Vietnam Quang Nam Province

Hội An

A UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its well-preserved Ancient Town, lantern-lit streets, and vibrant mix of architectural styles.

Tips from the community

Vietnam’s ancient port city is for solo travelers and night owls, from the luminous lantern-lined streets to the pop-up bars that offer late-night mixed drinks after the crowds have gone to bed. If you need a tailored suit for a cheap price, it happens to be one of the city’s specialties. You can also find Cao Lầu, a noodle dish that’s specific to Hội An. This UNESCO world heritage site truly lives up to all of its rightfully earned hype. There are a couple of ways to experience Hai Van, depending on your individual preference and timeline. Buying your own motorbike to do a full backpacking trip across Vietnam is undeniably the best way to experience the country in depth. This option comes highly recommended based on personal experience—the unparalleled freedom is indescribably exhilarating. Also, if you ding your bike along the way, you won’t have to worry about covering any repairs. If time isn’t on your side, or you’re a bit scared of the whole ordeal, you can still experience the Hai Van Pass. Jeep tours are available for those who don’t trust their driving skills. If you still want to ride but not commit to a vehicle purchase, opt for an Easy Rider Tour with luggage transfers included. This option is pretty popular with short-term travelers, or anyone who wants to split the journey up with some bus travel.

sarahlempa 5 years ago

Hoi An isn’t like anywhere else in Vietnam. Here, you’ll wake to the sound of water buffalos splashing in the rice paddies. You’ll whiz on rickshaws between paint-peeling coffee shops. You’ll wander narrow alleys laced with Buddhist shrines and noodle kitchens. Try to stay somewhere within reach of the old center; it’s UNESCO listed and oozes atmosphere. Those looking to bolster their wardrobe might want to get a three-piece made because Hoi An is the tailoring capital of Asia (BeBe is a trusted place to go). Alternatively, rent a bike and cycle through the gardens to An Bang Beach, a long run of powdery sand backed by casual bars.

jrfrancis 3 years ago

Vietnam’s ancient port city is for night owls, from the luminous lantern-lined streets to the pop-up bars that offer late-night mixed drinks after the crowds have gone to bed. If you need a tailored suit for a cheap price, it happens to be one of the city’s specialties. You can also find Cao Lầu, a noodle dish that’s specific to Hội An. This UNESCO world heritage site truly lives up to all of its rightfully earned hype.

sarahlempa 5 years ago

With Vietnam’s impeccable cuisine, this bucket list could easily be all about food. Proper Cao Lầu can only be found in the ancient port city of Hoi An because of the local water that must be used in the noodle recipe. Specific, eh? This heavenly bowl is a full on sensory experience, with fragrantly marinated pork, bright pops of green herbs, and intense chili sauce that you’ll inevitably get carried away with. I ordered it meatless and it was still up there in the top three foods I ate in Vietnam. Don’t miss this one.

sarahlempa 5 years ago

Wake up and smell the pho (Vietnamese noodle soup). An intriguing mixture of cultures and architectures present themselves in Hoi An, Vietnam’s famous ancient city. Chinese shophouses, French colonial architecture, and Japanese covered bridges coexist in a one-of-a-kind harmony here, many of them painted a shade of saturated yellow. It’s sort of like Cartagena’s Vietnamese twin, minus the empanadas.

sarahlempa 3 years ago

There isn’t a Google maps location for this, but if you see a pop-up street bar, it’s a worthwhile stop. When the streets quiet down dramatically after 10 pm, a few solo bartenders come out to mix drinks and play tunes from their boomboxes. There aren’t too many, but they’re more likely to be posted up around hostels and hotels that are just off from the main area. Good luck on your gin & tonic scavenger hunt!

sarahlempa 4 years ago

Hội An Guides

  • Highest of the High Places I Have to See

    kelli.allred (Kelli Allred)

  • Breathtaking Lantern Festivals Around The World

    seeker (Seeker Editors)
    As we enter the new year, the ever-so-magical image of mesmerizing lanterns has already begun sparkling in our imaginations. We put together a list of some of the most breathtaking lantern festivals that occur yearly (and sometimes monthly!) throughout the world. While different cultures, countries, and cities have their own unique way of interpreting and celebrating the world- one thing that stays constant is the beauty of light. From the Umi No Hi celebration in Japan, in honor of the ocean, to the water lantern festival of Honolulu, paying respects to our loved ones past- these stunning destinations each carry a deep meaning and spectacular beauty that accumulates in these iconic lantern festivals.

  • Yellow Colored Places Around the World

    seeker (Seeker Editors)
    From otherworldly volcanic landscapes to fields of cheerful sunflowers, check out these banana-colored yellow destinations around the world.

  • The Most Colorful Places Around the World

    seeker (Seeker Editors)
    Discover some of the most otherworldly and ethereal landscapes gleaming in heavy pigments, from alkaline red lakes to banana-colored volcanic landscapes. For Pride month we wanted to select the most vibrant destinations across the planet in every shade of ROYGBIV to create the ultimate rainbow-themed bucket list. Let your rainbow flags fly this summer while taking a look at some of the most colorful places on earth. Happy Pride Seekers!

  • World Heritage Sites in Asia

    seeker (Seeker Editors)
    Across the vast, diverse continent of Asia, there are seemingly endless World Heritage Sites to explore. Visit the sparse atomic bomb dome in Hiroshima, or walk for hours along the towering Great Wall of China. From sprawling rustic temple grounds to ancient statues of civilizations past- here is a collection of some of the prominent World Heritage Sites in Asia.

Hội An Articles

  • 9 Yellow Places You Need to Add to Your Bucket List

    Singer-songwriter Donovan knew exactly what he was talking about when he wrote that song “Mellow Yellow.” This color is an absolute mood booster. And when the sun shines, these locations brighten up our days even more than usual. So grab a banana for the road (to match your surroundings, duh) and explore 9 of the […]

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  • How to Spend One Day in Hoi An, Vietnam

    Narrow streets peppered with lanterns and cultural fusion make Vietnam’s ancient city of Hoi An a wondrous storybook to step into. The mélange of historical influences are evident in golden colonial-style buildings which house some of the best eats and local goods in town. Although tourism is booming (and understandably so), it doesn’t manage to […]

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  • Riding Hai Van Pass: Ocean, Mountains, & Adrenaline

    The dichotomous intersection of sea and mountains is where Hai Van Pass lies: a gloriously serpentine road famed for motorbike travel. The pass feels far away from civilization and is all too thrilling to zip across while riding (literally) an adrenaline high. Between the northern loop and Ho Chi Minh Trail, Vietnam is known for […]

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  • Backpacking Southeast Asia: 41 Destinations That Won’t Blow Your Budget

    Like a bar mitzvah or a grad party, backpacking the well-worn trails of Southeast Asia is nothing short of a rite of passage. For the budding traveler, the trodden route that links electrifying Bangkok to the temples of Angkor and the rolling surf of Bali is a chance to discover what street food and tuk […]

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  • 31 of the Best Things to Do in Vietnam

    Vietnam is notorious for chaotically vibrant cities, iconic limestone mountains, and enough crave-worthy local cuisine to inspire you to extend your visa. Seriously, that pho is downright captivating. But wait, there’s more, and I’m not here to just tell you about Ha Long Bay like everyone else. You’re going to want to make your way […]

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  • The Best Places to Visit in Vietnam from North to South

    Vietnam might be a geographically narrow country, but there’s certainly nothing easy about narrowing down your decision on which spots to visit. With nearly 1,000 miles from the top to the bottom, this Southeast Asian country is filled with beautifully chaotic cities, towering limestone mountains, and absurd amounts phở whenever your heart desires. Vietnam’s northernmost […]

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