10 THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN HOI AN, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CITY OF VIETNAM

When talking about Vietnam, the vast majority of travelers agree on two things: the country's cuisine is to suck your fingers (and if you hurry me, the whole hand) and The most beautiful city in Vietnam is Hoi An. Small, quiet, with a unique architecture and very pleasant to walk around. Definitely worth a stop here on your trip through Vietnam. And so you don't miss any of its charms, here we tell you the 10 best things to see and do in Hoi An:

The old town is the great jewel of the city, full of centuries-old buildings that remained standing throughout this time, even surviving the wars. Walking around here is like traveling through time: French colonial houses, temples, pagodas, lanterns ... and also a good handful of coffee shops, restaurants and shops (many, many). No wonder at all that it has been declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.

One of the most famous tourist spots in the old town of Hoi An is the Japanese Bridge (Cau Nhay Ban), a covered bridge, made of wood and cement, which has become the city ​​symbol. It was built by the Japanese who lived in the city around 1590, to connect their neighborhood with the Chinese side, which was on the other side of the river.

The truth is that the bridge is more beautiful seen from outside than crossing it, which also costs. Peeeeero we have good news: there is a joint entry (Hoi An Old Town Ticket) that is worth 120,000 VND (just under € 5), which allows access to five attractions in the city (the ones you choose), including this bridge, and it is worth it.

Curiosity: You will see statues of dogs and monkeys on the bridge. The reason? They say that its construction began during the year of the dog and ended in the year of the monkey.

In addition to its beautiful buildings and temples, Hoi An is known for being one of the gastronomic capitals of Vietnam. What's more, it has a lot of native dishes that you have to try. Specifically we recommend these 3:

• Cau Lau: a plate of rice noodles that are accompanied with pork, carrots, bean sprouts, croutons and soy sauce.
• White rose: They are a kind of rice dumplings, steamed and stuffed with prawns.
• Won ton: of Chinese origin, this dish is made with fried rice pasta, stuffed with pork. Here it is served with a sauce made of tomatoes, peppers and onion.

And everything will taste richer when you discover that for € 0.15 you will be able to drink a bia today (draft beer) very cool. That's how nice it is! Here we tell you the rest of the typical dishes of Vietnamese cuisine. Come on ... swell to eat and drink some delicious beers, it's one of the best things to do in Hoi An

The thu bon river It is one of the great attractions of the city and yes, when the sun sets, the river also sets ... It gets very frequented :-p It will not be a romantic boat trip alone, but it does not matter: it is a tourist, yes Without a doubt, however, it is one of the best things to do in Hoi An. We have no proof but no doubt.

The Boat tour It costs about 100,000 VND (€ 4), although you can also enjoy a walk walking (above free) to the shore. Or, better yet, do both.

Hoi An was an important commercial enclave in the past and you know what happens when a city attracts merchants ... money! And when someone earns money, one of the first things he does is ...make a casoplon! Effectively. In the center of Hoi An you can visit several of these old houses. The most recommended are:

• The Phung Hung House, which mixes Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese architectural elements.
• The Quan Thang House, traditional and ancient, remained virtually intact since the death of its owner.
• The House and chapel of the Tran family, built in the 19th century, is one of the most beautiful examples of Chinese architecture in the city.

The entrance to these houses have cost, but you can use one of your 5 bonuses Hoi An Old Town Ticket.

About 40 km from Hoi An are the ancient ruins of My Son, which was in its time one of the religious centers most important in the region. Maybe if you have already visited archeological areas such as Bagan, Angkor, Sukhothai or Borobudur, these seem somewhat poor, but if you think about it with perspective and apply a little imagination, a visit to My Son will be wonderful! It helps a little to do it with a guide ...

Today there are more than 50 temples (some in poor condition and others almost engulfed by nature), all built between the fourth and fourteenth centuries, almost nothing! We were quite surprised, really, and we really enjoyed this Half-day excursion from Hoi An. We went on a tour hired at a local agency that cost us around € 11 (including minivan to the site, guide in English and return by boat, with food). You can book it there or do it online here.

Tired? Well, majete ... you have 5 other things to see and do in Hoi An!

Has a super hot day caught you and you would kill for a dip, but your hotel has no pool? Well, go to the beach! Although we must warn you: it is not going to be one of the most spectacular beaches in Asia (it is here, the bar is very high), but if you want to throw yourself at the bartola and enjoy a few hours of relaxation and baths in the Sea, it can be worth it. The nearest beach it is Cua Dai Beach, about 4 km away, and another one a little higher and popular isAn Bang Beach. It can be reached by taxi, motorcycle or even by bike.

And off the coast of Hoi An is located the Cham Islands, a group of 8 islets where you can go snorkeling or diving. The largest and most inhabited island is Hon lao, there you can also spend a relaxing day, enjoying its beach and its relaxed atmosphere. It is advisable NOT to go to the islands between October and February, when the waters are more moved.

This set of 5 mountains, also known as "The mountains of the five elements", are famous for their caves and tunnels, which have used both monks to carry out their cults (you can see shrines with statuettes and religious images), as guerrillas to hide or Save weaponry The most important and the only accessible is Nui Thuy Son, where you will have to ascend a few steps to pass through caves, sanctuaries and viewpoints (do not miss the cave Huyen Khong). The Marble Mountains are about 20 km from Hoi An, and you can arrive by taxi, by bus, renting a motorcycle or on a half-day tour, like this one.

If you have Instagram, this bridge held by two hands enoooormes, it will sound a lot to you. And since it opened in 2018 its image has circulated like gunpowder 😉 What you may not know is that the bridge is part of a theme park (Ba Na Hills) which is located almost 70 km from Hoi An. You can go for free (admission costs about € 25) or visit it on a tour that includes hotel pick-up, transportation to / from the park and the entrance, like this one.

Beyond the bridge, there are several attractions to enjoy, but it is clear who is the protagonist who has conquered the heart (and photos) of millions of people.

Take advantage of the stay in Hoi An to buy the odd souvenir: here there is everything from the typical colored lamps to bamboo baskets, t-shirts, bags, accessories ... It is possibly the best place in all of Vietnam to buy a souvenir. Specifically, we recommend you go to night market of the Nguyen Hoang Street (opens every day, starting at 19.00). If you're interested make your own lantern, there is a course that teaches you how to do it. More info.

In addition, Hoi An is famous for the quality (and quantity) of its tailor shops (there are more than 100!). There are all kinds: with prizes, super old and traditional, more modern, expensive, cheaper ... But all agree that tailors are very fast, can make a suit or a dress in a few hours. The process consists of 4 stages: design, take measurements, test and withdrawal. That does not vary at any store. What does vary is the price, but hey, the quality is paid ... here and in the Conchinchina. Some of the most recommended tailor shops are Baby Tailor, Yali Couture or Kimmy Tailors.

Ok, but how much does a custom dress or suit cost in Hoi An? Obviously it depends on the type of suit / dress and especially the quality of the fabric and the chosen designs. A dress (for special occasions) is around 50-100USD and a men's suit (jacket, pants and shirt) 90-250USD. In more casual stores, you can order more formal dresses for about 10USD and suits for about 40USD, but of course, the quality is not the same.

When night comes, Hoi An takes out her prettiest face: warm store lights and the light bulbs rice paper of thousands of colors flood everything, and fill the streets with life. In addition the air begins to smell like food (ohhhh, that rich knows everything in Vietnam) and is the best time to get to know the other side of this beautiful city. Do not miss a night walk in the center!

There are other places to visit in Hoi An, such as the Chuc Thanh Pagoda, the Ba Mu temple, the Hall of the Chinese Congregation of Fujian, the Precious Heritage Art Gallery Museum, theMuseum of Sa Huynh Culture... but we believe that the ones we tell you, will have you well entertained for a few days. Do you know more things to see and do in Hoi An?

* Photocredit: Shutterstock

Video: 10 Best Places to Visit in Vietnam - Travel Video (May 2024).