Hoi An Ancient City Beckons

Hoi An Ancient Town melds multiple cultures—Chinese, French, and Japanese—through its architecture and styles. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999.

Lantern-lit streets are the iconic image for the “City of Lanterns.” You can even take a class to make your lantern. (Check out my tour of Hoi An on my Instagram page here.)

Walking down the ancient city’s three main streets is like exploring a living outdoor museum.

“The original street grid plan remains as it was, and 844 of the 1,107 buildings making up the townscape are on the UNESCO World Heritage list.”—Vietnam Travel

Color on Parade

Located on Vietnam’s central coast, this former port city is a riot of color—red Chinese temples, ochre French colonial buildings, ancestral houses, the powder-blue Five Congregations (Chinese) Assembly Hall, and the pink Hainan Assembly Hall. (Blue buildings are rare.)

Floating lanterns fly in the breeze like bluejays and red cardinals. Brown wooden boats bob on the river. Visit during the “Golden Hour” to see the French colonial structures shimmer.

I felt such joy walking down Bach Dang Street, which runs parallel to the Thu Bon River, surrounded by hawkers selling flying bird toys and children jumping to catch them.

UNESCO World Heritage Site

UNESCO designated Hoi An as a unique heritage because its historical buildings and street plan reflect influences, both indigenous and foreign.

“Hoi An Ancient Town is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century.”—UNESCO

In fact, Hoi An’s well-preserved ancient city includes temples, pagodas, family cult houses, architectural monuments, a ferry quay, and an open market.

The inscribed property comprises 30 ha, and it has a buffer zone of 280 ha. You can see 1,107 timber frame buildings, both brick and wooden walls.

A Few Suggestions

Avoid visiting Hoi An on a weekend afternoon, as the crowds can ruin the experience. You’ll be jostled, shoved, and squeezed.

Mornings before 11 am are the best time to enjoy the serenity of this ancient city. Stop to buy a Vietnamese egg coffee and sit outside to people watch.

You should return to the ancient town at night to see the lantern-lit streets. As the sun sets, walk down to the river to watch the boatmen ply the river. Treat yourself to dinner in the ancient city.

Ancient City Entrance Ticket

You can purchase an entrance ticket to Hoi An at the entrances to the ancient city.

The cost of a one-day ticket for Hoi An Ancient Town is 120,000 VND (approximately $5.20 USD) for international tourists. Each ticket lets you visit five of the 22 historical sites.

The fees go towards maintaining and preserving the city.

Japanese Covered Bridge

(Address: Tran Phu Street, Hoi An)

During the 15th century, Hoi An was a melting pot. Dutch, Chinese, Japanese, and Portuguese merchants lived in the port city. In 1593, the Japanese built a wooden bridge to link the Japanese and Chinese neighborhoods.

“Some say the bridge was also meant to subdue Namazu, the mythical Japanese catfish creature believed to cause earthquakes.”—Vietnam Travel

The roof of the bridge features interlocking tiles in a “yin-yang” design.

Today, the Japanese Covered Bridge is an iconic symbol of Hoi An, along with its lantern-lit streets. In fact, the bridge is featured on the 20,000 VND banknote.

Duc An Ancient House

(Address: No. 129, Tran Phu Street, Hoi An)

If you visit in the morning, you’ll avoid the tour groups that make it impossible to roam around this small house. Duc An means morality and peace.

The Phan family built this house. They used it as a communal house to worship ancestors and raise a family. Eight generations of the Phan family lived here.

You will see family portraits, ceramics, and ancestral treasures. Notice the harmonious combination of Vietnamese and Chinese styles.

Hoi Can Chang (Assembly Hall)

(Address: 64 Tran Phu Street, Hoi An)

You can expect to spend an hour touring this religious building. Built in 1885, it operated as a temple and meeting place for the Cantonese Chinese community in Hoi An.

There is a fountain in the center of the hall. You will also see dragons, ornate carvings, altars, and paintings.

Hoi An Museums

Hoi An Ancient City is home to multiple museums.

The Museum of History and Culture, located at 10B Tran Hung Dao Street, displays artifacts spanning 2,000 years. You’ll gain a comprehensive overview of the city.

The Museum of Folk Culture, located at 33 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, showcases traditional crafts. A visit might include a performance.

The Museum of Sa Huỳnh Culture gives insight into the Sa Huỳnh period.

The Museum of Trade Ceramics, located at 80 Tran Phu Street, displays pottery and ceramics.

Green Mango Restaurant

(Address: 54 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hoi An)

I highly recommend this restaurant for its cooking school. But it also offers fantastic 2-for-1 deals for its happy hour. If you’re lucky enough to score a table near the window, you can people-watch.

I purchased an afternoon cooking lesson from Green Mango Restaurant. When we arrived, the vegetables and cooking utensils were waiting for the students. The first step was to wash our hands. Then we put on our aprons and hats and started chopping the vegetables. (Check out my video of the cooking class on my Instagram page here.)

The class was fantastic. We learned how to make banana blossoms, duck rolls, Pho Ga, smoked fish in banana leaf, and mango sticky rice. Afterwards, we returned to the restaurant where we were served all the food that we had prepared. This is a great value.

An Bang Beach

When you need a break from culture, grab your swimsuit and head out to An Bang Beach. Some Hoa An hotels offer free bus transportation to the beach. Less than 10 km from the city, it’s a great way to relax.

Many cafes allow you to use recliners and umbrellas for free if you purchase a drink or food. Watersports include parasailing, jet skis, and stand-up paddleboarding. Most resorts are located on Cua Dai Beach.

Happy Hoi An

Although Hoi An is a magnet for tourists, I wouldn’t rule it out. I absolutely loved roaming the streets, staring at the wooden storefronts, gazing up at the lanterns, and sitting out on the riverfront. If you avoid the crush of visitors during the weekends and afternoons, you will have a good time.

I would definitely recommend staying for three nights to give you sufficient time to visit the historical venues, take a cooking class, order a new dress or suit at the custom tailor, sip a Vietnamese egg coffee at a local cafe, and spend a day at the beach.

Oh, and don’t forget that happy hour deal at the Green Mango! I loved my Cosmopolitan!

This article is now featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Hoi An.