Hoi An – the ancient town in Quang Nam Province, is listed among UNESCO world heritage sites thanks to its special, ancient and quintessential charm. From the 15th to19th centuries, the town was indeed renowned as it was a great trading harbor of South-East Asia. Hence, it is absolutely a perfect spot for learning about the Vietnam’s history and culture. For sure, it deserves a visit of domestic and international tourists. Now it’s right time to explore something to do in Hoi An, Vietnam.
Discovering the Ancient Town on two wheels
Everything travelers should do is to rent a bicycle (it’s often very cheap for a rental). Don’t get worried about where to rent as it is easy to find out at many street corners. In case of booking a day Hoi An tour, you will be taken by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide to explore everywhere. Biking along the streets in the town and village paths, the travelers will be amazed the idyllic charm found from rice, herb, vegetable, and shrimp farms. Other interesting activities for a bike ride are crossing a bamboo bridge (a typical type of Vietnamese rural areas’ bridges), visiting veteran families, and tasting local specialties.
Savoring Street Food
Street food has been taken into account as a remarkable characteristic of the Vietnam cuisine recently. Being garments, travelers will quickly keep a watchful eye on plenty of street food when experiencing a trip around Hoi An. Especially, there is nothing luxurious; instead, the travellers just sit at the sidewalk or street corners to savor specialties, but it is truly the most impressive point here. Enjoy from sweet soup (red bean soup, Thung soup, green bean soup, corn soup, sticky taro soup, lotus seed soup, black bean soup, and so forth). Moreover, the ancient town is also renowned for luscious Cao Lau noodle soup, fried bread, fried shrimp cakes, fried banana, chicken rice, grilled meat skewer, etc.
Experiencing the fanciful scenery of lanterns-decorated streets
There are lots of picturesque images and glittering things to experience in Hoi An, which always appeal to a large number of tourists every year, and the most awestruck one is the perspective in which sparkling lanterns cover every corner of this ancient town at night. Additionally, from 6:00PM daily when the dark occurs, all vehicles are forbidden to the town. Therefore, the travelers can experience the peaceful ambiance while walking along beautiful streets decorated with colorful lanterns. On the 14th day of each lunar month, there is a special event exciting people; it is full moon lantern festival which will make the town more magical from every corner, such as the Japanese Covered Bridge, Thu Bon river, and streets along the riversides. If choosing this time to go, travelers will be excited by the phenomenal scenery from twinkling lit paper flowers on Thu Bon river and numerous lanterns hanging up everywhere while no electric light is switched on.
Visiting to Cham Island
The spot is depicted as a group of 8 tiny islands and has been recognized as the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. While it is too dangerous to uncover the seas in the wet season, the dry season is the ideal time for relishing the phenomenal coral reef, believed as the micro-diver’s paradise. Additionally, due to its crystal-clear and imposing beaches, Cham Island may delight the travelers through sport activities like boat racing, swimming, water skiing, kayaking, and others.
Witnessing Tra Que Herb Village and Thanh Ha Pottery Village
Near the Thu Bon river and 3 km away from the ancient town’s west is Thanh Ha Pottery Village. This location is also like a precious historical legacy of Hoi An and plays a crucial role in the town’s growth due to its prosperity. Getting on a boat and crossing the river to the village, travelers have an opportunity to learn about the traditional pottery career of the local people and get pottery items they love.
As for Tra Que Herb Village, it is with regret that travelers lose out on this place. Although it is a small idyllic village on the Hoi An’s edge, Tra Que helps improve the taste of Hoi An cuisine by its awesome scented vegetable locals produce. In other words, the dishes here may be more brilliant and memorable as the herbs are added to it. One of the amazing things to do in Hoi An and specifically in Tra Que is to learn the Hoi An culinary art through the cooking class; here, try your hand at some dishes, such as make pancakes, scented vegetables, and spring rolls with meat.
Uncovering the charm of My Son Sanctuary
This sanctuary is positioned in a small valley in Quang Nam province and hemmed in splendid mountains. This destination is supposed to be the remains of the impressive culture along the coast of Vietnam between the 4th – 13th centuries. There is a series of ancient monuments and epitaphs. Today, it has been found in the list of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage which has drawn lots of tourists in the world.
