Hoi An is an ancient city with more than 2000 years of history, the old part of which is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located on the coast of the East sea and for centuries it had been a principal port of the Cham Kingdom. Because of the history of the city, it had been influenced by many cultures: Hindu, Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese. Wherever you go. at every turn you make, you will see amazing architecture and ancient relics. Get ready for the trip which will open for you the curtains of history!

 

Beautiful old town of Hoi An                                                   Image source: dreamalittledream.ca

 

How to get there?

By plane: The nearest airport is Da Nang, which is also the third international airport in the country (besides Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi and Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. It serves regular domestic flights, international flights from Bangkok, Cambodia, China, Singapore and South Korea. The distance from the airport to the city of Hoi An is nearly 30 km.

The price for a taxi is nearly $22 (400,000 VND). The cars are usually equipped with a meter, so the price depends on  a distance to your destination.

 

Another available option is Go Travel Vietnam (GTV), the company that provides a transfer from the airport to the city 5 times per day. It is necessary to book your transfer at least one day in advance! The price for the service is about $4 (95,000 VND) and this is the cheapest way to reach the city.

 

Da Nang International Airport                                           Image source: silabubiru.blogspot.com

 

By train:

There is no train station in Hoi An. The nearest one is in Da Nang city, which is approximately 30 km far away. However, to reach Hoi An, you can contact Hoi An Private Car. The company offers a transfer to the city, which will cost for you from $4, depending on a number of people and type of a car.

 

By bus:

From the Da Nang you can also reach Hoi An by the public bus #1, that goes from Da Nang bus station. The ticket will cost less than $1 (18,000 VND), but be ready when a bus driver recognizes you are a foreigner, he may tell you a very different price – up to 50,000 VND. The buses depart from the station every 30 mins and it will take nearly 45 min to get to the Hoi An bus station.

 

Things to do in Hoi An

 

See The Old Town

As we’ve already mentioned before, the old town of Hoi An is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site. To tell about all its attractions and historical sites, we would need one more article! But be sure you visit Japanese Cover Bridge’s Pagoda, which is symbol of the city with more than 400 years of history, and Quan Cong Temple, the real piece of art in the heart of Hoi An.

You can visit important sites of the city via a coupon system, which costs approximately $6 (120,000 VND) and allows you to enter five attractions: museums, old houses, assembly halls, the handicraft workshop (and traditional music show) or the traditional theatre, and either the Japanese Covered Bridge or the Quan Cong Temple

 

Japanese covered bridge in Hoi An                                                      Image source: cityinsight.vn

 

Visit Hoi An Silk Village

The silk weaving traditions were preserved in Hoi An through centuries. Located down the street from the city center, the Silk Village offers a unique experience of learning about the entire production of silk, from silkworm to dressmaking. It also has restaurants that serves local specialities of Quảng Nam Province and a showroom of the finest collections of silk. The price for 5-hours tour is $19.

 

The art and science of silk making                                                          Image source: alotrip.com

 

Experience Scuba Diving

The East Sea is a famous place for scuba diving and other kinds of underwater activities, so don’t miss your chance to see all its beauty with your own eyes. Cham Island Diving Center is 30 km far from Hoi An. It offers daily boat and speedboat tours to Cham Island for scuba diving and snorkelling activities. Different packages of activities for all kinds of divers, with different preferences and experiences are available. The price starts from $42 per person.

 

Unforgettable scuba-diving experience                       Image source: www.womenontheirway.com

 

Take a Cooking Class

Vietnamese cuisine is delicious, unique and enjoyable, this is a fact. Of course, you can always visit one of the restaurants serving local food, there’s a plenty of them in Hoi An, for any kind of budget, from street kiosks to fine restaurants. But at the same time you can visit a cooking class and experience all the process and learn all the secrets of traditional Vietnamese food. There are several cooking schools in the city. The price starts from $15.

 

Upgrading cooking skills                                                                      Image source: grayline.com

 

Relax at The Beach

Beaches around Hoi An can be easily named the Eighth Wonder of the World, thanks to their magnificent nature, clear water and endless sands. Spend a lazy day on one of them, enjoying sunshine and a light breeze. Moreover, on most of them you will find lots of restaurants, where you can enjoy both, delicious local food and beautiful views.

 

Cua Dai Beach                                                                    Image source: vietnamhoneymoon.com