What to do in Hoi An, one of the most beautiful places to visit in Vietnam?
During a trip to Vietnam , the beautiful (big) village Hoi An (Hội An) is absolutely worth visiting, if only 2 days.
This town was once an important trading place for spices. Today, the historic quarter (registered to UNESCO’s World Heritage) is enchanting, with its small streets to old Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese-style houses, which were occupied by merchants and which have become galleries, antiques, restaurants and bars. While its center is really the flagship attraction, you can take a bike to go swimming on one of its beaches or visit the sites around Hoi An.
The historic centre
Wikimedia – Jean-Marie Hullot
Yellow houses lined with bougainvilliers, frontiers illuminated by a glow of silk paper lanterns, fishermen raising slippery nets of their boats... life in the old town of Hoi An looks like a postcard from a small classical Vietnamese fluvial city. Its registration at UNESCO has given the resources and momentum needed to better protect and maintain its buildings, and to present itself as a tourist destination. It worked and the city now attracts visitors by herds. I advise you to buy a ticket at the Office du Tourisme de Hoi An (you will find it easily on site), to access 22 historic temples, museums and other places (120 000 VND, 4€).
By strolling through the alleys of Hoi An, with your map recovered at the tourist office, you will discover the most beautiful places in the city: the Japanese bridge Chua Cau (which is also a pagoda), house Tan Ky , Museum of Commercial Ceramics , Fujian Assembly Hall , and many more... 
Flickr – sachman75
Local cuisine and secret recipes
Hoi An is probably the city that has most surprised me in Vietnam for its culinary specialties . There are specialties that can only be found here and you’d be happy to enjoy it during your stay in Hoi An. Between the cooking classes followed by tasting and the small restaurants that line the river, you have something to treat your taste buds! For entry or if you like soup, try the cao lau . Then take the dish banh bao vac , that is called “white roses”, and that is truly unique in its kind. The pancakes Banh Xeo , or the dish hoanh thanh , as well as fried nems are real delights. There are restaurants on both sides of the river, and near the river Hoi An market . 
Flickr – avlxyz
Night events
Hoi An doesn't slow down once the sun goes down. Music and dance shows often take place along the river in the evening. You will certainly appreciate the light of the lighted lanterns on the Thu Bon River that people deposited on the water after making a wish. 
Flickr – chenmeister64
Bike rides and beaches
Hoi An is a small town if you only take the historic centre and the neighbourhoods that surround it immediately. The best way to walk through the streets is to walk, but it’s even more enjoyable by bike. This allows you to easily reach the beaches An Bang (3 km north) and Cua Dai (5 km east). Renting a bike will only cost you 1€ or 1.5€ per day.
The temples of My Son
50 km from Hoi An, My Son is a set of 70 Hindu temples dedicated to Shiva. Built between the 4th and 14th centuries, My Son was the spiritual capital of the kings of Champa, and is often compared to Borobudur and Angkor Wat. Much of My Son was destroyed during the Vietnam War, but there are enough remaining structures to make a day trip. 
The Cham Islands
About 20 kilometers east of Hoi An is a rosary of islands called the Cham Islands with beaches and hills populated with lush vegetation. Only one of the eight Cham Islands is inhabited by fishing villages. A day around the islands offers you the opportunity to explore, swim, plunge or snorkeling. There are diving sites adapted to different levels, which include coral gardens and reefs.
Where to stay in Hoi An?
The old town is beautiful but the ideal is to sleep outside, nearby. You will find a lot of cheap hotels, guesthouses, and even luxury hotels that are really beautiful but not so expensive. To find a hotel in Hoi An, search our website Compare hotels .
How to get to Hoi An?
Hoi An is just south of Danang, one of the largest cities in Vietnam. So you can join Hoi An by bus from Danang (which owns an airport) or from Nha Trang (count more than 9h of night bus). You can also take a train from the North (Hanoi, Hué) or from the South (Saigon, Nha Trang) towards Danang. You will then have to take a bus or taxi to Hoi An. 
Flickr – Ben Ashmole
What about you? How did you find Hoi An? Does this make you want to go?
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