This little charming village has become a must see for tourists visiting Vietnam. Situated conveniently near the Da Nang airport, Hoi An is popular not only for its beautiful architecture and interesting history but also for shopping (read about the things you can buy in Hoi An here).
Even though this village is quite small, with a population of only about 120,000 people, there are plenty of things to do and attractions to visit. Read more about the top 5 Hoi An highlights below. Also, if you want to instantly fall in love with it, watch the video below.
1. Visit Tra Que – the vegetable village
Just 3 Km away from Hoi An, there is this little village, famous for its eco-friendly vegetables (no chemicals are used for growth). What I loved about Tra Que was the peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. Just take a walk in this little village and observe how local people grow their vegetables.
The best time to visit Tra Que is either early in the morning or in the afternoon when the light is just perfect for photos. Also, during midday the temperatures are usually too high to spot any villagers. You can get to Tra Que either by taking a light walk or by bike and motorcycle.
2. Hoi An Central Market
Another Hoi An highlight is the Central Market – here you can really feel the vibe of the city. Conveniently located in the Old Town, the Central Market is a must see. There are actually 2 areas that must be visited: the open air market and the Central Market building.
The open air market is the perfect place to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, even though they are little bit more expensive than other markets in Hoi An. If you are looking for some traditional dishes, step by the Central Market building. Here you will find many stalls with local food at reasonable prices.
3. Hoi An Ancient Town
Hoi An Ancient Town is a charming place for walking or sightseeing. Packed with historical buildings and temples, it will definitely steal you heart.If you want to visit the historic buildings you will have to buy an entrance ticket which will allow you to visit 5 sites. The ticket costs 120,000 VND. However, you can just take a walk around the Ancient Town for free if you are not that much into history.
The architecture of the city is unique and the orange buildings are the perfect backdrop for amazing photos. Check out the top 6 Instagrammable places in Hoi An here.
My favorite part of getting lost in the Hoi An Ancient Town was watching the sunset from the Cau An Hoi bridge. The orange reflection on the river full of wooden boats lighted by lanterns is unforgettable.
Read more about the Hoi An Ancient Town attractions here.
4. Hoi An rice fields
A must see Hoi An highlight are the rice fields. I totally recommend going during the sunrise – just take a bike or walk to the nearest rice field and enjoy the view. You will have the chance to see the local people exercising and young children going to school. Take a deep breath of fresh air and see how Hoi An comes back to life.
5. Cua Dai Hoi An Beach
A trip to Hoi An would not be complete without a bike ride to the beach. Situated at about 4 km away from the city center, the Cua Dai Beach is still unspoiled by tourism.
Here you will find crystal clear water, white sand and raw natural beauty. Just beware of the waves – they can get pretty tall. If you are hungry or thirsty, there are a few restaurants and resorts on the beach to choose from.
If you haven’t added Hoi An to your travel list, now is the time! This city is full of colors, history, amazing nature and great shopping spots! Which of these 5 Hoi An highlights would you like to see?
May the travel bug bite you!
More about Vietnam:
- Shopping in Hoi An – top 10 things to buy with prices – click here
- Top 6 Instagrammable places in Hoi An – click here
- One day itinerary to Da Nang – click here
- An alternative half day trip from Hue – click here
Pin it for later!
Aurelia Teslaru is a professional travel blogger and the writer behind Daily Travel Pill. With a 4-year experience as a travel writer and photographer, Aurelia only shares travel guides about destinations that she visited.
She has been to more than 40 countries during the past 10 years and aims to explore 50 countries before turning 30 years old. Aurelia is a digital nomad who transformed her passion for travel into a lifestyle. Read more about her here.
To follow her adventures, check out her Instagram and Facebook pages!
So strange – I was just thinking this morning that I must go back to Vietnam soon. I absolutely loved Hoi An and these are great tips for other things than having clothes tailored 😉
Thanks so much! I want to go back to Vietnam too!
The vegetable garden, ancient town and rice fields look so cool. I am heading to Vietnam next week so this was so helpful 🙂
You have to go! Hoi An was the highlight of my trip!
Hoi An is the cutest! I also loved the water canal, especially when its lit up at night with lanterns! <3
I love these photos! Hoi An looks beautiful definitely a place to add to the bucket list.
It really is an amazing place!