6 things to do in Hoi An, Vietnam – A cultural gem tucked away in paradise

by Mr Mike
6 things to do in Hoi An, Vietnam – A cultural gem tucked away in paradise

After spending the best week of my life exploring Son Doong (The World’s Largest Cave) I ventured southward towards Hoi An, Vietnam.  It began with a Boomerang Bus trip to Hue City where I spent one night before jumping on a motorbike for a day of cruising which delivered me to Hoi An.  I heard wonderful things about Hoi An before arriving and couldn’t wait to find out for myself.  Friends from home told me it was a must see hidden gem.  Friends in Korea informed me it was a tailoring capital of the world and new buddies in Vietnam told me I could be there in time for the full moon lantern festival!

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The motorbike ride was an exhilarating experience that I highly recommend to any backpackers in Vietnam.  From Hue to Hoi An or vice versa you can cheaply rent a motor bike with a group of backpackers and deliver it to the next hostel.  For a few extra bucks they’ll ship your bags on the bus with less adventurous travelers.  The trip south from Hue takes you over the Hai Van pass commanding a stunning view of the ocean with northern Vietnam above and Danang City to the south. (Danang City houses the closest airport to Hoi An & is only a $10 cab ride away).

Once you arrive in Hoi An you’ll be sure to enjoy a relaxing stay whether for few days or a weeks.  I thought I’d only be there a few days and stayed all week!  So, what is there to do in Hoi An?

Looking for great things to do throughout Vietnam?  Check out my blogging friend’s 50 unique things to do in Vietnam

1) Rent a bike.  Many hostels have them and some even come free with the room.  Biking is the best way to get around Hoi An; its a short ride to the beach from anywhere in town.  You can bike through the rice paddies (or just follow the river parallel to them on your way to the beach).

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2) Go see the Old Town.  The old town has a bustling market and tons of street vendors.  Its reminiscent of the French Colonial times while still maintaining authentic Vietnamese charm.  You can find dozens of high end eateries sporting Western meals from $5-$15 or just grab a Vietnamese Sandwich from the vendor for $1.  Best thing to do is use that bike to explore the old town too!

Heading to Vietnam?  Make sure you read this great Vietnam Travel Guide!

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Shop in the Old Town for souvenirs!  You’ll find handmade lanterns, delicate cards, paintings and more iconic knickknacks.  I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Old Town and visited everyday.  Head to my friend, Nam’s awesome guide for more info on shopping in Hoi An. 

At night the restaurants along the river turn into party central as all the backpackers show up for the party.  There are also family friendly Vietnamese street performances and a nightly lantern festival.

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3) Lantern Festival!  Hoi An is famous for its lanterns.  There’s a lantern factory in town that hand makes them all and you can buy hanging ones as souvenirs or for $.50 you can purchase a floating lantern to light and drop into the river.  This event seems to be nightly (at least in August) and a big tourist trap.  I recommend buying from some of the vendors rather than just snapping pictures of them.  They are dirt cheap and I always enjoy helping out the local economy.

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If you’re interested you can cheaply rent a guided canoe to enjoy the festival from the less crowded river.  The festival is marketed as a Full Moon Lantern Festival but it seems that the Full Moon part of it just makes the whole scene more crowded.  I was there for a full week and the night of the Full Moon was too crowded to enjoy.  I recommend visiting leading up to the Full Moon but enjoy a moonlit stroll along the beach instead of the bustling riverside.

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4) Tailoring.  Perhaps the most famous part of Hoi An is its world renown tailors.  Whether you’re looking for leather, silk, cotton or any other material they’ve got it here and are master copiers.  Show them a picture you found online and the next day you’ll have a replica sized better than what you’d find at the department store!

*warning*
Haggle at your own risk!  They’ll cut the price at the cost of materials & cutting corners on your goods.  I bought 2 suits, some shirts and 2 pairs of shoes.  The shoes I haggled on and needed to be resoled as soon as I got to Seoul.  I went back for 2 fittings on each suit and was very happy with the quality.  Prices vary greatly based on materials but expect to pay between $80-$200 per suit.  A pair of custom Birkenstocks will run you $15 or you can spend up to $100 for some highly fashionable dress shoes. tweet

5) Motorbiking to Marble Mountain From Hoi An you can rent a motorbike for the day and tool around the shore up towards Danang.  Along the way stop at Marble Mountain and enjoy a short hike with a few small caves.  If you aren’t up for Marble Mountain you can always just have a joy ride or head to the beach!

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View from Marble Mountain

View from Marble Mountain

6) Cham Island.

You can join a SCUBA/Snorkeling tour to Cham Island.  Most tours offer comparable prices and trips that give you 2 dive spots and a relaxing lunch on a private island.  For any tours the best bet is to ask your hostel which group to go with.  You’ll likely end up with a few fellow backpackers and its a more reliable than booking it on the street.

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Where to stay:  I recommend either a homestay or a hostel.  Both options are inexpensive and enjoyable.  If you head to Dong Kahn Hotel (DK’s house) they offer free bike rentals, an hour of free happy hour and cheap dorm beds ($10 when I was there but it seems prices have risen slightly).  There are pricier hotels available closer to the beach, some even have their own private beaches but rest assured wherever you stay you’ll have an amazing time in Hoi An!

Need somewhere to stay near Hoi An?  Check out Memory Hostel in Danang!

Where to stay in Hoi An

Anh Nhung Guesthouse – $10 and up – The Anh Nhung Guesthouse is a great budget hotel in Hoi An and they are pet friendly too!  You will be a bit farther from the bustle of Hoi An but within walking distance to the old town and right near the river delta.

Ivy Hotel – $31 and up – The Ivy Hotel is a newly established hotel tucked away in Hoi An’s old town with a river view.   The staff is very friendly and always there to help travelers.  They speak good English and offer a wide range of services for anyone traveling to Hoi An!

Hoi An Odyssey Hotel – $58 and up – This 4 star hotel is perfect for travelers in Hoi An with a larger budget.  You’ll have a beautiful pool to relax in when the city gets too busy and its perfect for couples traveling in Vietnam!

Anbang Memory Homestay – $60 – This cute little homestay is a 3 minute walk to the beach and has 2 rooms attached to a delicious bistro!  Their garden is great for relaxing in when the beach gets too crowded and staff always greet you with a smile!

Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City

You’ll undoubtedly stay in Ho Chi Minh City on your way to or from Hoi An.  I recommend you checking out these great hotels, hostels and resorts based on your travel budget.  We really enjoyed a bit of midrange and and luxury accommodation skipping the budget hostels in Ho Chi Minh.  You can get luxury hotels for a midrange or budget price in Vietnam so this is a great place to splurge!

Budget Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City

Vy Da Backpackers Hostel – dorms from $9.  Great location in district near Ben Thanh Market and the park.  Private rooms here are pricey but the atmosphere is wonderful for backpackers.

The Like Hostel & Cafe – dorms from $8.  No privates here but they have a comfy lounge and are highly reviewed.  Backpackers love it here!

Jan Hostel – Pet friendly hostel with dorms for $8 and privates for $23.  Great location in District 1!

Midrange Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City

Honey House Hotel – Hotel rooms for $25 or $31.  Highest rated hotel in all of Ho Chi Minh on Booking.com!   This place is perfect for couples that want to be in the heart of Ho Chi Minh!

Joviale Hotel – Deluxe rooms for $47 and family rooms for $80.  The Joviale hotel is near all the spots you want to see in Ho Chi Minh with Ben Thanh Market, the War Remnants Museum and the Reunification palace all within a 10 minute walk!

Luxury Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City

Sherwood Residence – $111 and up – This 5 star hotel includes breakfast and is the most booked hotel in all of Ho Chi Minh on Booking.com!  You’ll have access to their rooftop pool, sauna and fitness room as well as a short walk to all the hot spots in District 3 with countless delicious restaurants just around the corner.

More photos from this adventure and others can be found on the @LiveTravelTeach Instagram Account

Follow www.LiveTravelTeach.com by adding your email at the top of this page to make sure you don’t miss any of these amazing adventures!

 Be sure to check out the Best of Vietnam on a budget from my friends at A Broken Backpack!

Mr Mike

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5 comments

elleninedmonton April 9, 2015 - 8:30 am

Reblogged this on ellen's esl teaching blog and commented:
Mike, thanks for sharing your images and thoughts about this lovely city in Việt Nam. I really enjoyed my times in Hoi An. I’m very happy with the clothing and souvenirs that I purchased there, the restaurants are fantastic, and the Old Town is so peaceful during the day, when no motos are allowed there! The sea is warm and lovely there, and Marble Mountain was a very interesting place to visit.

Reply
Alex Nguyen May 5, 2017 - 6:03 pm

Hi,
I’m Alex.
It seems like you had a great time in Hoi An.
I once have been to Hoi An and I agree with many idea in your article, especially the one about renting a bike.
I ridden a bike from Da nang to Hoi An once. The natural scene was so peaceful and I love the atmosphere here.
I recently published a blog post about 2 special must-try-dishes in Hoi An, https://blog.inspitrip.com/2218/hoi-an-two-traditional-food-and-where-to-find-them/

If anyone who are going to travel to Hoi An. I highly recommend these 2 dishes.
Hope you like it.

Reply
Tonkin - Travel Vietnam November 27, 2017 - 1:12 am

Oh, welcome to Vietnam. Definitely, An Bang Beach is one of the coolest beach in Vietnam, not only in Hoi An. I think you should add shopping in this article. Hoi An is the heaven for hand made products like: clothes, lanterns, ceramics, etc

Reply
Mike Still November 27, 2017 - 11:23 am

Tonkin, you are absolutely right! Shopping is a must in Hoi An. I have an updated article with 24 things to do in Hoi An that includes shopping 😉

Reply
Nguyen Trung Thanh November 11, 2020 - 8:56 pm

I also once came to Hoi An. But to have a detailed article like you, I absolutely do not have.
Thank you for a post a lot of experience

Reply

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