Hoi An Things to do

Hoi An Ancient Town, located downstream of the Thu Bon River, is one of Vietnam's most well-known tourist sites. This beautiful lovely town has so much to offer in terms of activities and trips. Then, What to do in Hoi An?  Follow the article to find out the finest things to do in Hoi An and the surrounding areas in order to have wonderful travel experiences.

Taste the traditional Food in Hoi An

Hoi An is the paradise for food lovers and here you find the mouth-watering cuisine that distinguishes itself from other regions in Vietnam. 

The most famous dish in Hoi An that definitely blows your mind is the crunchy fresh Banh Mi. This type of dish is easy to find in any corner across Vietnam, yet the banh mi in Hoi An is simply the best. The sandwich is filled with pate, some braised pork, pickled vegetables and chilli sauce. Get ready to try the best sandwich in the world that impressed the celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain and try several of them to find your most favourite. Some popular vendors that can be named are Banh Mi Madame Khanh, Banh Mi Phuong, Vegetarian Banh Mi Co Hoi,...Sample traditional food is probably one of the best things to do in Hoi An.

In addition, don’t skip the noodle dish called Cao Lau, this is quintessential Hoi An food and eaten by locals at any time of their day. Cao Lau is typically served with a fresh mixed salad, bean sprouts, and braised pork pieces. A tablespoon of fish sauce and cooked broth is added for flavours and it is topped with deep-fried wonton crackers. The thick chewy noodles, fragrant pork pieces, and locally grown veggies combine to create a delicacy unlike any other. The water that they used to make Cao Lau makes it such a unique dish, the noodles, are prepared with water from the nearby 1000-year-old Ba Le Well in Hoi An.

Besides, there is a large range of tasty dishes in Hoi An such as Hoi An chicken rice, White Rose Dumpling, Deep-fried wonton…. And even more to describe so don’t hesitate to head to Hoi An and satisfy your taste buds. 

Taste Hoi An Food

Outdoor Activities

Other things to do in Hoi An that are worth mentioning are walking and cycling around the town as Hoi An’s beautiful ancient town is restricted to motorbikes and cars during the day. You can easily rent the bike at the accommodation you’re staying at with a small fee ($1.3/ day). Moreover, it would be such a great pity if you miss the chance to discover the surrounding countryside. Cycling out of town, to the beach or to the vegetable village and feel the fresh air from rice paddies along the serene country roads.

Hoi An is not only known for its heritage ancient town but also for pristine beaches and nearby islands. An Bang beach in Hoi An is listed in the annual TripAdvisor's Traveler's Choice Awards for the top 25 beaches in Asia. Spend your free time lounging at the beach, enjoy the cool breeze and swimming in the emerald seawater. 

If you prefer snorkelling to beach relaxing, you can book a boat tour to Cham islands. This group of eight tiny islands is part of a Unesco Biosphere Reserve and provides some of Vietnam's greatest diving and snorkelling services. Hon Lao, the largest of the Cham Islands, features a lovely white sand beach, quiet clear sea, and a few drink and food sellers. Most boat trips to the Cham Islands run from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m including swimming, snorkelling, and beach time.

Snorkeling tour to Cham Island

Join locals in their daily activities and learn traditional culture

So you have tried the local food and want to make it yourself when you are at home?   Then taking a cooking class is a fantastic opportunity to make the food you adore. Cooking is a big part of things to do in Hoi An. Courses are available for people of all skill levels and frequently involve trips to local markets and farms to get fresh ingredients. As a result, you have the freedom to select what works best for you. 

Hoi An is a centre for traditional Vietnamese craftsmanship and industry, thanks to its long history as a trade port. Lanterns are considered the symbols of Hoi An and making a lantern is not as simple as it looks. If you're searching for a way to engage with the locals while you're in town, a lantern-making class is a great option. These classes are a great opportunity to learn about Vietnamese culture and traditional craft skills while having a good time.

Furthermore, A trip on a classic basket boat is enjoyable and one of the unique things to do in Hoi An. The basket boat, or "thuyen thung," is a product of the French colonial period. Poor Vietnamese fisherman invented the thuyen thung to escape being taxed from the French on their usual fishing boats,  and successfully arguing that it was a basket rather than a boat, therefore exempting it from tax. Besides, you will have a chance to learn the fishing method of local people and have some attempts along the river. 

Boat trip to Coconut forest

Shopping 

Hoi An's shopping image is known for its abundance of low-cost, high-quality tailoring businesses, where you can purchase custom-made dresses, suits, shirts, and shoes for a lower cost than you'd spend back home. Of course, there are still plenty of products to be found and its pedestrian-friendly streets, with lovely local shops making a day or evening out shopping a pleasant thing to do in Hoi An.

While its central marketplace is bustling with people haggling over fresh fruit and groceries, along with diversified local food offers, the Hoi An night market which is located on Nguyen Hoang Street in the heart of town, glittering with many options of souvenirs. It is widely recognized as one of Vietnam's most famous marketplaces, dotted with shophouses and temporary booths offering handicrafts, jewellery, traditional clothing, and shoes, occupying a 300-meter-long street that overlooks the Thu Bon River and is lit by hundreds of colourful lanterns, making it a favourite photographic location.

Visiting this small town, there are plenty of things to do in Hoi An whether you are a cultural lover, an active traveller or a beach enthusiast. Join BestPrice travel and discover the gem of Central Vietnam. 

Top 6 Hoi An Activitites