Hoi An was one of the most picturesque towns in Vietnam, with charming colorful old buildings, great food, beautiful beaches, and of course shopping. You can spend anywhere from two days to a week and not run out of places to explore. So, rather than sharing a day by day itinerary for this town, I've decided to share my top ten things to do in Hoi An.
1. Explore Old Town
This could be a list of ten things to see in Hot An on its own, but trust me, it's more fun to throw the map by the wayside and wander aimlessly through the streets. They're absolutely full of character, with a new shop, restaurant, or old house to tour around every corner.
From the Japanese Covered Bridge to the Cantonese Assembly Hall, each piece celebrates a different aspect of the UNESCO Heritage Site of the Old Town of Hoi An.
2. Get a Piece of Clothing Custom Tailored
The options and price-tags are limitless. From a $10 USD shirt to a $100 USD silk ball gown, find a piece that speaks to you. Have it made in just your size and style, then treasure it forever. Be sure to get fitted your first day in Hoi An. Most places advertise that they can make your piece in 24 hours, but give them more time in case you need a second fitting. It is so worth it to have that one-of-a-kind piece.
Also, don't forget shoes! Suede and leather shoes can be custom made as well. The best places for the value were the small stalls in the warehouses.
Negotiation is key - most of the time, you can negotiate prices down to half of what the original offer is. And there is a difference in quality for the starting price of each shop, keep that in mind.
I had the silk dress pictured to the left custom made for just $40USD.
3. Try the Local Food
There is food everywhere you look and some of it you may not recognize at all. Don't let that scare you - some of the best (read: most interesting) things I had where when I really didn't know what I was ordered or I asked the waiter what their favorite thing on the menu was. Don't be scared to find something off the beaten path.
The dim sum pictured to the left was found at a family restaurant located down a dark alley. We communicated with the father to find out what kind of meat was in it by making animal noises, which was genius - but mostly hilarious to watch an older Vietnamese man push up his nose and snort like a pig!
4. Relax at An Bang Beach
Just a short drive or bike ride away (about 3 miles) from the heart of Hoi An is An Bang Beach. There are a lot of beaches around Hoi An, but this one is considered the most beautiful.
Unfortunately, my beach day ended up being a bit rainy - so my tan didn't get the love it was hoping for, but it was sure relaxing. I holed up in a cabana, listening to the waves from the ocean and reading a book.
I can only imagine these stretches of beautiful beaches full of life on a nice, sunny day. One place I will definitely be heading back to!
5. Go cycling through the countryside and rice fields
Everyone seems to have a motorbike or bicycle in Vietnam and though I don't think I had ridden a bike in about ten years, I gave it a go. For just a couple USD, you can rent a bike from your hostel or another stand for the day to head out for your adventure.
Pedal through the countryside, along the rice fields, over to the beach if you wish. Don't forget to bring a big bottle of water because it gets hot!
And don't be intimidated by the cars zipping around you, they've done it a few times before.
6. See the Lanterns at Night
When I say lanterns, I really mean two types - both of which are more spectacular after dark. There are stores full of vibrant hanging lanterns of any color which you can buy or just have a photo-shoot in front of. But, the most spectacular ones are the floating lanterns that you can release into the river. There are dozens of women and children out selling them along the river as it turns to dusk! (And they're just a dollar, so why not!)
If you're lucky, you may even catch a wedding ceremony completing with the release of their lanterns into the river. It's a breathtaking site to witness.
7. Get Drinks Along the River
All along the river is the center of activity as it turns to the evening hours, sit and people-watch but holeing up at one of the many restaurants along the river. Get there early to get a table with the best view. (Keep in mind that many restaurant are two stories - with AC upstairs - so look around before choosing a table).
8. Explore the Local Markets
The markets and bartering were one of the most fun (free) things to watch in all the cities of Vietnam. Plus, so many foods and smells that I'd never experienced before.
Most of the food is uncooked so you can't try much, but still something worth exploring for an afternoon.
9. Get a Massage
Or your nails done. Or both at the same time.
Massages are so cheap compared to the US that I almost felt like I should get one everyday - ranging from $5-20 USD per hour. I tended to stay in the middle range of pricing and was completely satisfied with their service.
10. Take Pictures with Locals along the River
Hands down, my favorite picture from the trip came from this accident.
A friend from the hostel and I were walking along the river and she tried to secretly snap some pictures of the locals with their baskets for carrying goods. Well, the locals were onto her and were quickly over to ask for a dollar to have their picture taken. Before I knew it, I was adorned with my own baskets and straw hat for more photo ops.
