Hoi An Holidays

Hoi An’s one-of-a-kind historic centre, laidback charm and superb sandy beaches make it an irresistible place to linger.

In the lantern-festooned lanes of Hoi An’s UNESCO-listed Old Town, it’s as if time has stood still. This small riverside town halfway down the country’s east coast was once a prosperous trading port, and that cosmopolitan past lives on in the shape of a thousand or so carved, tiled and shuttered Vietnamese wooden houses, ornate Chinese temples and a 400-year-old Japanese bridge.

There’s more to this unique cultural site than eye-catching architecture, however. Its markets are a riot of colour, with everything from a rainbow of silk cloth ready to be sewn by one of the town’s long-established tailors to piles of exotic ingredients. Thanks to the superb quality of its fresh produce, this part of Vietnam is also known for its cuisine. There’s no shortage of places in Hoi An – from street stalls and open-air cafés to dressier venues – in which to sample fragrant local specialities.

With two idyllic tree-lined white-sand beaches to round off its attractions, Hoi An is a wonderfully captivating base from which to explore further. Hop on a bicycle to discover Quang Nam province’s verdant rural landscapes, pedalling along narrow tracks flanked by fields of rice and organic vegetables. Further inland, an hour’s drive brings you to the poignant ruins of My Son, also on the World Heritage list, and well worth a visit. Here, surrounded by clouds of butterflies, crumbling red brick temples rise out of the jungle – all that remains of an ancient kingdom that once covered most of southern Vietnam.

We’re here to help you plan your perfect holiday in Hoi An and beyond, so give us a call today.

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Hoi An Hotels

Our recommendations for the best places to stay in Hoi An

Anantara Hoi An Resort

This charming riverside retreat has a welcoming feel and easy access to Hoi An Ancient Town.

Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An

Set on pristine white sands, this exceptional resort oozes elegance and offers world-class servic...

Almanity Hoi An Resort & Spa

Set in the heart of Hoi An, this unique resort is dedicated to wellbeing and relaxation.

Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort & Spa

The Victoria Hoi An gives you the best of both worlds: easy access to the city and a wonderful be...

Boutique Hoi An Resort

After days exploring Hoi An, return to this elegant oceanside resort on An Bang Beach.

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Vietnamese Cooking Class in Hoi An (from Hoi An or Danang)

It’s hard to think of a more enduring souvenir of a visit to Vietnam than being able to make some of its best-loved dishes back home. On this half-day culinary exploration, you’ll start at Hoi An’s lively market, with its heady sights, sounds and smells, where you’ll meet some of the stallholders and learn about the ingredients you’ll be using later. From here, it’s a scenic 25-minute boat ride along the river to the Red Bridge Cooking School - be sure to have your camera to hand. Following a tour of the school’s herb garden, you’ll hear the story behind some famous national and local dishes before the cooking begins in earnest. After a demonstration from the resident chefs, you’ll prepare dishes such as cao lau, made with yellow noodles, pork and pickled hot peppers, and mi quang, another favourite local noodle speciality, before sitting down to eat what you’ve cooked for a memorable lunch.

• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Group experience

Good to know
The class is suitable for families with children aged 6 and above.

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Vietnamese Lantern Making Workshop (from Hoi An or Danang)

There are colourful hanging lanterns everywhere you look in Hoi An’s atmospheric Old Town, a picturesque legacy of the days when this once-important port attracted merchants from China and Japan. On this engaging hands-on workshop, you’ll learn about how the craft took hold here and evolved in its own unique way, gaining an insight into the region’s history and culture along the way. Then it’s time to make your own example, from choosing the shape and picking the silk to learning how to glue it all together and smooth out any creases. At the end of the class, you’ll head off on a short walk around Hoi An - carrying your precious new creation - where you’ll be able to truly appreciate the skill that has gone into making the many lanterns that dot the city. And if you’re wondering how you’re going to get your handiwork home in one piece, you’ll be pleased to know that it’s conveniently foldable.

• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
This workshop is suitable for families with children aged 6 and above.

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Hoi An’s Highlights

Hoi An is a wonderland of international influences, particularly in its delightful – and UNESCO-listed – Old Town which was once a bustling centre of trade. This guided walking tour is a great way to get your bearings and find out more about its layers of time. Highlights include a visit to a traditional house and the Hoi An Museum, a trove of local treasures collected through the ages. You’ll also visit Cau Temple, which is commonly referred to as the Japanese Covered Bridge and finish your exploratory morning with a boat trip along the Thu Bon River for a different view of the city.

• Daily departures from Hoi An or Danang
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

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Local Life Cycling Adventure

A glimpse of rural life provides an unbeatable insight into a country and its culture. And it gives a chance to take a break from the buzz of the city. From Hoi An or Danang, you’ll head into the countryside and cycle through the countryside to the fascinating Tra Que vegetable village, a settlement where the focus is on growing some of the highest quality produce in the region. As well as meeting farmers and hearing about their methods you’ll have the opportunity to get hands on and join in with raking, sowing, watering and tending the vegies. Following your work in the garden, you’ll be treated to a therapeutic foot bath and then help prepare lunch alongside a local family. Learn how to make a Tam Huu spring roll and Bang Xeo pancake and try a host of other Vietnamese delicacies.

• Daily departures from Hoi An and Danang
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Good to know
The cycling distance is approximately six miles and there will be no back-up vehicle, so you need to be physically fit and mobile.

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Hue’s Highlights in a Day

Vietnam’s former capital, which is set on the banks of the Perfume River, is a surprising city that doesn’t seem to get the same attention as Hoi An, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. This full-day exploration, available from Hoi An, Danang or Hue itself, gives you the perfect chance to uncover its charms. The tour starts off at the Minh Mang Tomb, the tranquil final resting place of a 19th-Century Nguyen Dynasty leader. Next up is the towering Thien Mu Pagoda which has seven ever-decreasing storeys, followed by a trip back along the river on a traditional dragon boat. The highlight of the day is the visit to the sprawling walled Citadel and the Imperial City, the former capital of Vietnam. The last stop of the tour is the buzzing Dong Ba market, Hue’s centre of trade.

• Daily departures from Hoi, Danang or Hue
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

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Get to know Hoi An and those all-important practicalities when planning your perfect holiday.

Capital
TIME DIFFERENCE

GMT +7 hours

CURRENCY

Vietnamese Dong

FLYING TIME TO DESTINATION

16½ hours (excluding stopover time)  

RELIGION

Vietnam is a multi-religion state with Buddhism as the leading religion.

LANGUAGE

Vietnamese

Where is Hoi An?
Hoi An is in central Vietnam on the north bank of the Thu Bon River close to its mouth. It’s only an hour or so down the coast from the international airport at Danang, from where there are domestic services to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc, among others, as well as flights to nearby countries such as Cambodia and Laos.

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Getting around
Walking is by far the best way to explore the Old Town, especially as traffic is restricted for much of the day. Renting a bicycle is another popular option, whether you’re heading towards the centre from a resort on the coast or just looking to discover the gentle rural landscapes of Hoi An’s largely hill-free hinterland. Otherwise, you could hop on a cyclo if you’re not going far or grab a taxi for longer trips.

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Food & drink
Hoi An punches above its weight in the culinary stakes. Many of its historic buildings are now home to casual cafés and restaurants, and there’s barely a street corner that doesn’t have at least one stall dishing up steamed buns, prawn pancakes or fragrant noodles with a distinctive local flavour. Be sure to try some sweeter specialities such as banh it, a triangle of green-bean paste and sweetened coconut shreds steamed in banana leaves.

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Quang Nam’s captivating countryside
Uncover a more traditional way of life in the lush countryside beyond Hoi An. In the north and west of Quang Nam province, forested hills shelter tea plantations, villages of ethnic Co Tu weavers and picturesque ancient hamlets frozen in time. In the east, the flatter land is dominated by agriculture, with luxuriant rice paddies and fields of every crop from peanuts to pepper.

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Local life
A short cycle ride from Hoi An, Tra Que Vegetable Village offers visitors a chance to immerse themselves in this rural existence, meeting farmers and learning about their chemical-free methods before helping with the daily tasks – including preparing a lunch of typical local dishes such as turmeric-tinted bang xeo pancakes. If you’re visiting Quang Nam between April and August, swathes of lotus plants in bloom bring an arresting splash of pink to ponds, lagoons and slow-moving rivers around the province.

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My Son Sanctuary
Backed by emerald hills in the heart of Quang Nam province, the atmospheric jungle-wrapped ruins of My Son are all that survive of the capital of the Champa Kingdom that dominated this area of central Vietnam for almost 1,000 years from the 4th century. The highlights of this remarkable World Heritage Site are the series of intricate brick-and-stone tower temples dedicated to Hindu gods such as Shiva, now gently eroding and studded by encroaching greenery. Wander among them, chased by clouds of vividly coloured butterflies, admiring ancient bas-reliefs carved out of rich red sandstone, weather-worn statues of figures from Hindu mythology and the extraordinary sophistication of the long-vanished civilisation that created them.

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Shopping
With fascinating indoor and outdoor markets to explore, you’ll find it hard to resist the lure of shopping in Hoi An. Go to check out the eye-catching displays – everything from baskets of herbs to piles of exotic fruit – and stick around to order a whole new made-to-measure wardrobe from the silk merchants and tailors who’ve been in business here for generations.

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Multi-centres
Make use of the airport and train station at Danang, an hour away, to construct an itinerary tailored to your tastes and timetable. One possibility is to combine the urban rush of Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City (where flights from the UK land), with quieter times in Ho An where you can intersperse relaxing days at the beach with trips to nearby historic towns, temples and beauty spots.

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