Hoi An Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)

🇻🇳 Charming Hoi An Ancient Town

A visit to Da Nang is not complete without visiting Hoi An which is located 30 km from Da Nang International Airport. Inscribed in 1999 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hoi An Ancient Town is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. We spent half a day exploring the ancient town which is famous for its traditional architecture, lantern-lit streets and vibrant atmosphere and iconic Japanese Covered Bridge. There were plenty of opportunities for us to capture stunning photos as we explored the old town. We also enjoyed checking out clothes stores which sell Vietnamese traditional costumes with beautiful prints. #danangtrip #vietnam #HoiAn #oldtown #ancient #unesco #tripblazers

💜Splendid Hoi An💜

🇻🇳Harmonious Hoi An🇻🇳 This ancient city of Hoi An is just so splendid in all aspects. As we walked around, we noticed how beautifully built the structures are and the vibrant color of yellow. We also noticed lots of art around on walls as well as their signature lanterns hanging in a lot of places. It really makes you feel like you are whipped back in time when you walk around Hoi An—it truly gives you a unique experience—an unforgettable one I might add. I really enjoyed witnessing all sorts of cultural aspects in this town, even their Starbucks was adorable! #freehotelstay #awesomepic #urbanexplorer #境外遊 #foodie #foodies #coffee

Strolling Along The River

#wheretogo A popular tourists attraction in Hoi An ancient town is the thu bon river that goes around the area giving an extra touch while exploring the area. There is a very famous Japanese bridge that’s more than 400 years old now which was under construction when we are there. However there is still the main bridge that allows pedestrians to cross over the different sides of the town. But the main highlight is the river boat ride with lanterns! Usually tourists will ride it after darkness but we saw some of them riding in the evening. We chose darkness because we only had one night and wanted to explore the town first.

Spinning Basket Boats - Vietnam

Solo Travelling around Vietnam. Attended the Eco Cooking Class in Hoi An and included, was a ride to the cooking class venue via a basket boat. A fun and unique experience! Our boat driver was hilarious and spun us around in the basket boat. Included is some crab fishing, fisherman net throwing and boat paddling. Met some fellow solo travellers. Highly recommended ❤️

The Deck House 🌊

#wheretogo We were at An Bang because and because we had a lot of time left but enough for another location to sightsee before out scheduled driver will arrive in our hotel to send us to Bana Hills, we decided to pick a place at the beach to have lunch and admire the beautiful beach. The easiest pick was to choose the one that looks like they had the most crowd, we had a look and like the environment, and there was a table next to the sea for us! It was so much fun admiring An Bang beach under the shade, we had ordered fish and chips for sharing, a fresh coconut and a coconut coffee. It is always nice eating fish and chips overseas, they feel like the real deal.

Soft Sand, Blue Ocean!

Attraction name: An Bang beach Location: Hoi An town in Vietnam Getting here: 30-minute taxi from Da Nang or 15-minute taxi from Hoi An old town. An Bang beach is one of the best beaches in Vietnam. Easily accessible from both Da Nang and Hoi An, the beach runs for several KM and there is soft sand and beautiful colourful sea waters to enjoy. On the beach there are many sun loungers and you can enjoy an inexpensive ice coffee from many of the seaside cafe’s. #anbang #anbangbeach #hoian #danang #vietnam

Relax and Chill on An Bang Beach

An Bang Beach is a beach located 30 minutes drive from Danang and 5 minutes drive from Hoi An Old Town. An Bang Beach is a famous tourist destination with a lot of hotels in the area, beach seats, beach bars and restaurants, calm waters and beautiful view. An Bang Beach is crowded all day long in any season, locals like to exercise there during sunrise and tourists enjoy spending time laying down on the beach seats drinking coconuts and enjoying their holidays. At night you can witness fishing boats at the horizon with their green lights. An Bang Beach is located in An Bang Village, half of the village is turned into guest houses and hotels now, although many homes remain authentic, after all An Bang Village has been a fishing village since the beginning of time. And because of that I recommend visiting seafood restaurants by the main entrance of the An Bang Beach. My favorite authentic restaurant in An Bang Village is Purple Lantern, it has the best Chicken Rice (Com Ga) and is run by a lovely family. I had eaten at Purple Lantern too many times when I was in visiting An Bang Village. If you’d like to play a game of billiard and drink some beer, I recommend hanging out at Chango Bar. The best season to visit An Bang Beach is definitely from May till September because the sea is calm and the days are sunny, from October till March An Bang Beach has waves and a lot of typhoons and rains since it’s the monsoon season. Relax on An Bang Beach and enjoy ☀️ #vietnam #hoian #anbangbeach #gooutside #gooutside #beaches #beachlife #summervacation

An Bang Beach

#vietnamtrip Spend the day at Dolphin kitchen and bar by the beach. IReally clean facilities. It was just what the Dr order. When we arrived we were told we get towels, beach lounge, access to shower and toilets and free wifi if you buy a drink. We spent almost 5 hrs there . Went for a quick splash in the water, non patrol beach and surf is really rough so be careful, but it was worth it . The water was just the right temperature. Around lunch time more people arrived but heard employee telling them that for 1 drink they could stay for 1 hour with all the inclusions. We were not pushed to consume more drinks or food but we did end up having more than a couple of drinks and food to go with them . Got back to hotel feeling very relaxed. We got a grab from hotel to beach costing us just a couple of AUD each way.

🇻🇳Great Shopping Market at Coconut Basket Ride🇻🇳

🇻🇳The Harmonious Hoi An🇻🇳 After our Coconut Basket Boat ride, we were given fresh coconut to drink, they even gave us some coconut biscuits to try and we ended up buying more because they were delicious! Then outside we strolled around for a bit in the little street market, we got some clothes, bags and few little souvenirs💚 Be sure to bargain and if they do give a good price then make them happy by getting more stuff from them, they really appreciate it👍 #freehotelstay #urbanexplorer #historicallandmarks #localguides #awesomepic #foodie #foodies #Vietnam

🇻🇳Must Do in Hoi An🇻🇳

🇻🇳The Harmonious Hoi An🇻🇳 The Coconut Forest Boat ride was a breath of fresh air indeed👍We thoroughly enjoyed here especially with our funny old man rower🥹 He made our ride fun and memorable. Had an amazing time💙 The river that opens up to the sea was very clean and wide, some bigger boats passed by as well, and during our basket ride you could also join a karaoke session which looked like fun! Be sure to experience this thrilling ride in Hoi An and book the tickets in advance, it is a must-do👍 #freehotelstay #foodie #foodies #localguides #historicallandmarks #awesomepic #urbanexplorer #Hoian

🇻🇳Amazing performance on the Coconut Basket Ride🇻🇳

Embarking on the Coconut Boat ride in the enchanting town of Hoi An, Vietnam, was an experience that captivated our senses and immersed us in the beauty of nature. As we glided along the tranquil waters, a sense of serenity washed over us, transporting us to a realm of peace and tranquility. The picturesque views that unfolded before our eyes were nothing short of breathtaking. Lush greenery lined the banks of the river, creating a vibrant tapestry of colors that blended harmoniously with the clear blue sky above. As we floated along, our eyes were drawn to the fascinating creatures that inhabited the river. Our Boatman showed us Crabs that scurried across the sandy riverbed, their intricate movements mesmerizing to watch. One highlight of the Coconut Boat ride was the vibrant display of boat performances by the skilled rowers. The boatmen, with their infectious energy and enthusiasm, treated us to a spectacle of dance and merriment. Their rhythmic movements synchronized with the beat of traditional music, creating a lively and jovial atmosphere. ✅If you are a thrill seeker, you can join the boatman on the spinning boat too #freehotelstay #Vietnam #historicallandmarks #awesomepic #urbanexplorer #foodie #foodies

Basket Boat Experience

Spend a day with nature in Hoi An and visit the stunning Bay Mau Coconut Forest. We explore the Cam Thanh Village and its collection of coconut trees. Hop on a basket boat and admire the beauty of the nearby river with your loved ones. Enjoy shaking basket boat performance and net-fishing by local people. Me and my mom really enjoyed our basket boat trip with our friendly guide.

Hoi An Best Bread

#celebratewithtrip Hoi An is known as the intersection of many cultures hundreds of years ago. This is not only reflected in the architecture, but also the cuisine here. Banh Mi Phuong is a typical dish for this statement, because its delicious taste convinces 100% of diners. It is located in 2B, Phan Chu Trinh, Cam Chau, Hoi An, and is open daily from 0630-2130. The sauce is prepared by the owner according to a unique esoteric recipe that makes you fall in love from the first taste. Banh mi Phuong produces the crust right at the store, ensuring you always have hot, crispy bread with an attractive butter smell. Here, you will see a simple glass cabinet containing more than 20 kinds of fillings and ingredients for you to choose from. In particular, all are freshly cooked to ensure safety and hygiene for visitors. I ordered a pork type and brought it back to my hotel for supper, it still tasted pretty good.

The “famous” bánh mì in Hoi An

You must try Bánh mì in Hội An. Similar to other dishes, banh mi here is slightly different from the one from Ha Noi or from Saigon. First, the banh mi (baguette) itself, it’s thinner and more pointed at both ends compared to the rounder one in Saigon. The fillings are also slightly different. We tried the mixed baguette (Banh mi thap cam) to have a bit of everything. The flavors were milder than my expectation. This is a very famous banh mi in Hoi An or even the whole Vietnam thanks to Anthony Bourdain. You can see stream of tourists dropping by to try this banh mi. You can get a sit inside before ordering too. Though there is a queue, it moves pretty fast. #bucketlistreboot

A nice walk in this little town filled with cultures, great people and food! Anthony Bourdain did not disappoint us when we tasted that famous banh mi is pure deliciousness! I’ve visited other water town in other parts of Asia but this one stands out, a must visit when you find your self in Hoi An. #happynewyear #givethanks #couplestrip #deliciousfood #historicallandmarks #happynewyear

The magnificient Hoi An Banh Mi, Banh Mi Phuong

#timetotravel After having our lunch in Hoi An, we were looking for some snacks to bite on. Typically if you visit Vietnam, the most typical snack that you will have is Banh Mi, a kind of localized sandwich in Vietnam. After reading several reviews we found that the best Banh Mi is Banh Mi Phuong, which gets its fame after celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain visited Hoi An and gave a big thumbs up to this sandwich. Thus we also queued up and decided to gave a try. To our surprise this is gonna be one of the best sandwich we ever had in our life. The texture of the meat is awesome, paired with their special homemade sauce in sweet and savoury taste, and the crust of the bread is so crispy, that we would definitely have one more.

Sky Deck At Bel Marina Hoi An

#wheretogo On the top of our hotel building lies their infinity pool and sky deck which also has a sky bar. While most guests like us were up there for the view and the pool, it is a rather huge space that can hold your mini events such as wedding or cocktail reception. The place was really clean and extends out to a 360 view of the place. Though not a tall building it is one tallest in the vicinity so you will get unblock view. Check out my other posts for photos of the infinity pool, main pool and how the hotel room looks like!

Staying at Bel Marina Hoi An

#wheretogo We had booked the premier deluxe city view room at Bel Marina Hoi A Resort and was really impressed by it. I was prepared to get something not I saw in pictures but no! They didn’t use wide angle shots for their marketing photos but the room really looks like what it is on photos. As it was my birthday celebration they also kindly decorated my room. Thank you! The room comes with a huge bathtub in the room (I don’t like bathtubs inside the toilet with no view) and comes with separate rooms for showering and toilet bowl. Something very important for me to speed things up during travel preparations. Our room also came with a balcony that overlooks the city since we got the top floor. You can also pay to top up for pool and river view which didn’t.

Bel marina Hoian, the only rooftop pool in Hoian.