Two days in Hoi An
Hoi An is a charming Vietnamese town located approximately 850 km north of Ho Chi Minh City. It’s well preserved and the architecture reflects the history of a former port city, with a mix of French colonial buildings, Chinese shophouses, temples and the iconic Japanese Bridge. Walk along the river, pass the mustard yellow buildings with the Chinese lanterns hanging from the roofs and visit the local market. This is my favorite place in Vietnam so far.
How to get to Hoi An
Hoi An is easily accessible. It doesn’t have a train stop but it’s easy to get there by bus, car or plane. I chose to fly from Ho Chi Minh to Da Nang and got a taxi (Grab) from there.
If you’re visiting Ho Chi Minh, I would say it’s a must to spend a couple of days in Hoi An. It’s so nice to get out of the big city and experience the countryside and this charming little town. It’s also possible to take a shuttle bus from Da Nang airport instead of taking a taxi but it doesn’t go that often and it’s only cheaper if you are one or two people traveling together.
Tips:
- To book your flight, I recommend using a search engine, such as Momondo or Skyscanner, to check what airlines are flying and at what times
- To book hotels, I prefer either Booking.com or Hotels.com
- To get the most out of your trip, book an activity with GetYourGuide. They have so many great tours and I especially recommend it if your traveling alone! A great way to meet new people as well
If you spend two days here, make sure to include these places into your itinerary:
Walk around the old town. Make sure to see the Japanese Bridge
This is probably the most iconic symbol of Hoi An. It was constructed in the 1590s by the Japanese, hence the name, with the purpose of reaching the Chinese quarter.
Rent scooters and see the paddy fields and countryside
This was one of my favorite things to do. Rent scooters for a day and experience the countryside of Vietnam. The traffic is so organized in a way, so it’s not a problem driving out of town and there’s not much traffic in the countryside.
My Son Sanctuary
This sanctuary is a cluster of Hindu temples and located in a green, lush valley, surrounded by jungle mountains. My Son is on the UNSCO World Cultural Heritage list and dates back to the 4th century. This means that its actually eight hundred years older than Angkor Wat!
Visit the beach
This place even has beaches only a short scooter ride away. Sandy beaches with bars and restaurants where you can enjoy a meal, some snacks or just a drink. An Bang beach is the most popular one, located at the end of the main road out of Hoi An.
Explore Hoi An at night
The town brings out its best side after sunset with floating candlelight in a lotus paper lantern all over the river. It makes this little down even more charming. It’s also possible to go for a boat ride to see the floating lantern up close
Go to a tailor
Hoi An’s streets are full of different tailor shops. You’ll find them in all different shapes and seizes. One will look like a fancy western shop and another will just be an extension of a family’s own living room. Do some research, make sure to find a tailor that will get you a good result and a good price!
