Hoi An is an ancient town located in central Vietnam. It is known for its beauty, especially after the night falls when colorful lanterns light up to add a special flair to this historical town. It is less crowded compared to other cities in Vietnam. It attracts many international travelers. It is simply fun to just walk around Hoi An. Hoi An is a beautifully preserved historic town that you must visit if you travel to Vietnam. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is growing attracting more visitors each year. With dramatic development taking place in today’s Vietnam, it is very likely that this special location will attract even more visitors from all around the world. One can only hope that this well-preserved historical site is protected for a long time in the future to be enjoyed by many travelers and to be cherished by Vietnamese people. Here are the 10 Things You Must Do In Hoi An
1. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site
UNESCO has recognized this ancient town, Hoi An. It is a port town that is dated from the 15th to 19th century where a mixture of cultures has created a unique atmosphere. When you walk around, you’ll see the influences of Vietnam, China, and Japan. There is an entry fee at the gate of this preserved area. It is 120,000 VND (5.38 USD) and the ticket is valid for 24 hours. The entry fee is used for the preservation of this World Heritage Site.
2. Beauty of colorful lanterns
When you visit Hoi An, you definitely have to visit the ancient town after night falls. It is still fun to walk around the town during the day, but once the sun sets, the mood of the town changes dramatically with colorful lanterns hung on many buildings. Of course, thus the number of visitors increases dramatically once the sun sets, but regardless, it is still quite an experience to venture out to this historic town. If you wish to take these beautiful lanterns home, you can purchase a lantern at various shops along the streets. There are different sizes of lanterns so you can add Hoi An colors to your home decor.
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3. White Rose
If you wish to try something local in Hoi An, you’ll want to try White Rose. White Rose is a local food in Hoi An, which as the name suggests, resembles the shape of a rose. It is a shrimp dumpling with a translucent white dough making it easy to consume. There are many restaurants in Hoi An so walk around and pick a restaurant and see if they have White Rose on their menu.
4. Venture with a cyclo
The streets of this historical ancient town are narrow and no cars are allowed. However, cyclos can be used for traveling. You can prefer to walk but if you get a little tired from the heat, you can hop on a cyclo and let the driver take you around. Many tourists use Cyclos in central areas in Vietnam and Hoi An.
5. Purchase 100% Vietnamese silk scarf
These are multiple leather shops and clothing stores where you can get custom made tailored clothes. Hoi An is famous for making cheap tailored clothes. In addition, for those of you who want to get something high quality and fashionable, you should visit Metis to purchase 100% silk items. Metis has stores in Hoi An, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City, and the main store is located here in Hoi An. The quality and styles of Metis silk products are very modern.
6. Eco cooking tour
Trying local cuisine is top of every traveler’s to-do list. Vietnam offers an authentic variety of food. Travelers with a keen fondness for cooking should definitely take a cooking class and learn how to make Hoi An food from a local cook or chef, a one of a kind experience in the rural area of Hoi An while taking home a whole lot of knowledge and new recipes to try out like to make fresh spring rolls, barbecue tofu with peanut sauce, and caramel banana with sugar and peanut for dessert.
7. Bike around the rice paddies
Another highly suggested activity in Hoi An is biking around the scenic and lush rice paddies. Hoi An, despite being in the rural part of Vietnam is still frequented by many locals and travelers alike for its serene and slow-paced life. Bike around this part of Vietnam all the way to Thu Bon River area, then a circuit around Duy Vinh Island and explore the local life of small farming villages in the areas, witnessing the work of farmers and learn about the traditional crafts.
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8. Museum of History and Culture
Located in the heart of Hoi An, the city’s renowned cultural and historical museum is a must to see if you’re the curious kind of traveler. Those who are eager to learn about Hoi An’s unique history and preservation techniques to keep their culture alive and unabashed will enjoy roaming the halls of this attraction displaying the trading history of Vietnam with other European countries. Finish the tour with a 360-degree view of the old town on the top floor of the museum.
9. Reach Out To Silent Tea House
If you wish to have a pleasant tea time but also make a difference and support a local business doing some good, have tea at the Reaching Out Tea House. This one of a kind tea house is situated in the old town of Hoi An and is a local fair trade social enterprise that gives the impaired community space in the workforce and in the community. Servers and staffers are all deaf and physically impaired where each table in the tea house has a notebook and pencil to write down their orders where they will then use it to communicate with the staffers.
10. Bang Beach
Despite Hoi An being a rather conservative and rural town, locals still managed to preserve their natural beauty. Bang Beach is one of the most popular beaches in the area stretching 4 km (2.5 miles) long to its neighboring beach, Cua Dai. Bang Beach used to be a hidden spot locals would go out to on weekends but as tourism bustled, the small beach village has evolved into a popular tourist attraction. Commercialization brought in dining establishments like bars, restaurants, and cafes that have complimented Bang Beach. Wake up early and hit Bang Beach for a morning dip in the ocean.
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