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Hoi An Ancient Town is an old urban area located in the coastal plain of Quang Nam Province, Vietnam. Hoi An was once a bustling international trading port, where Japanese, Chinese, and Western merchant ships met during the 17th and 18th centuries. Before this period, there were traces of the Champa seaport or mentions of the maritime silk route.
Later, Hoi An gradually declined but fortunately escaped two wars against France and the United States, avoiding the rapid urbanization of the late 20th century. Starting from the 1980s, the architectural and cultural values of Hoi An Ancient Town gradually gained attention from scholars and tourists alike, making it one of Vietnam's most attractive tourist destinations.
With its rich history of formation and development, along with unique features and outstanding values, at the 23rd session (December 4, 1999), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized Hoi An Ancient Town as a "World Cultural Heritage." Hoi An is a prominent tangible manifestation of the combination of cultures through different periods in an international trading port, and is also a typical example of a well-preserved traditional Asian port city.
Hoi An Ancient Town
As a former international trading port, a bustling hub of trade among nations, Hoi An has long been a shopping hub for customers both domestic and international. Visitors to Hoi An can find a wide variety of items. Hoi An seems to have become a shopping paradise in Central Vietnam. Impressively not only with its unique architecture, famous attractions, but also with the ability for tourists to search and purchase souvenir items, especially handicraft products.
Surely everyone has seen images of tourists in Hoi An wearing eye-catching outfits, especially the traditional Vietnamese ao dai. Hoi An is famous for its "lightning-fast" tailor shops. In just a few hours, customers can receive tailor-made outfits. However, there are also ready-made clothing stores for tourists with limited time.
Customers can choose their favorite materials such as silk, cotton,... with patterns printed on the clothes bearing the traditional Vietnamese style. Tourists can also choose casual wear along with various lively accessories.
Along the streets, it's not difficult to come across tailor shops, fabric stores, and fashion boutiques. Visitors will be pleasantly surprised that in the clothing and fashion stores in the cities, there are tailors working.
This service is very popular and enjoyable for foreign tourists. It's not difficult to spot white-skinned, brown-haired guests wearing traditional Vietnamese costumes.
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Cloth shop
When in Hoi An, don't miss the opportunity to buy silk scarves here. Famous for its silk village established hundreds of years ago, the renowned silk here is not only because of where it is made but also because of its soft, cool, and gentle characteristic.
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Silk shop
Not only that, visitors will also experience accessories such as leather bags, shoes, hats made specifically in Hoi An. These items are creatively and uniquely designed by "designers" exclusively for you. It's not difficult to find a leather goods store when passing through the streets of Hoi An.
If you love sparkling jewelry, Hoi An also has jewelry stores with unique designs. Jewelry stores are full of gold, silver, and precious stones. There is also a small museum displaying various types of gemstones and raw stones mined in Vietnam.
It can be said that lanterns are closely associated with Hoi An. Walking along the streets of Hoi An Ancient Town, there is no place without lanterns. These sparkling lanterns are the characteristic symbol of the ancient town.
Not only in Hoi An, lanterns are products of traditional craft villages used in many places in Vietnam. However, Hoi An lanterns are a very distinctive feature of this city. The meaning of lanterns is brightness, and the people here consider the lantern's light as a symbol of people. In addition, each color of lantern symbolizes different meanings.
There are many places for tourists to admire and take pictures of the colorful lantern-lit streets. These lanterns with many meanings will surely be an ideal gift for tourists whenever they set foot here. Hoi An lanterns are very diverse, shaped according to many different patterns. On each lantern, colors, and patterns are meticulously crafted.
Colorful lanterns shop
Many handicrafts have formed and developed vibrantly in Hoi An Ancient Town 500 – 600 years ago. The sophisticated handicraft products, diverse, crafted by the hands of artisans originating from villages with hundreds of years of history, are a great strength of Hoi An.
The exquisite handicraft products are manufactured in handicraft workshops - or Hoi An craft villages. Here, traditional craft villages gather with many culturally rich products. If given the opportunity, tourists can also go there to experience and explore the production process.
The products of artisans are displayed in the workshop. Visitors can visit to admire and directly purchase their favorite items. At the same time, tourists can also see the dedication and meticulousness of artisans embodied in each product. All products possess exquisite beauty because they are meticulously designed by the most talented craftsmen. Some handicraft products such as flower vases, conical hats, oil paintings, wooden statues,...
Hoi An craft villages
Hoi An craft villages
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It would be incomplete not to mention the local dishes in Hoi An. The dishes and flavors in each region carry the characteristic traits of that region. When enjoying local specialties, tourists will remember the places they have visited.
Hoi An also has dishes that can be bought as gifts. The dishes with very unique flavors of Central Vietnam can include green bean cakes, "thuan" cakes, "phu the" cakes, or even tourists can enjoy chili sauce here and wrap a little as a gift for friends and relatives.
Green bean cake
There are many options for tourists to travel to Hoi An. International and domestic tourists can buy tickets to Da Nang and then continue to Hoi An by bus or taxi. In addition, tourists can go to other places in Vietnam and then travel to Hoi An by various means such as train, bus, or by personal means (car, motorbike).
When arriving in Hoi An, tourists can also walk or experience various types of transportation here. Tourists can travel by bicycle, which will be an ideal means for tourists to stroll around the ancient town, enjoy the coolness, and feel the peaceful life here. Or tourists can easily rent a motorbike to actively move between tourist spots here. Cyclo is also a means worth experiencing. Sitting on a cyclo to admire the streets is also a delicious and memorable experience when visiting Hoi An.
Cyclo in Hoi An
For those who like to experience, explore, and be independent, people can schedule and travel independently. When traveling independently, you can be proactive in terms of time and transportation. Besides, you will also have to spend time learning and planning the itinerary for tourist spots.
There are currently many Hoi An tours as well as at various price levels. You can refer to many travel companies to choose a suitable itinerary for yourself. When booking a tour, you don't have to worry about the itinerary, accommodation, and various types of tickets. Moreover, you will also be advised and introduced to famous restaurants here.
Especially when visiting Hoi An, don't miss the opportunity to visit the most livable city in Vietnam – the coastal city of Da Nang. You can combine visiting two destinations to fully enjoy the beauty of the Central Vietnam coast.
Da Nang - The most livable city in Vietnam
In conclusion, Hoi An is a must-visit destination in Vietnam, combining classical architecture, cultural diversity, and distinctive cuisine to create a unique and wonderful travel experience.
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