Hoi An

Located in the central region of Vietnam, Hoi An has two seasons – monsoon season and dry season. The average temperature here is 29 degrees Celcius. The monsoon season lasts from September to early January while the dry season is from February to May. June, July and August are somewhat between the two seasons.

The dry season is the best time to visit the historic town with mild warm weather and low humidity, making it much more enjoyable for exploration. During this period, the temperatures vary between 23 – 29 degrees Celcius.

In June, July and August, Hoi An starts to have more days with rains and the temperature can be high with an average temperature of 30 degrees Celcius. As these months align with the school summer holiday in Vietnam, this is the high season for domestic travel to Hoi An. So if you’re visiting during this time, watch out for the crowds!

It is advised to avoid the months of October and November if possible as flooding tends to occur due to the extreme rains.

In order to get to Hoi An, you will first need to stop at Danang. Trains and flights from other cities in Vietnam all stop in Danang, then you can get to the ancient town by car. The distance is about 30km, so you’ll get to Hoi An after 30 minutes of driving.

The duration for flights from Noi Bai Airport (Hanoi) and Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City) to Danang Airport is 1 hour. If you take the train from Hanoi or HCMC, you can get to Danang after about 12 hours. While a flight is much more convenient, a train ride is a very nice way to enjoy the beautiful nature of Vietnam.

The recommended stay is a minimum of 3 days. 3 days is enough time for you to explore the ancient town, its beautiful countryside as well as the pristine beaches. If you stay for at least 3 days, you can also use the time to join some workshops to learn about the traditional crafts, take a Vietnamese cooking class or experience a day as a local farmer.

For those who wish for a good break in Hoi An, anything from 4 days or more should be perfect for you. Hoi An is a wonderful town to slow down, take a break during your adventure in Vietnam.

The first area to explore is the ancient town. You can easily wander around as this area is quite small, and all attractions are within a short distance from each other. Hoi An was once a trading port, thus it has seen a mix of Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese cultures, which visitors can see right from the architecture and design of the buildings. The top sights in Hoi An are the Old House of Tan Ky, Old House of Phung Hung, Quan Thang Ancient House, Japanese Covered Bridge, Assembly Hall Of Fujian Chinese. In the evening, walk around to enjoy the lively atmosphere of the Night Market.

Then you can spend time exploring the countryside of Hoi An by visiting Thanh Ha Pottery Village and Tra Que Vegetable Village. These places give a nice insight into the life of the locals and their traditional arts.

One of the best souvenirs to take back home with you is tailor clothes. Hoi An is where you can find some of the best tailors in the country. You can get your suit or an ao dai done in just 24 hours (!?). What better is that it will not cost a fortune like tailor clothes usually do, you can get it at a reasonable price, depends on the materials and the kind of clothes you want.

Another iconic souvenir from Hoi An that many travellers love is lanterns. Hoi An is sometimes referred to as The City of Lanterns, and every street and alley in the town is decorated with lanterns. The moment these lanterns are lightened up, they brighten the whole town, creating a breathtaking sight to the eyes.

Hoi An is a safe town for travellers. Even bag snatching, thieves, or other scams, which you’ll be more likely to encounter in big cities – are really really rare in Hoi An.

The locals are quite welcoming towards tourists, since they’ve become familiar with their visits as well as they also make business thanks to people coming to the town. So as long as you treat them with respect and kindness, they will do the same.

The best Hoi An dishes usually can be found solely in the town or within Quang Nam Province. Their distinctive features are the fresh and local ingredients, from fresh greens, herbs, fish, and meat, altogether creating a unique flavour of the food.

As you are here, don’t miss out on Cao Lau (Rice Noodles With Barbecued Pork, Greens and Croutons), Com Ga (Chicken Rice), Banh Mi Thap Cam, Mi Quang (Vietnamese Turmeric Noodles), Bun Thit Nuong (Vermicelli Noodles With Grilled Pork), Banh Dap (Vietnamese Rice Crackers) and Hoanh Thanh Chien (Fried Wonton Dumplings).

For visitors that miss the breath of the sea, you can easily get to some of the most pristine beaches in the area – the An Bang and Cua Dai Beach. They see fewer people compared to the My Khe Beach of Danang but are just as beautiful with extensive coastlines, white sand and clear water.

Hoi An charms visitors not only for its picturesque scenery but also for the diverse experiences it provides for such a small town. There are plenty of activities for visitors, and here are the best ones, which let you explore Hoi An and make beautiful memories:

• Walk around the Ancient Town centre
• View the countryside on a bike
• Experience Hoi An’s nightlife
• Try delicious local food
• Join a Vietnamese cooking class
• Shop for an outfit made by skilled tailors
• Cruise along Thu Bon River
• Laze around on idyllic beaches

With the goal of developing and delivering more products to meet the demand of tourists, as well as to preserve the traditions of Hoi An and Vietnam, there have been a number of shows and performances created. These shows are performed by professional artists, and have received positive feedback from the audience.

You can watch the Hoi An Memories Show (in Hoi An Impression Theme Park), Water Puppet Show or the shows by the Lune Productions, including A O Show, Teh Dar, My Village, Palao and The Mist.