Hoi An is a city full of charm and life. The Vietnamese resort is filled with luxurious hotels with swimming pools, intoxicating aromas from restaurants serving all sorts of dishes, and market stallholders selling all sorts of goods. Shopkeepers show no mercy when they see foreigners walking around town, as they will even follow you on motorbikes and ask you to come to their shops.
What to do in Hoi An?
If shopping is your passion, then Hoi An may be the perfect place, as you can bargain. If you want to try products from all over the world, Hoi An will not disappoint foodies. There are some exceptional dishes to try. The small Italian restaurant Don Thien is especially attractive. In addition to fish dishes, pasta and desserts that take you to Italy, the restaurant’s specialty is that the owner only hires young Vietnamese from disadvantaged backgrounds, including orphans, which is a good deed. You can dine on a delicious sea bass in tomato sauce for just US$4,50, accompanied by malt ice cream.
Another attraction of Hoi An is the river at sunset. You can hire a motorboat or a pleasure boat with a driver to take you there for only 5 USD. On a private boat, the driver will slow down every time he notices that you are taking pictures. The sky at sunset is gorgeous, as it is painted in dark red-orange shades. During the boat ride, you can admire not only the setting sun, but also the fishing technique of the locals. Fishermen raise their net in the air, spin it and throw it into the river. You will be delighted by the beauty and technique with which he launches his fishing net, taking pictures of the fisherman. However, be prepared for the fact that after the man catches a couple of fish in his net, he will ask for 1 dollar for the photo.
Many people who stay in Hoi An visit the Quan Cong Temples, located near Duy Phu village. The Quan Cong Temples are a 45-60 minute drive from Hoi An town. You can book a tour for $4 per person. Some compare the temples to Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Borobudur in Java in Indonesia, and Ayutthaya in Thailand. The cluster of about 70 temples dates back to the period between the 4th and 14th centuries. It is amazing how these temples are still standing after so many centuries. Several structures were damaged during the Vietnam War, and you can still see large bomb pits.
Hoi An is the perfect place to relax. There are plenty of extravagant hotels where you can pamper yourself with a relaxing stay and enjoy a massage by the pool. Hotel complexes provide a swimming pool, a spa with pedicures, facials and massages, starting from $6.
When visiting Hoi An, you cannot miss the market where local vendors set up booths under the shade of tarpaulins from early morning until sunset. Vendors sell trinkets, scarves, hand lamps, hats and food items. It is a great place to buy Southeast Asian fruits such as mangosteen. At first glance, mangosteen looks like a beetroot, but once you remove the outer shell, you are left with a white fruit that looks slightly orange. The divine aroma ranges from strawberry, peach and vanilla ice cream with a hint of sourness. Don’t miss the opportunity to buy traditional Asian straw hats at the market. They are the best thing to keep your face and shoulders from getting sunburned in Hoi An.
It is difficult to say goodbye to the tempting city of Hoi An, as there is always a desire to stay longer.
