Hoi An is a city with over 2000 years of history. It was a principal port of the Champa Kingdom and it’s currently known as one of the prettiest cities in all of Vietnam. Plus, Hoi An is famous as it was never a bomb target during the America-Vietnam War. With such appealing credentials, it’s no wonder this hidden gem became a tourist attraction, especially when it’s only less than an hour away from popular Da Nang. Here are some suggestions of things to do when in Hoi An. 

#1 Explore My Son Sanctuary

As mentioned earlier, Hoi An was a port of the Champa Kingdom, thus no surprise that you’ll find a religious complex that tells the history of the area. This Hindu temple was once a site for religious ceremony for kings of the ruling dynasties of Champa and a burial place for Cham’s royalty as well as national heroes. The place had gone through abandonment after Vietnamese defeated Champa, restored, and then bombing during the America-Vietnam War. Now, the ruins is a UNESCO World’s Heritage Sites, solely a tourist spot and no prayers or rituals will be held there. 

#2 Watch Ancient Weaving Techniques At Silk Village

Located in Quang Nam Province, this place not only showcase the making of silk pieces, it also houses numerous artisans expert in ancient weaving techniques and woodwork. You’ll get the chance to see and learn about the process of silk-making and buy some silk pieces as souvenirs. They have clothes that are as simple as plain t-shirts if traditional wears aren’t your thing. If you are planning for a meal, check out the restaurant at the Silk Village, the food there is generally pretty good, especially the claypot braised fish and seaweed soup. 

#3 Get Cover at Japanese Covered Bridge

Located at the ancient town of Hoi An, this tourist spot is still a functioning bridge and it’s a historical piece of Japanese architecture where it was previously used by the Japanese to reach the Chinese quarter across the waters. On a less rainy day, apparently many local couples like to come here to take pictures as it’s considered a romantic spot in Hoi An.  

#4 See an Ancient House 

There are a few ancient houses you can visit in Hoi An but the one that I’ve visited is the House of Phung Hung, which means prosperity. It’s very close to the Japanese Covered Bridge and it’s one of the most visited ancient houses in Hoi An. Titled as ‘National Historical and Cultural Site’ since 1993, this house demonstrates the perfect fusion of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese architecture. It also houses many documents about the architecture, culture, art, and lifestyle of the Hoi An’s business circle from the old days. Alternatively, you could also check out House of Tan Ky as it’s known to be one of the best-preserved ancient houses of them all. 

#5 Try Egg Coffee

My initial thought was that egg coffee is going to be weird but trust me, after trying it myself, it’s truly doesn’t involve you swallowing a raw egg. It’s more like a sweet egg custard on top with espresso at the bottom. It was originally created when milk was once hard to find in Vietnam, so one creative cafe owner decided to try it with egg. Now it’s a local delicacy! This dessert-like coffee is available in more cafes in Vietnam but it was recommended to try it at the Hoi An Roastery. I’ve tried it at the outlet in the ancient town near the wet market area and it was a unique type of coffee that everyone should try once. 

#6 Shopping at Ancient Town

If you love shopping, Ancient Town is your heaven. They have everything there, from fresh produce to clothes and souvenirs. If you will be there for more than three days, you could also get yourself a suit or dress made. Just remember to bargain as the tailoring industry is ultra competitive in Hoi An. You could also seek out for traditional Vietnamese outfits if you are interested. For street food, check out their night market. It’s a whole row of vendors selling yummy barbecue and local snacks. 

Interested in all that Hoi An has to offer? Check out affordable itineraries here!