Things to do in Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An Market in the early morning

Hoi An market retains an appealingly traditional atmosphere, despite then number of tourists. Like most, it's the best in the early morning. Arrive before 7 am and you’ll witness some frantic wheeling and dealing of seafood down at the riverside wet market. The air is thick with the smells of fish while it teems with market-goers, predominantly women, clambering to score the best and most affordable fish, shellfish and mollusks to peddle at their tiny market stands.

The market is lively and conical hats are everywhere: the good, the bad and the ugly. It is full of sights, sounds, colors and smells. Everybody is busy doing something: selling, buying, hanging around, getting on and off the boat. It seems a sustainable industry and this similar scenes must have been repeated throughout the centuries, and by the time the sun is up the market is already at full swing.

Diving site in Cham Island

Cham Island Marine Park is still an unexplored diving site, many other dive sites and also old wrecks are yet to be discovered. During the good season, from beginning of March till end of August, the water gets clearer and can offer up to 20 meters underwater visibility, revealing some beautiful coral reefs near all the islets and also Rang Manh pinnacles that will make many experienced scuba divers very happy.

Hire a boat

While many motorized boats offer river tours, but hiring a boat is a nice change to instead glide along the water. You can find many local people along the Bach Dang riverside, or near Japanese Covered Bridge offer this service.

Vietnamese Cooking Classes in Hoi An

Vietnamese cuisine is globally known for its varied flavors, presentation and freshness. Classes usually take a half a day and there are several to choose from in Hoi An. Highlights include a guided tour of Hoi An's colorful central market, boat trip on the Hoi An River, and hands-on cooking classes.

Become a farmer at Tra Que Vegetable

This is an interesting discovery of Hoi An traditional values with a tour called "one day of becoming an old town resident". It was a delightful and very affordable way to spend the day and learn about the food and culture of the area. The variety of herbs and vegetables was amazing.

Custom Made Tailor

Hoi An is best known for its custom clothing trade and is the multitude of tailor shops. You might have a nice outfit just in several days or hours with a reasonable price. You will find an array of different colours, patterns, textures & quality of fabric.

Rent a Motorbike

If the traffic scared you in Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi, Hoi An is a good place to learn. The quiet streets makes it becomes an ideal place to hire a bike to get around and surrounding Hoi An. You will have the opportunity to ride your own motorbike or bicycle, which gives you the freedom of being in control of your own destiny. You will travel along, never rushing, really enjoyable.

Bikes cost around 15,000VND or $1USD per day, and can be hired from just about anywhere. Renting a bicycle from a guesthouse, café or travel agency is a fantastic way to see the town and get some amazing photos!

If you want to rent a motorbike, you can choose to hire a driver or brave the roads by yourself, depending on your skill and sense of balance. Hiring a driver costs between 2-4 US dollars per trip, while renting a motorbike can cost about 5 US dollars for a day’s rental. Both options can be booked through most major hotels in the city, or can be found lining the streets. Or you can bike out to the Hill Tribe towns for very “local” insight into Vietnamese culture and people

Joining a homestay tour

Many tourists choose home-stay accommodation as a way to approach Vietnamese culture, and there is no better way than living with a local family. Home-stay guests are treated like a member of the host family. They may have to wake up early in the morning to help the host family prepare breakfast, usually Mi quang (local-style noodles), Cao lau (noodles with roasted pork) or steamed sticky rice, and may be asked to help out in the garden later. There they can learn how to identify the various herbs and vegetables used in Vietnamese cooking, and how to grow them.