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Introduction to Hoi An
Hoi An is a city in Quang Nam province, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Today, Hoi An retains its pristine beauty and ancient charm, attracting thousands of visitors every year, especially foreigners. For Vietnamese people, Hoi An is a proud ancient city of the country.
Hoi An Ancient Town
Weather in Hoi An and the Best Time to Visit
Hoi An is a city in the central region of Vietnam, characterized by a tropical monsoon climate, clearly divided into two distinct seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. The dry season lasts from January to July, while the rainy season is from August to December. The average temperature in Hoi An ranges from 24-27 degrees Celsius annually. However, towards the end of the year, the weather in Hoi An becomes cooler, with temperatures ranging from 18-22 degrees Celsius, while the summer is hotter, around 30-33 degrees Celsius.
Ideal Time for Traveling to Hoi An is during the dry season, especially from January to April, when the temperature is pleasantly cool, sometimes even slightly chilly.
The period from August to December falls into the rainy season in Hoi An. However, if you want to save on travel expenses, you can visit during the rainy season, around late December or early August. During this time, there is not much rain in Hoi An, so it won't affect your trip much.
>>> See more 'Recommended Time to Visit Hoi An Throughout the Year'
Traveling to Hoi An
Services to Book in Advance
Booking Flight/Train/Bus Tickets to Hoi An
Currently, there is no airport in Hoi An. You have to travel to Da Nang International Airport and then go to Hoi An by motorbike or bus. The price of flight tickets to Da Nang ranges from 1,000,000 VND to 2,000,000 VND per one-way flight, depending on your travel time. It's advisable to book flight tickets about 1 month before your departure date as early bookings usually come with lower prices. Additionally, keep an eye on promotions from airlines or reputable travel agencies to book the most suitable ticket.
In addition to flights, you can choose to take a train or bus to Hoi An to save costs. However, the travel time will be quite long, about 10-12 hours if you travel from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Like booking flight tickets, you should book train tickets 1-2 months in advance to ensure good seats, while bus tickets do not need to be booked too early, just about 1 week in advance. The prices of train and bus tickets are similar, ranging from 400,000 VND to 800,000 VND per ticket depending on your departure location.
Booking Hoi An Hotel Rooms
Booking hotel rooms in Hoi An or Vinpearl Hoi An should be done simultaneously with flight tickets to get the best deals. It's advisable to book early to avoid room shortages, especially during the peak tourist season when hotels and homestays in Hoi An are often fully booked.
Here are some areas where you should book hotels or homestays for convenient city exploration:
- Tran Hung Dao Street, Dao Duy Tu Street, Cam Pho Ward.
- Nguyen Truong To Street and Phan Boi Chau Street, Son Phong Ward.
Here are some Hoi An hotels with good prices, favored by many travelers, you can consider:
- Belle Maison Hadana Hoi An Resort & Spa starting from 1.2 million VND per room per night.
- Sol An Bang Beach Resort starting from 1.4 million VND per room per night.
- Hoi An Beach Resort starting from 1.9 million VND per room per night.
- Sunshine Hoi An Hotel starting from 750k VND per room per night.
- Vinpearl Resort & Spa Hoi An starting from 1.6 million VND per room per night.
Bedroom at Belle Maison Hadana Hoi An Resort & Spa
Furthermore, if you're traveling to Hoi An independently, it's advisable to choose a combo package for Hoi An, which includes both flight tickets and hotel rooms, to save costs and make your trip more convenient.
Essential Documents for Your Hoi An Trip
The necessary documents for a trip to Hoi An are simple personal papers such as ID card, citizen identification card. For foreigners, a passport is also required for airport and hotel procedures. For children traveling with family, a certified copy of their birth certificate is necessary.
Packing Tips for Your Hoi An Trip
- Lightweight and weather-appropriate clothing should be your first consideration. Keep an eye on the weather forecast to pack suitable clothes and avoid overpacking.
- A tourist map of Hoi An is convenient for navigating and exploring the city. Maps are widely available in bookstores or in Hoi An's ancient town, and for foreign tourists, English maps are also available.
- Headache pills, cold medicine, and stomachache medicine will be essential for your trip, in case you are not accustomed to the weather and food in Hoi An.
- If you're traveling during the rainy season, be sure to pack disposable raincoats, umbrellas, plastic shoes, and waterproof phone pouches.
- Moisturizing cosmetics and sunscreen will be helpful for you under Hoi An's humid weather in any season.
Preparing your luggage for Hoi An travel.
Means of transportation in Hoi An
Traveling from Da Nang Airport to the city center of Hoi An
Da Nang Airport is about 30km from Hoi An. After completing procedures at the airport, you can travel to Hoi An by bus or taxi. The taxi fare from Da Nang Airport to Hoi An is quite high, around 300,000 VND to 450,000 VND per trip. However, if you take the bus, the fare will be much cheaper, only 30,000 VND one way, with a travel time of over an hour.
If you're coming from Da Nang city, you can ride a motorbike or take a bus, both with a distance of 30km along National Highway 1 to reach Hoi An. Compared to taking a taxi, renting a motorbike or catching a bus from Da Nang will save you a lot of money.
Means of transportation in Hoi An
There are various means of transportation in Hoi An such as motorbikes, bicycles, cyclos, boats, and walking. You can choose the transportation that suits you best. However, in the ancient town of Hoi An, it's recommended to use bicycles or walk. There are many shops renting bicycles and motorbikes along the streets of Hoi An, with prices ranging from 50,000 VND to 80,000 VND for bicycles and 120,000 VND to 150,000 VND for motorbikes. Additionally, you can take a boat ride on the Hoai River to fully enjoy the romantic charm of the city, with boat rental prices ranging from 40,000 VND to 50,000 VND for 30 minutes.
Bicycles are the main means of transportation in Hoi An
Here are some reputable bicycle rental addresses you can consider:
- Ms. Yen, 617 Hai Ba Trung Street, phone: 0905 397 138.
- Mr. Canh, 115 Ba Trieu Street, phone: 0327 565 018.
- Ms. Tram, 56 Ba Trieu Street, phone: 0935 969 576.
- Mr. Cuong, 599 Hai Ba Trung Street, phone: 0976 055 817.
Tourist destinations in Hoi An
To visit Hoi An's ancient town, you need to buy an entrance ticket priced at 80,000 VND per entry. The ticket grants access to over 20 attractions, including some must-visit highlights:
- The Japanese Covered Bridge is hailed as the pearl of Hoi An. This bridge showcases a harmonious blend of Asian and European architectural styles, constructed since the late 16th century and dedicated to the deity Huyen Thien Dai De. Situated over a small stream of the Thu Bon River, surrounded by ancient tile-roofed houses, it adds a poetic touch to the entire city.
The Japanese Covered Bridge
- Hoi An Museum of History and Culture houses over 200 historical artifacts, established in 1989. The exhibits in the museum vividly portray the developmental stages of Hoi An from its bustling trading port days.
- Tan Ky Ancient House is one of the must-visit tourist attractions in Hoi An. This ancient house, dating back 200 years, showcases the quintessential architectural style of Hoi An's ancient houses. Tan Ky House features multiple compartments, with its front facing for trading purposes and its rear opening to the riverbank for easy cargo loading. It has been recognized as a National Historical-Cultural Monument since 1990.
- Cua Dai Beach is located about 5km from the ancient town, easily accessible by motorbike in just a few minutes. With its deep blue sea and white sandy beach, it's an ideal destination for beach lovers and seaside relaxation.
Cua Dai Beach
- Thu Bon River is a river that has inspired many famous writers. Especially at sunset, the Thu Bon River reflects a mystical purple-red hue, adding a mysterious charm to the entire city. Taking a boat ride on the Thu Bon River is a fantastic idea when you visit Hoi An.
Delicious Foods in Hoi An
- Cao Lau Hoi An, also known as 'wooden noodle' dish, the noodles in this dish are similar to Japanese udon noodles, but Cao Lau is a distinctly Vietnamese dish with the delicious flavor of pork broth, grilled pork slices, soybean sauce, chili sauce served with fat croutons and fresh herbs.
- Hoi An Baguette is a must-try dish when you visit. Unlike sandwiches elsewhere, Hoi An baguette is filled with a rich assortment of meat, char siu, sausage or eggs, fresh herbs, etc. The flavorful baguette will surely tempt you to return to Hoi An several times.
- Banh Canh is a familiar dish in the Central region. When you travel to Da Nang, Hoi An, or Hue, you will encounter this dish. Hoi An Banh Canh features thick noodles, a flavorful broth made from bones and radishes or a broth that can be made from shrimp, fish, served with fish cake.
- Quang Noodle is a Hoi An specialty, featuring wide rice noodles made from rice flour, served with a subtly sweet broth cooked with meat and shrimp, accompanied by herbs and rice crackers, boiled eggs.
Quang Noodle
Some delicious eateries in Hoi An worth noting:
- Ba Buoi Chicken Rice: with 2 locations at 22 Phan Chu Trinh and 18 Dao Duy Tu. The restaurant is famous for its long-standing business history and its signature chicken rice dish. The chicken rice here is particularly favored by diners, along with chicken salad, boiled chicken feet,... Price for chicken rice is 35,000 VND/portion, while other dishes range from 20,000 - 100,000 VND.
- Thanh's Cao Lau, 26 Thai Phien is a familiar address for tourists visiting Hoi An. Although the location is not ideal, somewhat hidden due to the narrow alleyway, it does not diminish the restaurant's reputation. Thanh's Cao Lau has a rich flavor, and after eating, customers are treated to a glass of roasted soybean milk. Price for a bowl of cao lau ranges from 25,000 - 30,000 VND.
- Phuong's Banh Mi at 2B Phan Chu Trinh is renowned for its specialty Hoi An baguette. The crispy baguette is filled with a variety of vegetable and meat fillings, coupled with the flavor of Hoi An, ensuring you won't regret waiting in line for this delicious sandwich. Additionally, the shop offers over 20 types of fillings for customers to choose from, priced at only around 10,000 - 30,000 VND per sandwich depending on the filling.
Delicious Hoi An baguette
- Along the banks of the Hoai River, you can find the most popular grilled meat rice paper here. Although there is no specific address, if you have the chance, visit the banks of the Hoai River to enjoy this special dish. A serving of grilled meat rice paper costs around 25,000 - 30,000 VND.
Furthermore, Hoi An also offers specialty dishes that can be bought as gifts such as green bean cakes, thorn leaf cakes, or sesame cakes,...
Shopping experience in Hoi An
- According to Hoi An travel experience, you should bargain for some souvenirs such as fabric, handbags, artwork,... The people of Hoi An are very friendly and hospitable, so be flexible in buying and selling. Even if you don't make a purchase, the sellers will still be very cheerful.
- Items that can be bought as gifts include fine woodwork, wall paintings, traditional Vietnamese dresses (ao dai), silk fabrics,...
Souvenirs in Hoi An
- It's advisable to shop at the market where bargaining is easier and you can find items that suit your preferences better than souvenir shops in the ancient town.
- If you're an early shopper, it's best not to haggle with the sellers, as they believe the first customer sets the tone for the day's sales.
Travel Tips for Hoi An
- It's advisable to check the weather forecast before traveling because Hoi An can sometimes experience sudden rain, affecting your travel plans.
- When visiting Hoi An's ancient town and wishing to explore its heritage sites, purchase tickets at the service counters and mark up to 3 destinations you wish to visit on the ticket. Then, the tour guide at the tourist office will be responsible for taking you to explore those destinations. Note that the ticket is only valid for 24 hours, and you must keep the ticket stub throughout your visit.
- It's advisable to pack a few sets of modest clothing, neatly arranged, in case you visit temples, shrines, or heritage sites that require visitors to dress modestly.
Above is a compilation of the most comprehensive Hoi An travel experiences in 2020. Hopefully, this article will assist in planning your travel itinerary. And don't forget to book an affordable Hoi An tour with Mytour Travel Company for the best trip ever!
Thao Chi
Photo source: Internet
