Ancient and peaceful, Hoi An is one of the most popular destinations in Vietnam that caters to travelers of all tastes and across the continents. The little town is just the perfect candidate of what Vietnam tourism ministry is aiming to show to the world. Warm-hearted, welcoming and traditional, but never out of touch with the outside world, the people of Hoi An are in overdrive mode trying to catch up to the opportunities their new found fame has recently given them. 

We giving you the ultimate guide and travel map of the ancient tơn Hoi An:

Hoi An Travel Map:

 

A History of Asian fusion

A slow stroll through town reveals its gems. Hoi An has to this days well preserved its most sacred treasure, the centuries-old architecture. The town used to harbor foreign traders back in the 17-18th, and once is an important heavily-frequented trading port in Southeast Asia. The foreigners come from all corners of the world, but mostly are Chinese and Japanese nationalities. Some come and go, but many settle in permanently and etch their marks into the history of Hoi An.

 

Chùa Cầu - A popular attraction in Hoi An

Mixing together with Vietnamese design, Chinese and Japanese accents melt and create a picture-perfect Hoi An of the late 19th century, which it has somehow remained mostly intact since. The end product is an oddly strange-yet-familiar sight that exists nowhere else in the world. To this day, few descendants of the foreign traders remain but the architectural setting manages to survive the damage of time.

Top things to see in Hoi An

Tasty tradition

A trip to this historical village would be wasted without sampling the flavorsome Vietnamese delicacies. Cao Lau, a Hoi An favorite, is an authentic pork noodle dish with a difference, full of the cultured tastes of its trading port past. While the water is drawn only from the local Ba Le well, the dish features thick noodles akin to Japanese udon, with the won-ton crackers and pork being a clear Chinese touch. Sample this dish, along with tasty street food at Morning Glory, a beautiful restaurant housed in an old colonial building in the center of the district. Why not learn to cook your favorite meal at the restaurant’s cooking school? 
Further must-try delicacies include White Rose (steamed shrimp dumpling-like tasters) and Fried Won Tons topped with local meat, all available in a plethora of friendly restaurants both on and offshore. 

Festival spirit

To experience the true culture and heritage of Vietnamese life, you must attend one of Hoi An’s famous Full Moon Festivals. Throughout the year, on every 14th day of the lunar month, Hoi An Old Town transforms into a colorful lantern filled wonderland, free from the daily noise of traffic. Instead, swarms of locals and visitors flock to the area, serving as a center stage to relive the golden age of prosperity and to honor and respect their ancestors. The Old Town becomes a hive of activity as echoes of traditional song and dance fill the busy streets, while monk-led candlelit ceremonies light up ancient temples. The next Full Moon Festival will take place this year on June 22, 2013. You may also enjoy Vu Lan Day, or ‘All Souls Day’ in July, associated with the annual wandering of ancestors’ souls and surrounded by great legend. 

Market Madness

For a shopping trip to remember, explore the hustle and bustle of Hoi An’s busy trade at the Central Market, located on the banks of the Thu Bon River. Browse through a colorful collection of local handicraft and souvenirs, choose your favorite silk and have clothing handmade by Hoi An’s famous tailors, all under one roof. While enjoying the market scene, it’s hard to ignore the beautiful aromas filtering in from the food hall. A vast selection of family recipe meals, exotic fresh fruit and local spices are on display by friendly sellers, eager to give you an authentic taste of southeast Asia. 

Tour the temples

Famed for its ancient history and religious landmarks, Hoi An will not disappoint the temple loving traveler. About two kilometers outside the center lies the oldest Buddhist temple in Hoi An, Chuc Thanh Pagoda. Founded in 1454 by Minh Hai, a Chinese monk, the ancient pagoda displays a combination of Chinese and Vietnamese inspired architecture with a collection of religious artifacts thought to be over 200 years old. To explore a slice of Hoi An’s history, visit Quan Cong temple, a series of houses entwined by elaborate, detailed statues and traditional artwork, dedicated to the respected Chinese General. As you enter the royal red-gold entrance, prepare to be dazzled by a plethora of precious items and ancient memorabilia, depicting the General as a worshipped symbol of loyalty, sincerity, integrity and justice. 
 
With a wealth of diverse attractions to please even the most seasoned traveller, Hoi An’s thriving coastal settlement is the perfect holiday destination to return to again and again. 

The must-do highlights of Hoi An:

1. Joining a cooking tour

Probably not for daring adventurers but a brilliant idea for families, the tour is a daytrip to Thuan Tinh Island on Thu Bon River. It will take place from morning until noon and transportation will be provided by the tour organizer.

The first destination is a local wet market, where you will see how Vietnamese normally sell and purchase their food. All the ingredients there are organic though it is advisable to ask your guides on how to choose the freshest and tastiest if you want to purchase. Next, it will take you 40 minutes of relaxation and sight-seeing along Thu Bon River on a ferry to Thuan Tinh Island. Here you will have another 30-minute-row-boat ride under coconut glove to discover the local village. From time to time, you will get to rest and enjoy tropical fruits and juice.

The cooking class is outdoor and open to fresh air. Both the chef and the guide are knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. You will be instructed on how to cook the most famous Vietnamese dishes, namely Pho Bo (Beef Pho ), Nem Cuon (Spring Roll), Banh Xeo (Vietnamese Pancake), etc. Believe it or not, Vietnamese food are inherently good and easy to cook so don’t have worry much about your own cooking experience. The fun is to try your self-made dishes and gauge your own cooking ability.

2. Rent a bike and discover the countryside

Hoi An has been well known for its old houses, temples, pagodas and bridges. However, outside this small town is a totally different landscape with rice field, fisher villages, river and beach that you certainly do not want to miss.

The ideal transport for this expedition is bicycle. Bicycle renting service is ubiquitous in Hoi An. Paying about $2-3 and you will have that bicycle for a whole day, riding anywhere as you wish. Some hotels like Ha An even lend their bikes to their residents without any extra charge.

Cycling slowly through narrow paths along vast paddy fields, discovering how locals live their daily life and relaxing on the unspoiled beach of Cua Dai, you will find the peace of life that hardly other places in Vietnam can offer. The cordial villagers will help if you happen to get lost. On the beach, you can sunbathe, swim and eat: the seafood here is the freshest in the region as fisher village is just nearby. The price of renting a sun lounger for one day is as cheap as buying a water bottle. A good news for bingers is that restaurants and bars are open until night.

Though thrilling and adventurous, especially when you ride in group, travelling on your own in an unfamiliar area may be quite challenging for some. One alternative is to have a guided tour. There is a range of service, from half day to overnight homestay. Riding on robust sport bikes, you will be guided to visit the best places near the old town. Prices ranging from $24 (for half-day tour) to $89 (for overnight homestay).

3. Scuba diving and snorkelling

The sport has just been around for 4 years in the sea area surrounding Cu Lao Cham Island, which is 25 nautical miles from the coast of Cua Dai. Therefore, this is a relatively new diving site. You will not be annoyed by so many divers and boats and have more chance to experience the unspoiled beauty of Cu Lao Cham’s seabed and coral reef.

The best time in year to dive in Cu Lao Cham is from April to October when the water is warm and calm and underwater vision is clear. There are suitable times during other months too but chances are you will be disappointed by gloomy weather. Currently, Cu Lao Cham has three major commercial diving sites: Hon Dai, Hon Tai and Hon Mo. You can opt for either snorkeling or scuba-diving. Snorkeling is wearing a snorkel tube and floating underwater near the surface. You need to hold your breath when diving this way and thus cannot go too deep. But the good thing is that you do not need any experience to snorkel. Scuba-diving, on the other hand, requires some skills and knowledge. With gas tank and tight diving suit, you can venture 5-7 meters deep into the water, take some picture and play with the fish.

If you are new to diving but too enthusiastic about discovering the seabed then there is one company called Blue Coral Diving. This is a 5-star PADI dive center which offers courses in scuba diving. The instructors are experienced Vietnamese and foreign divers. There are three levels of course, ranging from Beginner and Advanced to Professional. The price starts from $250 and you will get discount if you come in group. For Beginners and Advanced levels, the course only lasts for 2 to 4 days. Another PADI-certified company is Cham Island Diving, which offers both course and tour. The price for one diving session is not too expensive, ranging from $42 to $80 per pax.

4. Become a one-day farmer in Tra Que Village

Fed up with luxury and want to experience some frugality? Just take a ride to Tra Que Village, put your conical leaf hat on and start hoeing, plowing and watering like a real farmer.

Located 3 kilometers to the northeast of Hoi An’s old town, Tra Que is a typical Vietnamese village with green gardens and fields. Being instructed by local farmers, you will have one morning working under the sun to understand how the tasty dishes that you enjoy in Hoi An comes about. You will also gain great insight into traditional Vietnamese farming method. The trip will prove instructive to those home gardeners as you will acquire some very helpful tips about growing and tending plants from the local professionals. After a morning of hard physical work, lunchtime is when you will be taken care of. 

Most of these day trips are cycle-tour as you will get to the village by bikes. Along the way, you will have the chance to discover Hoi An’s fishing village and observe farmers catching fish by nets from their row boats. 

5. Relax at a Spa (finally)

We have been through cooking, cycling, diving and farming, which are all inauthentic Hoi An and Vietnamese style. Alas, after all of these adventures and physical activities, our last recommendation for your fulfilling experience in Hoi An is all about relaxation and invigoration.

Although there are many spas in Hoi An, Palmarosa Spa is the first one that uses only pure natural products and ingredients in their therapies. This, combined with professional staffs and service, makes it the number one in Hoi An. You will feel relaxed and peaceful from the very first moment walking into Palmarosa. The staffs just couldn’t do enough to help you. They are always ready to welcome you with herbal teas and foot soak, even before you choose your treatments. Facilities are new and clean, and the spa is artistically decorated in East Asian style. Once inside Palmarosa, with soft glowing light and cool refreshing air surrounding, all you want to do is to pull over and take a nap, especially if you have just come back from a hectic day trip or lengthy tiresome flight.

But wait, you still need to order your service! Palmarosa Spa has a variety of therapies and treatments to offer you: the thirty-minute Indian head therapy, the sixty-five-minute foot reflexology, the seventy-five-minute Basalt Hot Stone body therapy, etc. And don’t forget to try the ninety-minute Palmarosa Spa Signature (which sounds like something really special!). The prices range from $11 to $43, slightly more expensive than other local spas but don’t bother since the money will go with quality!

Palmarosa Spa is on 90 Ba Trieu Street, just 9 minutes walking from the town’s center. The spa is open from 10am to 9pm and last booking is at 8pm. So if you are in staying in Hoi An, don’t hesitate, come to the place and have a relaxing experience!

(Credit: www.vietnamonline.com)