A once bustling trading port, Hoi An is nowadays a rustic and charming cultural magnet to any visitors. The city seems to be forgotten by time, and retains much of its traditional heritage since the golden days: this place is clearly an intersection of Eastern-Western culture, the crystallization of Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese and European countries manifested in cuisine, architecture, and local traditions.
Hoi An’s Irresistible Charm – Photo: Instagram @soaipham
Always ranking first in the list of most attractive destinations of Vietnam, Hoi An captures the hearts of travelers through a nostalgic, peaceful beauty with red tile roofs, iconic yellow walls, dreamy and romantic rivers, and stunning calm beaches.
Those who have visited the city find it hard to leave and almost impossible to forget.
Weather and best time to visit
With the humid tropical climate of the southern Hai Van region, Hoi An’s climate is divided into two distinct seasons: dry and rainy.
The rainy season lasts from September to the end of January. Unlike the North of Vietnam (such as Hanoi, Halong Bay and Sapa) which sees cool winter breeze, the same period in Hoi An experiences average temperature in the 20s.
The dry season lasts from February to August with little rainfall and high temperatures. But thanks to its proximity to the ocean, the weather in Hoi An is not as scorching hot as elsewhere in Vietnam.
In recent years, due to climate change, Hoi An Old Quarter often experiences heavy flooding in the rainy season, so visitors are advised to visit in the dry season instead.
In short, the best time for you to explore Hoi An is from February to July – the spring and early summer climate with pleasant cool weather and endless blue skies.
Learn more about Hoi An’s weather
What to do in Hoi An
Visit well-known attractions
As one of the top places to visit in Vietnam, Hoi An still retains almost 1,000 architectures from streets, houses, assemblies, to communal houses, temples, shrines and bridges. So the first must-do thing in Hoi An is to explore the city with renowned places like Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky Old House. Phung Hung Old House, Cantonese Assembly Hall. With a tourist map, you can easily explore the city on foot.
Hoi An Fujian Assembly Hall – An iconic landmark
If you have more time to spend, make sure to include trips to the nearby highlights such as My Son Sanctuary, Tra Que Vegetable Village or Kim Bong Carpentry Village, Cam Thanh Coconut Village or Cham Island. Book a tour from one of the agencies in town so you can make the best of your time there. Relax on the beaches
In addition to the ancient and peaceful beauty of the old town with its red-tile roofed houses, iconic brilliantly yellow statues, or colorful lanterns, Hoi An also captures visitors by stunning An Bang Beach. The natural picture drawn by stretching white sand strips, emerald blue sea surface and rustic boats, along with the cool breeze from the sea, will dispel all fatigue and anxiety in your daily life’s hustle and bustle.
Taking a bicycle tour
Hoi An is considered one of the most beautiful cycling paths in the world besides Florence (Italy), Paris (France), Amsterdam (Netherlands), so it will be a mistake if you do not explore the tranquil and poetic beauty of Hoi An in an eco-friendly mode.
In addition, to protect the fresh and clean environment of Hoi An, the local government has encouraged visitors to use bicycles to travel while visiting the town. The price for renting a bike is very affordable, only from 20,000 – 50,000 VND (1-2 USD), or the hotels also offer free bike-rental service. Shop at the central market
During your stay in Hoi An, do not miss Hoi An Market – the largest market in Hoi An, with a full range of consumer goods, essential foods for daily life. In addition, the market is also a gathering place for a variety of local specialties such as souvenirs, lanterns, “non la”, giving you a huge range of choices as you pick your souvenirs for friends and family.
Besides the handicrafts that are meticulously and beautifully crafted through the skillful hands of artisans, do not miss the street food at Hoi An market – which was chosen as one of 6 culinary paradise by Lonely Planet magazine – with a variety of specialties in Hoi An in particular, Quang Nam Province in general. A few must tries are cao lau, my quang and com ga Hoi An.
Order your bespoken clothes
One of the many must-do things in Hoi An is to get yourself an outfit tailored directly by professional and skillful tailors. Well-known for its soft and high-grade silk, Hoi An quickly captures the visitors’ hearts by made-to-measure service for visitors who want to have a personalized outfit or as an impressive gift for loved ones.
B’Lan Silk – Photo: @hello_and_thank_you
There are many tailor shops located on the old streets with 5-7 professional tailors in each shop, giving you a variety of choices for ideal clothes.