Hoi An is a well preserved ancient town in Vietnam’s central coast. We spent a couple days here exploring this beautiful town, eating delicious Vietnamese food, shopping, and watching the incredible lanterns at night. There are so many hidden gem’s in the bustling little city, here are some of our favorite things we did, saw, and ate.
Stay at Maison Vy
We loved staying at the quaint boutique hotel of Maison Vy. It was a short walk from the main area of the old town but far enough away to be a little oasis. We loved the chic black and white decor that was peppered with greenery.
We loved the breakfast each morning. It had different options and lots of small bites that were made in house. The staff was lovely and you could tell they really care about their guests and the little town of Hoi An.
Explore the Old Town
Hoi An was once a trading port that dates back to the 15th to the 19th century. This charming yellow painted town is rich in history and walking around the old town makes you feel like you have stepped back in time. Enjoy walking the streets admiring the growing vines and banyan trees that wind around the colonial building, but make sure to watch out for motorbikes!
Watch the lanterns on the river each night
Hoi An is an absolutely charming town but it is even more spectacular at night. Each evening as the sun goes down head to to riverwalk to see hundreds of lanterns light up the night. You can take riverboats and glide across the water with lanterns surrounding you. You can make a wish and set a lantern off into the water. The old town sparkles with tons of twinkling lights and lanterns which makes it perfect for evening strolls through the city.
Go to beach bar at An Bang beach
We spent an afternoon having lunch and cocktails at The Deckhouse Beach Bar at An Bang Beach. It is only a short drive or bike ride from town and the beach was white sand and it was a nice relaxing place to spend the day unwinding after the hustle and bustle of Hoi An.
Drink Vietnamese iced coffee at an outdoor cafe
The is no shortage of adorable cafes in Hoi An. Order a delicious Vietnamese coffee, grab a seat outside and watch this lively town while you sip on this tasty brew.
Eat Banh Mi
One of the must try foods in Hoi An is a banh mi. Banh mi is a Vietnamese sandwich made with a crispy baguette that is filled with savory meats, mayo, a smear of rich liver pate, and is topped with pickled veggies, crunchy cucumbers, spicy chilies, and fresh herbs. Two of the most popular places to try Banh Mi in Hoi An are Bánh Mì Phượng & Madam Khanh - The Banh Mi Queen. We tried both and they were both mouthwatering delicious.
Have Dinner at Morning Glory
The best meal we had in Hoi An was at Morning Glory. This cute restaurant is in the heart of the old town. We had the most incredible roasted duck leg over crispy noodles which may well have been one of the best bites of food we had our entire trip. We would come back here just to order this again. The cocktails were really well done and not too sweet and the price was very affordable. We also ordered the dumplings and morning glory salad, all which were super flavorful. This would also be a great place to try Cao Lau which is a famous Hoi An noodle that is dish served with char siu, shrimp, pork, egg, and a small amount of broth. We can’t recommend this place enough!
Go Shopping
One of the best places to shop in Vietnam is Hoi An. They have a great night market with stalls selling everything from knock off backpacks & luggage to jewelry and souvenirs. Hoi An also has a large number of excelent tailors and it’s a great place to somethiing custom made. The service is quick and if you go to a tailor your first day to get a custom suit made it will be done in only a day or two before you leave. I had custom leather sandals made for me and my sister and it only took a couple hours.
Drink a craft beer at Next Door
We found the cutest craft beer bar close to our hotel that we would visit each night on our way to dinner. Next Door is located in an old colonial building. We loved the funky art on the walls and this no frills spot had great outdoor couches to sit on while you sipped on a local craft beer.
Try the Street Food
The streets of Hoi An are filled with vendors selling all different types of street food. There are barbecued meats on skewers, dumplings, egg rolls, fruit and sweet crepes.
Hoi An is a unbelievable place and a must-visit for anyone visiting Vietnam. Hoi An is the perfect travel destination with incredible history, a gorgeous old town, tasty food, cute cafes, beaches, bars, markets and more! We would love to come back and visit again one day.
Ciao!
- Jeff & Ang
