The complete guide to Hoi An

According to Katie Lockhart, Hoi An is one of the most beautiful towns in Vietnam and worth visiting. Hoi An Ancient Town wears a distinct yellow hue colour, etched with history and gorgeous charm.

Hoi An glows beautifully under the sunrise, the Old Town in Central Vietnam has a slew of attributes that draw travellers to it, especially those yellow shophouses.

Photo: Collection

Along Thu Bon River, Hoi An is lit up every corner with lanterns from boats to streets. Embracing the slow life, Hoi An is a serene escape destination to get away from buzzing cities. Katie Lockhart encouraged travellers to go with the flow and take in the relaxed vibe with local activities.

To enjoy the green, take a bike tour to Hoi An suburb, to admire the palatial patches of rice fields swaying in the breeze, the grazing buffalo and the locals weeding in their conical hats.

Sit and sip

sit, have a sip of Vietnamese coffee and admiring the low-life vibe of Hoi An

Vietnam is way too famous for its stellar coffee. Wherever you go, in every place, the coffee scene is presented, so in Hoi An. Lockhart recommended, coconut coffee, salted coffee, ca phe sua da (iced Vietnamese coffee with sweetened condensed milk) are some must-try beverages.

Beachside bliss

Hoi An’s beaches are for cool off time. Stretching all the way to nearby Da Nang, Hoi An has plenty of tranquil beaches such as Cua Dai, An Bang,… Lounge chairs and bean bags are available for rent. After swimming, don’t forget to enjoy a fresh-cut coconut.

Tailor-made souvenirs

Back in time, during the 15th and 16th century, Hoi An was a former trading port that meant silks and fabrics. Today, this professional is still maintained and blissfully famous. Hundreds of tailor shops for custom-made dresses or suits, with a 24-hour turnaround time are there to serve visitors. It’s best to arrive with a picture or a physical piece of clothing you’d like copied, Lockhart wrote.

What to eat: feast on world-famous street food

With Banh mi, Cao lau, chicken rice,… Hội An is beloved for its street food scene.

For fresh travellers to Hoi An, it is good to join a street food tour, to both get acquainted with the place and dig into its food scene.

You can find plenty of tasty bites and bowls throughout town, from banh mi, cao lầu, Hội An’s sacred noodle dish, to Mì Quảng, the best version of turmeric-broth regional dish.

Besides street food, Hoi An also has upscale restaurants which provide comfort food or pizza and Mediterranean dishes with spectacular views of rice paddy. It sources its veggies from nearby Tra Que village and its fresh seafood from area fishermen.

Getting around Hoi An is varied. Since Hoi An is a small town, according to Lockhart, getting around by food is a great way to explore it. Other options include bicycles, book cabs via apps, and motorbikes.