1. Hoi An and the Old town

Hoi An, once a major Southeast Asian trading post in the 16th and 17th centuries, is basically a living museum that houses old-town architecture.

Hoi An, once a major Southeast Asian trading post in the 16th and 17th centuries, is basically a living museum that houses old-town architecture. Some notable heritage buildings include Chinese temples, a Japanese-designed bridge, pagodas, wooden shop-houses, French-colonial houses, and old canals. Although large-scale trading had long moved elsewhere, Hoi An has been successful in preserving and restoring its charming roots and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in December 1999.

Hoi An Old Town further appeals to tourists as it is a no motorbike zone in the afternoons. Although there are no motorbikes or cars in the evenings and since some tourists still dislike walking, the locals have come up with another solution. Trains of pedicabs/tribikes/cyclos with 10 or more bikes carrying a passenger each are roaming the crowded streets. Nonetheless the area is charming and filled to the brim with cute cocktail places, serving everything from giant fresh coconuts filled with juice to specialty coffees.

Hoi An Old Town further appeals to tourists as it is a no motorbike zone in the afternoons.

Hoi an is good for people who like to travel on their own terms but don’t feel quite ready for the adventure of motorbike riding as there are plenty of bicycle rentals and it’s very common that everyone rides around on bikes.

2. Cham islands

Cham Islands consists of eight small islands off the coast of Hoi An, one of which is a recognized UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. Cu Lao Cham Marine Park attracts travellers looking to enjoy a day of scuba diving and snorkelling, while on Hon Lao Island you can find fishing villages and pristine beaches that are great for sunbathing and water sports. 

The islands are about 30 minutes from Chua Dai Beach via express boat, which costs about U$10 per person. There are also numerous tour companies in Hoi An and Da Nang that organise day trips to Cu Lao Lam Marine Park. These typically include hotel transfers, snorkelling equipment, lunch, and an English-speaking guide. If you’re planning on staying on Hon Lao Island, there’s a local boat that departs from Cua Dai Harbour every day at 08:30.

It is highly recommend to get there by 07:00 though, as locals also rely on this boat to get to the island. Tickets cost VND 100,000 for foreigners and you’re required to fill out your name and nationality on a form upon boarding.

3. My Son Sanctuary

This is graphically illustrated by the remains of a series of impressive tower temples in a dramatic site that was the religious and political capital of the Champa Kingdom for most of its existence

During the 4th to 13th centuries there was a unique culture on the coast of contemporary Vietnam, owing its spiritual origins to the Hinduism of India. This is graphically illustrated by the remains of a series of impressive tower temples in a dramatic site that was the religious and political capital of the Champa Kingdom for most of its existence

• Entrance ticket: 150 000 VND ($ 6.7 USD)
• Opening hours: 6am – 5pm

To get to My Son, the easiest and most comfortable way is to rent or hire a car that picks you up from Hoi An. Many tour agencies offer this. If you’ve already rented a motorbike in Hue, Hanoi or Da Nang, it’s possible to get there by yourself.

Visit the site in the afternoon, when all tours are gone, which is around 2pm. Your other option is to visit My Son early in the morning, right after they open the gate, but keep in mind that there are more and more tourists coming from Hoi An for sunrise guided tours

4.Tra Que Waterwheel Organic Farm Cooking Class

Tra Que Vegetable Garden is an organic herb and vegetable village located two kilometers northeast of Hoi An that has existed for around 300 years. It is where all the delicious herbs and veggies used in everyday meals of Hoi An are grown. Tra Que Water Wheel restaurant is located right in the heart of the village — a traditional Vietnamese house from where you can watch farmers with their Vietnamese conical hats tend to their produce in absolute tranquility.

There are many ways to get here and you can see the options on their homepage:

https://traquewaterwheel.com/index.php/cooking-class

Alternatively, many other places near Hoi An offer cooking classes.

5.Get a tailor-made suit

It is no surprise that the city’s streets are filled with skilled tailors and leather goods workshops

Hoi An has been important to Southeast Asia’s textile trade for centuries, so it is no surprise that the city’s streets are filled with skilled tailors and leather goods workshops where you can have any item of clothing or accessory you like made to order.

Many shops have been open for generations, producing top quality garments, but recent years have seen an explosion in poorer quality workshops – make sure to take precautions against unscrupulous business practices.

Always go to the tailor’s with the specific details (material, fit, stitching, etc.) of what you want, shop around for the best rates, and never depend on hotels’ or taxi drivers’ recommendations, if you want the best of Hoi An’s craftsmanship. Below is a suggestion of some good tailors.

Yaly Couture Tailors

This is where Top Gear hosts had their suits made in the Top Gear Vietnam Special

358 Nguyễn Duy Hiệu, Hội An
Phone: +84 235 3914 995

Bebe Tailor

05-07 Hoàng Diệu, Cẩm Châu, Hội An
Phone: +84 235 2212 670

A Dong Silk Tailors

62 Tran Hung Dao | 91 Tran Hung Dao and 40 Le Loi, Hoi An
Phone: +84 235 3910 579

B’lan Silk

23 Trần Phú, Hội An
Phone: +84 235 3861 866