Hội An: A timeless journey
- bhanupriya2228
- Feb 4
- 12 min read
Hội An is a magical city in the heart of Vietnam, ready to transport you back in time. In this former trading port, the Thu Bon River meanders past yellow-tinted heritage buildings, lit up with a thousand lanterns, while sampans come and go from the old ferry quay. Hội An offers the perfect blend of color and chaos. It is fascinating how the old town has preserved the history of faraway travelers and merchants who landed on the banks of river Thu Bon to change their fates and fortunes while transforming itself to accommodate modern day travelers who would fawn over a cup of authentic Vietnamese coffee.
Hội An's Ancient Town has been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One can easily immerse themselves in the city of Hội An and its surrounding areas for days but for someone on a schedule below are my top things to do in Hội An in 3 days.
Day 1
Take a day to explore the Old Town: In the 15th-16th century Chinese and Japanese merchants and later European traders settled in the old town creating a unique architectural fusion. Here are few of my favourite structures-
Japanese Covered Bridge known as Cau Pagoda (Chùa Cầu), is an iconic 16th-century bridge connecting the erstwhile
Japanese and Chinese quarters. The local guide narrated a rather interesting story about this bridge. According to the legend this bridge has been associated with a monster called Namazu. Namazu is a mythical creature from Japanese folklore, believed to cause earthquakes and floods with its movements. Its head is in India, its body in Vietnam, and its tail in Japan. This bridge was constructed with the belief that a magical sword would pin down Namazu's back, thereby preventing the creature from moving and causing natural disasters in Vietnam, Japan, and India. As a result, people in these three countries would live in peace and prosperity.
Tran Family Chapel, is one of the oldest and most historic houses in the old town. Built in the early 19th century, this chapel bears the mark of the Gia Long period. Mr. Tran Tu Nhac – the ancestor of the Tran family, was the one who founded and built this chapel.
Tan Ky Old House, is a 200 yr old merchant house showcasing traditional Vietnamese architecture and precious artefacts. considered one of the most beautiful and well preserved heritage building which allows us to get a glimpse of the past with pride and wonder.
Quan Cong Temple, established in 1653 by Chinese immigrants, is among the oldest structures. In contrast to other historic sites in Hoi An, Quan Cong Temple features a remarkable exterior that showcases classical Confucian architectural elements. The structures are topped with tubed enamel tiles, and the edges of the roofs are adorned with sculptures of sacred animals like dragons and unicorns.
Chinese Assembly Hall or Trung Hoa Assembly Hall, was originally a thatched-roof Buddhist pagoda, called Kim Son, built by Hoi An locals in 1692. After decades, the temple became dilapidated until Fujian merchants purchased it. The temple's optimal location for trading and congregation was a key consideration. Afterward, there was a complete restoration in which the temple was renamed Phuc Kien Assembly Hall and reopened in 1759. Since then, the hall has been devoted to the worship of their ancestors and a deity called Thien Hau (Heavenly Holy Mother). Thien Hau, known as Mazu or Tian Hou, is a Chinese sea goddess who blesses fishers and sailors with safe ocean travel.
Chùa Pháp Bảo, is the largest pagoda in the old town of Hoi An. Phap Bao Pagoda worships many statues of Buddha, Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara and Dharma Protectors. The architecture of the Pagoda is reflective of the Vietnamese traditions, religious beliefs. This Pagoda attracts worshippers and tourists alike.
While walking around the old town is free, to enter most of the heritage buildings one needs to purchase tickets. You can buy a comprehensive pass for approximately $5 from any online website or through many counters in the old town. This ticket allows you to enter 5 of the 22 attractions listed in the old town. In case you want to enter more than 5 places you can buy a ticket close to these attractions pretty easily. One of my favourite thing to see in the old town was a cultural evening where you can see enthralling dance and musical performances by Vietnamese artists depicting folklores, history and traditions. This was covered for us in the ticket. You can check your the attractions listed before you buy the ticket in case you are interested.
While you can admire the intricate and colourful handmade lanterns hung on every door, shop, roadsides or trees, the town also hosts a lantern extravaganza every month on a full moon day where the whole city dims the lights and release hundreds of the lanterns in the Thu Bon River.
Pro tip- Plan your visit to Hội An during the festival, as this will significantly enrich your experience in the town.
The old town also boasts of some of the best places to indulge in traditional Vietnamese cuisine. Where to eat in Hoi An? Honestly, the question should be ‘where not to eat’ because you really can’t go wrong – even the most touristy restaurants in Hoi An serve surprisingly good food. However, here are few of the places that I ate and loved it:-
Morning Glory Signature- for the sheer variety, authenticity and beautiful view of the river.
Sakura/ Hoa Anh Dao- The restaurant offers diners the chance to experience authentic Japanese and local cuisine overlooking the Hoi An bridge and the river offering a mesmerising view of the floating lanterns on the full moon day. It has a great terrace for feeling an evening breeze and people watching. We had our first 'Pho' there and it didn't disappoint.
The Market Terrace- If you are in the mood for something non-local then this small and perfectly hidden terrace bar and restaurant is a must explore. Their cocktails, cured meats, cheese platters and battered fish are a must try.
Madam Khan (the Banh Mi Queen)- a must visit if you want to try the best Banh Mi in Hoi An. Located close to the old town, its a street side shop with humble seating inside with not so humble menu. There are tons of options for your tongue including great vegetarian options as well.
Note: most places stop serving food around 10:00 pm and after that only street vendors or few pubs remain open. So, if food is a priority then plan ahead and make reservations.
Vietnamese Coffee- If there is one thing I would go back to Vietnam for, it will its coffees. Yes I said coffees. Vietnam is known for many unique coffee concoctions like Vietnamese drip coffee, egg coffee, salt iced coffee and my ultimate fav – Coconut coffee.
Unfortunately, at this point, I have forgotten the names of all the coffee shops, that is also because we loved almost every place where we had coffee, and mind you, we had a lot of coffee at a lot of different places. We would just find at a cosy place to sit and go at it. Having these interesting potions while people watching was actually one of our favourite things to do :D.
Another highlight of Hội An is the world-famous one-day tailors who can create anything you desire within a day. There are number of these shops close to the old town and you can just pick any shop that you like. I personally got a red dress for myself and a super cool blazer for my husband stitched from The Two ladies Tailors. It is recommended that you place your order on the day you arrive so that you have time in case secondary alterations are needed. Apart from personalized tailoring, one can shop for breezy cotton and linen dresses, shorts, sarongs, beachwear, mostly summer stuff on the streets side shops at reasonable costs. There are also tons of souvenir shopping that you can do here-like bamboo and seashell/mother of pearls trays/coasters, miniature lanterns, even old vintage trinkets.
Day 2
After wandering through the beguiling streets of the old town, it's time to explore the rice fields, coconut groves, and beaches of Hoi An. The first stop of the day should be Cam Thanh Coconut Village, where you can ride in one of the many basket boats, also known as "thung chai," gliding along the Thu Bon River with coconut thickets on both sides and deep green water below. After navigating the river for over 30 minutes, you'll reach a more open area where local fishermen, boat riders, and tourists seem to be enjoying a lively river boat party. There are floating karaoke sessions with locals singing Vietnamese songs and tourists joining in from their own coconut boats. Skilled boatmen spin the 'Thung Chai' rapidly, eliciting shrieks of laughter and excitement from most of the tourists. We decided to join in the fun and let our boatman spin us, which turned out to be hilarious!
Here I was amazed with the ingenuity of the Vietnamese people to create a whole experience of practically nothing like how they turned a simple riverside grove into a complete experience filled with nature, excitement, music, and memories for tourists while creating a whole economy of it.
From here, it was time to get beachy. A quick 15 min drive from the Old town, our first stop was the An Bang Beach with clear rolling sand and deep blue waters (on most days, in monsoons its more muddy of course). Its a lively coast with multiple food joints, water sports including surfing lessons and sun loungers all day, one can easily spend the whole day at the beach. Although, it had started raining and we were not able to enjoy the sunbathing at the beach , the rains cleared up the whole beach and we kind of had the whole beach to ourselves and we didn't mind getting drenched in the rain. An Bang beach also has a quieter part which is also called Tan Thanh Beach, so if you prefer a bit more peace and quiet then you can just walk 15-20 min along the beach to reach to this part of the beach. In this manner, you can experience two totally different vibes in the same vicinity. There are other beaches like Cua Dai, Coconut Beach, Hidden Beach etc. Given the distances between them and time that we had, we only visited An Bang and Tan Thanh Beach. In case you are staying in the Da Nang Area for 1-2 days then you can explore the other beaches as well.
While driving back from the An Bang beach to the old town, we drove through sea of rice fields on both sides of the road. On the way back to the old town, there is Tra Que Vegetable Village that became famous for its traditional way of growing vegetables and herbs. For about 400 years, local farmers here have used traditional techniques and skills which are recognized by the government as national intangible cultural heritage. Around Tra Que Vegetable Village, there is a piece of Hoi An’s countryside, with rice fields, ancient Japanese tombs, lotus swamps, waterways, duck farms, herbs of water buffalo, prawn ponds, hanging fishing nets and bamboo fish traps. We recommend going around this area by walking or cycling, to learn about rural life and scenery. A unique experience here would be indulging in a cooking class in the middle of lush green fields and herb gardens. The Tra Que Village offers cooking classes using fresh produce from their fields and gardens giving a wholesome authentic experience and of course an amazing meal out of it. End the day watching a splendid sunset from this countryside and head back to the old town and prepare for another day of exploring and adventure.
Day 3
This day features a major Instagram highlight, a visit to the Ba Na Hills. Situated in the Truong Son Mountains, approximately 2 hours from Hoi An, it is much nearer to Danang, so you might consider staying overnight in Danang after your trip to Ba Na Hills instead of going back to Hoi An. Additionally, most flight connections to other regions of Vietnam are through Danang Airport, which could be convenient for the next leg of your journey.
Ba Na Hills was once a favored holiday destination for the French, featuring villas and a resort. It eventually fell into neglect until it was transformed into the renowned theme park it is today. The main attraction of this destination is the Golden Bridge (Cau Vang), an architectural wonder that you might recognize from Instagram, where it seems to be supported by two enormous stone hands. In person, it was just as breathtaking as in the photos I had seen. The bridge also provides magnificent panoramic views of the surrounding hills and the valley below. Note: This architectural marvel gets busy. To capture a shot without other tourists in sight, go early.
The only way up to Ba Na Hills is via the cable-cars, so your entry tickets include the round-trip. There are several cable lines and stations available, based on your destination. If you're aiming to begin at the renowned Golden Bridge, head to the Hoi An (05) ground station. No matter which option you select, you'll enjoy a scenic ride with stunning, 360-degree vistas. On a clear day, you can view all the way to Danang and the sea.
At the top, wander the French Village and it has everything you’d expect from a medieval village – think a town square, cute cafes, a cathedral and fountain. As you stroll along the cobbled streets and listen to the French music being played in the background, you'll feel as if you've been transported to yesteryear Europe. Admire the archways, balconies, vintage-style bikes or capture them for your next Instagram story.
Escape the crowds at the Linh Ung Pagoda, located 1,500 meters above sea level, providing breathtaking views. It features one of the country's largest Buddha statues, peacefully seated on a five-meter wide circular base, standing 27 meters tall. Additional spiritual sites include the Linh Phong Zen Monastery and the Holy Mother Shrine.
Is there a more perfect way to conclude the day than with a glass of red wine while enjoying the golden hour views? The Debay Wine Cellar is the sole remnant of Ba Na Hills' history as a French resort. Constructed deep within the mountain in 1923, it was designed to naturally store wine at temperatures between 16°C and 20°C. One can discover the wine production process and indulge in wine tasting with the views. Additionally, a wine festival is held annually in May. You can effortlessly spend an entire day at Ba Na Hills, taking in all the views from above. It's a beautiful way to conclude your trip and reflect on all the memories from your journey to this part of the world.
We caught our flight to Hanoi from Danang after visiting the Ba Na Hills. However, if you have an extra day, you can explore Danang, a charming coastal town. Nonetheless, I honestly believe that Danang might not compare to the enchanting town of Hội An.
As travellers the feeling of being able to stay just a bit longer, see a bit more and experience another day is pervasive but Hội An truly did make a mark on our hearts and minds and we made some true core memories there to last a lifetime. With the hope and promise of coming back to the shores of the Thu Bon River, we bid adieu to Hội An.
You may find this handy:
Getting Around Hội An
Vietnam in general is a very affordable travel destination, including food, local commute and accommodation. 'Grab' is their Uber and is super efficient and affordable way to move around in Hoi An. We didn't explore the public transport really therefore cannot comment on it but that is also because most of the old town can be covered by walking and for slightly farther places we preferred a faster way and took cabs.
Accommodation
For lodging, we chose a charming boutique hotel "The Little Town Villa' a rate of $35/30000 INR per night. The room was spacious, beautifully designed, and equipped with all necessary amenities. Situated in the Old Town but slightly on the outskirts, it was ideal for us, offering proximity to major attractions while remaining away from the hustle and bustle. I believe in not overspending on accommodation since you'll be out enjoying activities all day, so there's no need to waste money on pricey rooms. As long as the place is centrally located, clean, comfortable, and safe, the more affordable, the better.
Perfect time to Travel
Vietnam, with its tropical climate, extensive coastline, and diverse terrain, experiences varying weather patterns across different regions throughout the year. Hội An, being near the coast, has a notably high number of rainy days. During our visit in December, we encountered everything from light drizzles to sudden heavy rains, but we honestly didn't mind. There were plenty of clear weather intervals during the day that allowed us to explore comfortably. At times, the light drizzle, combined with glistening lamps and fluttering umbrellas, added a magical and authentic touch to Hội An. However, if you prefer dry conditions, the best time to visit is from February to April, when the skies are clear and the sun is shining.
How to dress up for Hội An
Given the tropical weather of Hội An, the ideal materials to dress in are cotton and linen. To protect yourself from direct sun exposure, long-sleeve cotton or linen shirts are great, as you can wear them as coveralls or with cotton shorts or long, breezy pants. Culturally, Hội An is modern enough to allow you to wear whatever you want, but I found most locals and tourists were dressed more modestly with relaxed fits. But hey, you do you!
P.S. - I’d love to hear if you enjoyed this blog, and I hope you fulfill your Hội An dreams. Feel free to email me at offshegoesadventures@gmail.com with any questions or suggestions. Cheers!
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