Buzz
Morning Delight Sandwich
Kickstarting your day's adventure requires a burst of energy, and just one bite of the renowned sandwiches at 'Phuong Bakery' on Hoang Dieu Street or Phan Chu Trinh Street will invigorate you for the exploration ahead in Hoi An. This famed sandwich shop, even featured on CNN Travel, earns praise from international travelers. A sandwich filled with beef, pate, fresh vegetables, and savory meat sauce creates a delicious dish priced at only 10,000 VND for locals and 25,000 VND for tourists.
Riverside Morning Coffee
Savoring a delicious sandwich while sipping coffee and admiring the tranquil Hoai River in the early morning is an experience worth indulging in. 'Mrs. Thao's Coffee Shop,' located from the Japanese Bridge to Hoi An Bridge, is a hotspot attracting many young visitors. Meanwhile, across from Mrs. Thao's, 'Uncle Gai's' is a beloved spot for middle-aged patrons.
After the morning, we'll explore the ancient town to delve into the culture and lifestyle of the people in Hoi An tourist district, seeking out the distinctive beverages this place has to offer.
Exploring the Old Town
Visiting the ancient houses steeped in history and the spiritual and social landmarks like the Cantonese Assembly Hall, Fujian Assembly Hall, Tan Ky Old House, and more, which have been renowned for generations in Hoi An's Old Town.
The first quintessential beverage in the Old Town that I find most delicious and rustic is the pennywort drink, priced at 8,000 VND per glass.
Next up is agar jelly. The two colorful cakes atop are known as 'nine-layered cloud cakes' and are sold at an incredibly cheap price of just 2,000 VND per piece at sweet cake shops in the Old Town.
Five-color nine-layered cloud cakes – a specialty dish in Hoi An (Photo: Collected) (4)
A specialty in Hoi An but surprisingly affordable is 'smashed arrowroot,' made from crushed sweet potatoes with ground peanuts. The hearty, fragrant taste of smashed arrowroot will leave an unforgettable impression on you.
A dish with an intriguing and abstract name is 'Chi Ma Phu,' commonly known as black sesame sweet soup or in Central Vietnam, black sesame soup.
Afternoon
After spending a morning exploring all the tourist spots around the Old Town of Hoi An, there's nothing better than relaxing at Reaching Out for lunch.
Hoi An Chicken Rice
A plate of Ba Buoi's chicken rice or Mrs. Nga's chicken rice can replenish your energy after a morning of wandering. This is one of the famous delicacies in Hoi An's Old Town. The flavor is enticing, with succulent chicken meat and a blend of spicy and sweet tastes from the dipping sauce and chicken broth. Despite its high price, it's worth every penny you spend.
Enjoying Tea at Reaching Out
A tranquil space chosen as the number one spot for resting, reading, and enjoying tea. Reaching Out can be said to be a famous café in Hoi An tourist district. What sets this café apart is that all the servers are deaf, making the atmosphere incredibly serene and gentle, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in a different world.
Eating Cao Lau
When discussing specialties in Hoi An, one cannot overlook Cao Lau. This dish consists of yellow noodles, chewy and flavorful, mixed with a bit of broth made from pork or chicken, along with some aromatic herbs and crispy pork fat, making Hoi An Cao Lau even more enticing and irresistible.
White Rose Cake
The White Rose Cake is perhaps the most intriguing and enticing name for tourists. This type of cake resembles a white rose, with finely ground pork filling garnished with fried garlic and sweet fish sauce. While the plate of White Rose Cake may look simple and ordinary, one bite will truly surprise you. The cake is a delightful dish because the fried garlic blends perfectly with the pork and has a sweet and sour taste from the fish sauce.
Evening
Dried Squid Papaya Salad
A dish that doesn't leave you feeling overly full but still leaves you delighted and can be found at many dining spots is dried squid papaya salad or tofu pudding, a familiar dish in Hoi An for tourists. Dried squid papaya salad is the perfect combination of characteristic natural ingredients of Vietnamese cuisine. The complex aroma of dried squid blends with the slightly bitter taste of papaya, a hint of sourness from mango and lime, a touch of sweetness from sugar, and a bit of spiciness from chili,... all harmonizing like a perfect melody that keeps you delighted and never bored.
Tofu Pudding
A bowl of tofu pudding or also known as soybean pudding with a sprinkle of crushed ice will refresh you after a day of exploring Hoi An.
Late Evening
Hoi An is most beautiful at night, when there's no hustle and bustle, no tourists or businesses. The ancient houses stand side by side in silence, as if they're whispering secrets afraid of being overheard by visitors. Walking along the old town streets at night, sometimes you may find yourself facing your own thoughts, reminiscing about old memories, moments, or beautiful childhood memories on this familiar yet foreign tourist destination.
Nothing beats wandering around beautiful cafes at night and continuing the late-night eating journey.
First up is Cocobox cafe's signature dish: 'Relax Thu Bon' – avocado smoothie with spinach. Sounds strange, doesn't it? But it's truly delicious. This café offers many unique and different smoothies, but none match the taste, priced from 35k – 60k.
Sitting in a café, admiring the night view of Hoi An's ancient town, nothing compares, with lanterns swaying gently in the breeze above. It can be said that these lanterns have created a unique beauty for Hoi An that few other cities have.
The ancient charm of Hoi An tourist destination becomes even more beautiful under the green, red, and yellow lanterns. As the night crowd thins out, somewhere, the wandering singers also fade away, tidying up and preparing to leave, and Hoi An sinks back into its ancient slumber.
