Hoi An activities ? You might want to know things to do, what you should not miss when you come here. In this post, we will provide a list of activities that will help you enjoy Hoi An and save your money.
Most of the activities in this post are based on local advice. So, make sure you read everything and pick the one that best fitting your preferences.
Enjoy Hoi An in day life
Explore Hoi An by taking a walking tour
If you have no any idea what to do in Hoi An, a walking tour is an easy way to discover its beauty. You can enjoy Hoi An’s busy streets, colorful markets, and many cultural attractions without breaking your budget.
Moreover, there are some interesting stories about local’s lives or buildings that you will learn while strolling through the ancient town.
The cost of a walking tour is very cheap and depends on the type of service. Normally, people will take a half-day tour ($35) or night tours ($40 limited for 12 people).
The tour guide may lead you through some of the destinations below:
The walking town – Local recommendation of what to do in Hoi An
Visiting the walking town is one of the best things to do in Hoi An. It is the heart of Hoi An and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
To enter the walking town, you might be asked to pay 120 000VND at the entrance. It is an archaeological fee that includes five tickets to any of the 22 historical attractions in town.
The Vietnamese government also protects the walking town by banning motorized vehicles from the center. So, you can stroll at your own pace through village lanes.
It is lovely during the day when the streets are brightened with lit paper lanterns and rows of preserved shophouses. However, when the lights come on and the streets become bustling with people, it almost feels like a dream.
The Assembly hall – Highly recommend things to do Hoi An
If you wonder Hoi An activities, we highly recommend you to visit the Assembly Hall here. There are five assembly halls. Most of them follow a format that has previously been employed by other Chinese assembly buildings in other cities, with:
- A magnificent gateway
- A beautiful garden with ornamental plants
- A major hall
- A vast sanctuary
The decoration is an important aspect of any assembly hall. Therefore, it is done meticulously at all of the halls with statues, lacquered boards, murals, and so on.
Besides that, each Chinese community holds its own beliefs, so, different assembly halls pay homage to various gods and goddesses.
The Chinese Ancient Houses in Hoi An
If you are interested in Chinese architecture, the Chinese Ancient houses may be a great choice for your Hoi An activities
There are three ancient houses in here. They are:
- Tan Ky Ancient House
- Phung Hung Ancient House
- Quan Thang Ancient House
All of them have mixed architecture of Chinese and Vietnamese. Among three ancient houses, the Quan Thang Ancient House shows the most significant Chinese architecture.
The Quan Thang Ancient House was built in the mid-nineteenth century and originally belonged to a Chinese commander and trader.
This structure served as both a trading post and a residence at the time. Visiting Quan Thang is worth your time and money in Hoi An.
The Japanese covered bridge in Hoi An
It is also one of the best Hoi An activities. There are many bridges that connect both sides of the Hoi An river. For tourists, it is really hard to decide which one should be visited first.
However, there is a Japanese-covered bridge with red pillars and a roof standing out among others. Japanese businessmen living in Hoi An constructed the bridge in the 16th century.
It connects Tran Phu and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street in the center of Hoi An Old Town.
Bike tour
Whether on your own or with friends, you may search “things to do Hoi An”. So, cycling through the town really brings this place to life!
Moreover, you can recharge yourself at some cafe stops to enjoy local food and drinks. The best thing? With bicycles available everywhere, hiring one could not be easier.
Chilling in the ancient coffee shop
Trying coffee in the Hoi An ancient coffee shop is one of the most famous things tourists must do here for Hoi An activities. It is located at No. 18 Phan Boi Chau which was built in the early 19th century.
The atmosphere is very special and will make your trip more valuable. Just wrap your drink and let your soul fly over the rooftop of the ancient town.
From here, you also can capture the sun setting over the town. It is also one of the best Hoi An things to do and a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Visit Hoi An countryside life
Still searching for “things to do Hoi An?”. It is a good idea to escape from the bustling of the city by visiting Hoi An countryside.
You can rent a bicycle to visit the countryside which has many fruit farms. You can enjoy fresh and organic herbs and vegetables from Tra Que village Hoi An. Or you can visit Thanh Ha pottery village.
Hoi An’s Impression Theme Park
It is the first cultural theme park in Vietnam. Hoi An Impression Theme Park was established to re-create the glories of Hoi An’s golden era, a bustling Faifo where East met West.
Hoi An Memories is a locally developed arts production. It is performed by 500 professionals on the 25 000-sqm-stage. Experience of visual arts, music, and poetry will make people understand more about Hoi An.
Relax and sunbathe in Hoi An beaches
If you are planning what to do in Hoi An in September or October, please add this activity to your list. These months are also the best time to enjoy Hoi An beaches.
The beaches are not too far from the city center. Thus, you can travel there by taxi or your own transportation.
Hoi An beaches are famous for their long coastline dotted with emerald waters and fine sand. Some top beaches you may consider are An Bang, Cua Dai, Ha My, etc.
Taste some special food in Hoi An ($1 to $5)
There are many famous dishes and snacks originated from Hoi An. Let’s discover some of them!
Yin-Yang foods
Hoi An is a paradise for food lovers. Every dish follows Yin-Yang cuisine. In basic terms:
- Yin refers to passive-negative forces
- Yang refers to active-positive ones
Chinese culture believes that all food has energy and is therefore governed by the powers of Yin and Yang. Therefore, you will notice the equilibrium in Hoi An people’s meals.
If you are planning what to do in Hoi An, let’s take a look at some dishes below to discover the Yin-Yang cuisine here.
Cao Lau
Softness, durability, and taste with special fragrant additions are all characteristics of this noodle dish.
The noodles used to make Cao Lau are made with rice flour and water batter. Then, it is left to rest overnight before being cooked at a high temperature. The chef will cook the noodle until it forms layers that resemble fine linen fabric.
You cannot find Cao Lau anywhere that has the exact the flavor in here. The water in the caldarium must come from a well which is dug by the Cham people.
A portion of Cao Lau is from 20 000 VND to 40 000 VND .
Chicken rice in Hoi An
This popular dish of Hoi An was created by the Vietnamese. It combines rice, shredded papaya, and herbs in a medley. This nutritious backyard chicken dish is comforting.
If you ask local people “what to do in Hoi An?”, they can immediately introduce you to try this specialty here. Some stalls are open all day long, whereas others are only open at night.
A portion of Chicken Rice is between 25 000 VND and 50 000 VND . You can treat your stomach with this specialty after a day-long discovering the town.
Tasting Banh Beo
Banh Beo is a part of the traditional Hue’s cuisine for breakfast/dinner or just as appetizers. It is a steamed rice flour cake with shrimp, pork, and green onions.
The dish can captivate tourists at the first sight with its balanced colors of:
- Green (onion)
- Orange (shrimp)
- White (flour cake)
- With a small bowl of soy sauce
A portion of Banh Beo is served in a small bowl. So, you just need one bite for it.
A portion of Banh Beo costs from 10 000 VND to 15 000 VND .
Wonton – The Chinese traditional dish in Hoi An
Wonton is another local specialty. It is a famous food that locals highly recommend for what to do in Hoi An. You will fall in love with it at the first bite!
Wonton originated in China. However, the people of Hoi An have modified the dish to fit their own preferences.
Wonton, like ravioli, is made out of rice flour and contains shrimp, pork, egg, and seasonings within its hollow cavity. There are several varieties of wonton entrees:
- Fried wonton
- Wonton soup
- Wonton and noodle soup,…
The wonton skin is made from rice flour. The filling inside has minced pork with mushroom, green onion, and pepper. The dipping sauce is what makes this dish so special. If you seach “Hoi An things to do”, they never miss the specialty on the list.
A portion of Wonton is from 30 000 VND to 70 000 VND .
White Rose – A must try specialty
White Rose is another local specialty. If you do not know what to do in Hoi An, tasting White Rose is definitely recommended by local people.
The dish was made a long time ago. White Rose is known as “Bánh Bao” or “Bánh Vạc” (two different types of White Rose) by locals. They said that in the 17th century, the name White Rose was named by a French reporter.
Tasting White Rose is one of many things to do in Hoi An. If visitors have not eaten White Rose dumplings, they have not yet tasted the ancient town.
A portion of White Rose costs about $4 .
Enjoy Hoi An in the night
Play Bai Choi – Vietnamese traditional bingo game
It is a local tip for what to do in Hoi An by playing Bai Choi. It is a Vietnamese traditional bingo game and very easy to participate in.
The rules are simple:
- There are 10 different kinds of cards, each featuring the names of three chess pieces and may be acquired by players (just $1).
- The dealer then distributes the bamboo sticks (cards) to begin.
- MC randomly selects the sticks out and sings a folk song that represents the chess pieces.
- If you hold the correct chess, just shout out and show for checking.
- The winner will have three right chess pieces in the same bar.
The prize is more spiritually oriented than material-oriented, like a lantern.
You can join the Bai Choi game on Saturday or at the Full Moon Night Festival.
Make a wish with lantern in Hoi An river (50 cents)
For Vietnamese people, it is a spiritual “what to do in Hoi An”. It is a good way to help people take some memorable photos that will always remind them of their trip to this town.
Make a wish with lanterns is a spiritual activity of Vietnamese
For Vietnamese people, it is a spiritual “Hoi An activities”. It is a good way to help people take some memorable photos that will always remind them of their trip to this town.
Buy the lantern in one of the shops along Hoi An River that are open until late at night. Then, attach your wish written on paper in it and release it into the river.
It will be on the to-do list of many couples. You should try for a romantic moment with your loved one.
Take a boat trip in Hoi An river ($2/person)
Taking a boat trip is one of Hoi An things to do to have a local experience. The tour usually takes around one hour and the captain will tell about its history during this time.
Floating in the river with lots of lanterns, you can feel the beauty of this ancient town. You will experience everything about the ancient town from the weather, the architecture, the lights, and local people with the boat trip.
You can also come to Cam Thanh Water Coconut Village to enjoy the most attractive basket boat tour here.
Get souvenir at the Hoi An night market
What to do in Hoi An next? You can visit some souvenir shops at the night market. You can find many iconic items with very cheap prices such as:
- Accessories
- Shoes
- Handbags
- Lacquer wear
- Lanterns
- Jewelry, etc.
Do not forget to play the bargaining games with local people. Sometimes, you can “win” the items with a 75% lower price than the seller asks for.
Get a silk items from Hoi An local tailors
Hoi An is well known as the “tailoring capital of the world”. Undoubtedly, a silk item from Hoi An local tailors will be a great gift for you and your beloved ones.
Tailors in here can make any design that you might think of, including a dress, shoes, wallet, pajamas, jumpsuit, etc. You just need to pick the design as well as the fabric. You will be then measured by the tailors.
It will take from two to three days to complete and you have one chance to change or repair. The price is various but generally falls between $30 and $120 for a product.
There are many things to do in Hoi An and they come with very reasonable prices. We hope that with a lot of information above, you will have the best time with your beloved in Hoi An. Goodluck and see you in Vietnam!