What does Hoi An have that attracts both domestic and international visitors? It’s the ancient beauty of the houses, the gentle and serene rivers, or the sparkling beauty of lanterns at night. Hoi An also captivates tourists with its unique and delicious dishes. If you are planning to travel to Hoi An and are unsure of what to explore in the ancient town, this article will share some recommendations.
Hoi An Tourism – Must-Visit Places
1/ Cau Pagoda
Built around the late 16th century, the Japanese Covered Bridge, also known as Chua Cau, features a small temple dedicated to Huyen Thien Dai De in the middle. The bridge attracts visitors with its unique architectural arch, a fusion of Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese, and Western influences. When visiting Hoi An, tourists always stop by Chua Cau to take memorable photos. The bridge is especially beautiful in the fall when the light from lanterns and candles creates a magical atmosphere.
2/ An Bang Beach
What does Hoi An tourism offer for relaxation? The answer is the blue sea and white sand of An Bang Beach. Not too crowded, An Bang Beach is about 2 km from the ancient town. The clean and spacious beach is suitable for activities such as watching the sunrise, sunset, flying kites, and canoeing. Around An Bang Beach, there are many cafes and restaurants with beautiful designs, allowing you to dine, take photos, and enjoy the panoramic view of the beach.
3/ Vinpearl Land Hoi An
This is a new entertainment destination in Hoi An with various services such as sightseeing, outdoor activities, indoor games, water games, traditional villages, resorts, and restaurants. When you visit Vinpearl Hoi An, you can both relax and have fun in a spacious area with a strong European architectural style.
4/ Bay Mau Coconut Forest
What does Hoi An tourism offer for nature lovers? Nowhere else but the Bay Mau Coconut Forest in Cam Thanh, about 5 km from the ancient town. When visiting the coconut forest, you can sit on boats along the water surrounded by thousands of coconut palms, creating a cool and refreshing atmosphere. In addition to exploring the coconut forest, there is an ecotourism area with floating huts serving delicious and affordable dishes, along with activities such as boat racing and basket boat rowing.
5/ Cu Lao Cham
From Hoi An, you can take a boat to Cua Dai Beach, then a canoe to Cu Lao Cham Island to admire its pristine beauty and tranquility. Cu Lao Cham captivates people with its intact, peaceful, and fresh beauty. In addition to taking photos of the island’s scenery, you can also participate in sea activities such as snorkeling to see colorful coral reefs and playful schools of fish. Another interesting experience is cycling to enjoy the fresh air on the island.
6/ Walking Along Ancient Streets
Hoi An is charming both day and night. If Hoi An is vibrant in the morning with the pink color of bougainvillea flowers and the beauty of ancient houses, it becomes dazzling at night with lanterns and the lively sound of traditional games. Strolling along the ancient streets, taking souvenir photos, and immersing yourself in the unique charm of the town will surely be very interesting.
Memorable Culinary Experiences at Hoian
1/ Com Ga Ba Buoi (Ba Buoi Chicken Rice):
Address: 22 Phan Chu Trinh, Hoi An
Ba Buoi Chicken Rice, famous since the 1950s, has become more and more renowned with the development of Hoi An. The chicken and rice here attract long queues of customers due to the quality of the chicken and rice. The chicken is free-range, not too tough or too soft, served with fragrant and fluffy golden rice. The menu includes shredded chicken, boiled chicken, roasted chicken, and chicken innards, with prices starting from $1.5 per serving.
2/ Cao Lau:
Cao Lau is unique with yellowish noodles made from ash soaked from Cham Islands and mixed with rice, creating a texture firmer and crunchier than vermicelli or Quang noodles. The noodles are served with shrimp, meat, fresh vegetables, and rice paper. Cao Lau in Hoi’s streets has many establishments, but Cao Lau Ba Be near Hoi An Market is the favorite due to its delicious taste and affordable price. Despite being a sidewalk stall, it attracts many tourists. The price for a bowl of Cao Lau ranges from $0.8 to $1 per bowl.
3/ Banh Vac (White Rose Dumplings):
Restaurant Bong Hong Trang: 533 Hai Ba Trung, Hoi An
Banh Vac is an indispensable dish on the menu of any eatery in Hoi An. Banh Vac is made from meticulously filtered rice flour. The more finely filtered the rice flour, the tastier and chewier the dumplings will be. The filling consists of shrimp, meat, and cat ear mushrooms. The cooked dumplings are served with sweet and sour fish sauce, crispy fried shallots, creating a unique flavor.
4/ Banh Dap Hen Xao (Rice Paper with Grilled Baby Clams):
Address: Move across Cau Nam, Hoi An, about 100m, and you will reach the area selling Banh Dap Hen Xao with more than 10 specialized stalls.
Banh Dap is a combination of the softness of wet rice paper and the crispiness of rice paper, eaten with a side of grilled baby clams. The dish is a delightful experience with the salty taste of clams, the fragrant aroma of accompanying spices, making you savor every bite.
5/ Banh Mi Phuong:
Address: 2B Phan Chau Trinh Street, Hoi An
The characteristic of Banh Mi Phuong is its thin bread, kept warm in a wooden cabinet on a charcoal stove before processing. All ingredients for the Banh Mi filling are processed naturally, without using frozen ingredients, creating a taste that is hard to forget. A full Banh Mi includes meat, sausage, pate, flavorful sauce, and fresh vegetables. If you are in Hoi An, you must try Banh Mi Phuong to fully experience the culinary beauty of the charming ancient town.
6/ Banh Uot Cuon Thit Nuong (Steamed Rice Rolls with Grilled Meat):
Address: Near Hoai River, Hoi An
If you are on a Hoi An tour on chilly days, Banh Uot Cuon Thit Nuong is undoubtedly a priority choice. Sitting, inhaling the aroma of grilled meat on a charcoal stove might make you feel warmer. Along the Hoai River, it’s not hard to find a stall selling Banh Uot Cuon Thit Nuong. A tempting plate consists of steamed rice rolls, flavorful grilled meat, fresh vegetables, and dipping sauce. This dish will undoubtedly fill your hungry stomach during your exploration of Hoi An.
7/ Banh Beo: Address: Banh Beo – Banh Nam Mrs. Bay – 02 Hoang Van Thu, Hoi An
Banh Beo is a long-standing local dish in Hoi An and is considered a favorite breakfast of locals. The highlight of Banh Beo is the crispy fried lard, served with sour and spicy dipping sauce. A small cup of Banh Beo costs only 2,000 VND but will make you remember its unique taste.
8/ Mot Hoi An Herbal Tea:
Address: 10 Tran Phu, Hoi An
What to drink when in Hoi An? In addition to antique coffee shops with many photo corners, Mot Hoi An Tea is also a type of drink that most people visiting Hoi An stop to have. Mot Hoi An Tea is essentially a herbal tea that is particularly popular here.
The shop has a small space, decorated in a vintage style, but it is always crowded, mostly with customers buying take-out. The shop is eye-catching from the outside because of the herbal tea pots decorated with antique items such as porcelain bowls and oil lamps. All of this makes the herbal tea not only attractive for its taste but also for its nostalgic charm.
Start your exploration journey and experience what Hoi An tourism has to offer!
