Hoi An Tourism And Travel Guide

Hoi An is an ancient beach town that is famed for its breathtaking natural landscape as well as its rich and diverse culture. The town was originally a massively important port for trade and commerce from the 15th to 19th century. Today, it is one of the most popular tourist spots in Vietnam. Tourism in Hoi An is booming, especially from February to May, with low rainfall and high visibility. Water sports like snorkelling, paddle boarding and surfing draw a massive number of seasonal tourists. Hoi An does not have a domestic airport of railway station of its own. Hence, visitors will need to travel to Da Nang, about 30 km away to get to this ancient town.

Getting around locally is easy due to the high availability of taxis, cycles and motorcycles that can be hired. This travel guide should give visitors all the details they need to explore this charming beachside town of Hoi An.

By Air:

This is not the most ideal way to reach as Hoi An has no airport of its own. The closest airport is at Da Nang, nearly 30 km away. Visitors can take a bus or taxi to get to Hoi An from here.

By Road:

The most efficient way to reach is via a number of private and public owned busses and taxis available from majority of the close by airports and railway stations. Additionally, most of the major cities in and around Hoi An are well-connected via roadways.

By Rail:

Similarly, there is no railway station in Hoi An. The closest one is in Da Nang, 30 km away. However, due to the high frequency of trains to this station it is one of the most convenient ways to reach, especially for visitors travelling internally through Vietnam. 

Dry Season (February - August):

Relatively low rainfall, clear skies and warm weather make this the best season to visit. The period from February to May is especially ideal as temperatures rise to as high as 34° C.

Monsoon Season (October - February):

Higher rainfall and humidity are what characterize this season. This is considered to be tourist off-season, however this is the period when budget travellers come explore Hoi An.

Enjoy the beaches on offer:

Hoi An is home to some of the world's most exquisite beaches like An Bang and Cua Dai Beach that are literally walking distance from the ancient town. A day spent at the beach is one of the best thing to do. 

Check out the food scene:

There are multiple restaurants and shacks on the beachside that draw visitors from all over. The seafood is the star of the local cuisine and is freshly prepared. 

Pick up some custom-made clothes:

Hoi An has some of the finest tailors in all of Vietnam. Silk dresses and suits are custom-made for most visitors and are available at affordable rates.

Day trip to Da Nang:

A short 45 minute drive from Hoi An is one of Vietnam's largest cities, Da Nang. Travelling here is a welcome change for visitors looking to experience hustle and bustle of city life.

The ancient beachtown of Hoi An is said to have one of the most interesting food scenes in Vietnam. Local delicacies like Cao Lau and Banh Bao Banh Vac can only be found in Hoi An due to the locally sourced herbs and produce. Fresh seafood is caught daily from the nearby Thu Bon River and are usually prepared with a rice and noodle base. The real charm of eating in Hoi An is to check out the beachside shacks and huts as the food available there is both tasty and budget friendly. After all, what could be more enjoyable than enjoying a meal by the seaside?

Hoi An’s shops are famed for the sheer excess of reasonable yet classy tailoring stores, where visitors can pick up suits, dresses and a whole range of accessories for a fraction of what they’d pay back home. There is also a wide variety of local produce on sale at the number of street markets scattered over this ancient town. Traditional jewellery and handicraft stores are also extremely popular places to visit. Bao Khan Silk and Bebe are just some of the go-to spots for shopping.