Uncovering the Charm of Hoi An in 48 hours
Hoi An is a city located in the Central Vietnam. This city is one of the most visited in Vietnam and hosts millions of tourists each year. It has an old town known as Hoi An Ancient Town which was awarded the ‘World Heritage Site‘ award by UNESCO in the year 1999.
We decided to visited Hoi An well in advance before we even set our foot in Vietnam for the first time. Every other Youtuber and Blogger who gave recommendation for visiting Vietnam, recommended visiting Hoi An.
When we arrived in Vietnam and travelled in Saigon and Phu Quoc, we had mostly positive reception about this place from the tourists we spoke too. Of course, there were tourists complaining about “a lot of tourist“ or it being “touristy“.
We arrived at Da Nang on 9th of February and spent first 2 days there itself. I was excited to visit Hoi An for several reasons. Firstly, to shoot a lot of pictures of the 16th century Old/Ancient Town which is pretty well preserved.
Secondly, it seemed like a place which will allow us to experience the authentic or close to authentic 15th-16th Century architecture which still stands today. Now, there is a whole story about how the Old Town has been transformed to cater to the ever-growing flow of tourists after it becoming the Heritage site but I will shed some light on that later.
We booked a GRAB from our Hotel, ‘Sun River Hotel and Apartments‘ and it did costed us around 300000 Dong(Rs1000) but it was a comfortable 30-40 minutes ride in a SUV. The views on the either sides of the roads were nice and as we were approaching closer to our destination we could see that the High Rise buildings of Da Nang are now getting replaces by houses, cottages, and cafes which was pretty cool. We had already booked an Airbnb near the beach away from the Old town but our check-in time was 2pm. We had some time to kill and so we went to a Cafe/bar nearby and spent 1-1.5hrs there. The cafe was really nice and people from all over the world were hanging out in the same place. There was an American performer who was singing some classic Rock songs while playing his guitar with perfection.
We ordered a pizza, some fries(cos why not), and spaghetti. The food was delicious and we enjoyed the vibe over there.
We then left for our Airbnb and found it after 15-20 minutes of walking in the hot sun. This place was run by a couple, in which the girl was Vietnamese and the guy looked American. They both were pretty chill and helped us check-in, and even gave us some recommendations for our 1 day stay at Hoi An(yes, we were stupid enough to plan for just 1 day at Hoi An :p).
Our cottage was nice and they did try to make this place look authentic. My initial impression of the place was great but we did find few things that were making our stay bit unpleasant. The bathroom was comparatively small and their was a feeling of moisture and damp that happens when the walls absorb moisture after heavy rainfalls. It wasn’t all that bad and after taking rest for few hours we went to a beach which was 100 something meters from this property.
We had a great time at the beach firstly because there were not a lot of people initially and also the view was great. We could see mountains on islands in the far distance from the beach. The beach was not very clean but we were happy to just a big lot of land to have fun there. I did not swim but got myself drenched in water below my waist as I was collected the sea shells for my mother. We spend good 2 hours there and then went back to the cottage. After taking shower, we decided to visit the Hoi An Ancient town. We got ready and I took my Camera with extra batteries, as it was THE PLACE to capture great pictures.
As our place was away from the downtown and even the Old town, we faced difficulty booking GRAB and nobody accepted our request. We kept walking for almost a kilometer and after wasting close to 45 minutes, a Taxi driver stopped and offered to take us to the Ancient town. He had a meter in his taxi and so I asked him how will it cost me roughly when we arrive at our destination. He told me that it will be 70k(INR230-240) and I happily agreed.
The Old Town was a vibe and our eyes were brighten up by the yellow buildings, colorful lanterns, and people both local and International who all were happy to be at that place. Our driver dropped at a certain spot beyond which the vehicles are not allowed to go through. We started walking and were excited to explore this part of Hoi An.
The place felt like a Live Painting in the first impression. It has a maze like street patterns and every street and crossroad looked similar to each other. There were several shops selling clothes, souvenirs, food items, utensils, cosmetics, and branded articles. There were several cafes, food stalls, and restaurants on either sides of the street. We found an Indian restaurant in the beginning of the street but we decided to keep it as a backup option in case we did not like anything in the main area.
I was eagerly looking at my phone and specifically to Google maps to guide me towards the canals which is the main attraction of this place. I had to lastly ask few locals(using Google translator) who guided me and helped us arrive at the canals.
This place was packed with the tourists from all across the globe. Some were chilling at the cafes, while some were busy taking selfies and group pictures, some were enjoying their time in the boats cruising over the canals where they lit lamps and dropped them in the water, and some were watching football on the projector outside several bars.
We were walking from one side of the canal to the other side when we crossed one of many old bridges. At a given time, these bridges were holding few hundred people and it shows how reliable and smart was engineering of that era. I couldn’t decide what to eat and where to eat, and sometimes it was not easy to clarify what were the ingredients of the dishes that were being prepared in these restaurants. Simply put, I was trying to avoid Beef and Pork, and anything which was too exotic or rare. I also spent a lot of time using my Camera as it was difficult to shoot good images with so many people around, and particularly due to absence of a low-light camera lens.
Ancient/Old town apart from it being a bit crowded in the evening and night, is still a place worth visiting. You will see beautiful architecture, fascinating smells and sights, smiling faces, and a peak in the historical past of 500+ years.
Due to change of weather and exhaustion, we were getting a sense of catching cold and fever. My throat was hurting, body very tired, and taste buds out of order :p
We were planning to go to HUE the next day but as it was 3-4 hours away from Hoi An, we cancelled the plan considering our health situation.
We left the Airbnb and headed towards Hoi An beach resort which I booked just an hour before leaving our current stay. The Hoi An beach resort is a 4-star hotel located between the Cua Dai Beach and De Vong River. I was still under the weather but my spirits were lifted when we arrived at the property. On one side, we could see the beach and just behind our room(we got the free upgrade) there was this De Vong river. There was a Japanese style bridge on this river and we felt quite Royal being able to enjoy such a view.
After relaxing some time in this cool room, I started feeling that the fever is again gaining the momentum. I did not like the feeling of it and tried calling the reception to provide some meds if they have any. Sadly, they did not have any medicines but they recommended a dispensary which was 150 metres from our resort. I decided to go there in the evening in case I don’t get any better. I took a hot bath in the tub and sat there for 30-40 minutes while sipping on some rose tea. I know I was sick but that does not mean I will miss opportunity to enjoy myself ;)
It definitely helped me and I was feeling refreshed and even hungry. We ordered some food which was delivered to our room and it was delicious. Later, we went to the Beach which was just opposite to the entrance of our resort. We had to cross the road and in few seconds we were at the Cua Dai Beach. The beach was okay but the views were great. On the left hand side, we could see a bunch of people walking, some were swimming in the sea, and tall towers at the far end. There were some tall mountains in the front of the beach running towards the right side.
We took a lot of pictures and I called my mother and showed her the beach over the video call. After spending an hour or two, we decided to go back. I could sense that the fever is again coming back and so I opened the Google Maps and started walking towards the nearest dispensary to get the medicine.
We had an early dinner at the resort and I took a bunch of pills hoping I will be cured by tomorrow. We watched few videos on Youtube on my iPad and slept soon after as the heavy dose of those meds was now showing its magic.
Conclusion:
After spending 2 days in Hoi An, I could say that it is a place worth visiting. If I hadn’t been sick in those 2 days, I would have visited more places and rented a scooty to explore the city as much as possible. I am proud that some of my best pictures were shot here and some of these are so close to my heart. It is a perfect place who prefer chill and calm vibe with a mix of history, culture, and architecture from an old era.
FAQs:
1. What is Hoi An known for?
Hoi An is known for its well-preserved ancient town, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999. The town is also famous for its lanterns, tailor-made clothing, and delicious local food.
2. When is the best time to visit Hoi An?
The best time to visit Hoi An is from February to April when the weather is dry and mild. Avoid visiting during the rainy season (September to January) as flooding can occur.
3. How do I get to Hoi An?
The nearest airport to Hoi An is Danang International Airport, which is about 30 km away. From there, you can take a taxi or shuttle bus to Hoi An. Alternatively, you can take a train or bus from other cities in Vietnam.
4. What are some popular things to do in Hoi An?
Some popular things to do in Hoi An include visiting the ancient town, taking a cooking class, cycling around the countryside, visiting the nearby beaches, and shopping for tailor-made clothing.
5. What are some must-try dishes in Hoi An?
Some must-try dishes in Hoi An include Cao Lau (a noodle dish with pork and herbs), Banh Mi (Vietnamese baguette sandwiches), Mi Quang (a noodle dish with pork and shrimp), and Com Ga (chicken rice).
6. What should I wear when visiting Hoi An?
Light and comfortable clothing is recommended as Hoi An can get quite hot and humid. Bring along a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen for protection from the sun.
7. How many days should I spend in Hoi An?
It is recommended to spend at least 2-3 days in Hoi An to fully explore the town and its surroundings. However, if you have more time, you can also take day trips to nearby attractions such as My Son Sanctuary and the Marble Mountains.
