear on the streets. Here you can have dinner, buy souvenirs or even silk lanterns.
If you want to enjoy the atmosphere of the Old City, then come there early in the morning. Many tourists come to Hoi An just for the sake of this place, so it is always crowded here.
Beach vacation
The beaches of Hoi An are worth visiting. If you fly to Hoi An for the sake of warm azure water and white sand, you won’t be disappointed. The beach spit is located about 3 kilometers from the city center. Getting to it, you’ll pass by picturesque rice fields and authentic houses of the local population.
The resort town has two main beaches – Cua Dai beach and An Bang beach. The sand is fine, clean and white. The entrance to the water is gentle, without sharp breaks. This makes the beaches ideal for tourists with children.
Endless karaoke and traffic horns
Hoi An is very noisy city; horns of scooters, cars and other vehicles can be heard everywhere. Instead of following traffic lights and road signs, they simply press the horn. As night falls, the sounds of klaxons give way to karaoke. For a good night’s sleep, bring earplugs. If you’re looking for calm atmosphere and less crowded streets and places its better to visit Mui Ne region, though its a bit far from Hoi An (about 730 km) to the south, it will be a great journey.
Weather in Hoi An
Two seasons are clearly distinguished here – dry and rainy, the last one starts in autumn. In addition to heavy rains, typhoons and floods happen in Hoi An in October and November.
The dry season lasts from late January to early September. But in winter the water in the sea is cool enough. If you are planning to enjoy swimming, it is better to book a tour to Hoi An during the summer months. The air temperature during this period warms up to +35 degrees, and the water becomes incredibly warm – up to +28 degrees Celsius.
For sightseeing, it’s better to plan visit for March or April. During these months it is no longer cold, it does not rain, but the exhausting heat has not yet had time to set in.
Vietnam is an amazing exotic country. But it was Hoi An who collected all the advantages of this region. This is an incredibly romantic place that will appeal to both couples in love and family travelers with children.
