How to Explore Hoi An as a First Time traveller

Planning on visiting the Vietnamese city of Hoi An during your trip to Vietnam? Previously known as the city of Fai-Fo, Hoi An was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1999. There's plenty of rich history and culture to immerse yourself in here, especially if you're a first time traveller to the city. From where you can stay to what experiences to try out, read on to find out the best way to get familiar with Hoi An if it's your first time in the city.

Where to Stay

Being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hoi An is one of Vietnam's many popular tourist towns. Therefore, finding a place to stay is not a problem at all. Depending on your budget and preferences, there are several options you can choose from. You can opt to stay at an affordable guest house or even a world-class Hoi An hotel available in the area such as Anantara Hoi An Resort or similar others.

Take a Stroll Around Town

The first thing to do once you've arrived in Hoi An as a newcomer is to put your bags down and set off on a stroll around the town. With a history dating back centuries, Hoi An is very pedestrian-friendly with many roads only accessible on foot. Observe the quaint cobbled streets and culturally diverse architecture, including an iconic Japanese-style bridge dating back to the 1700s.

Savour Authentic Local Cuisine

The city is renowned for the wide selection of cuisines that its locals are proficient in, thanks to the many different ethnicities that have called it home over the years. These include the Portuguese and Chinese among others. The locals use this rich and varied culinary heritage to their advantage by offering cooking classes for tourists. Many restaurants in the city have cooking lessons that you can take, which will teach you to make some of the region's popular traditional dishes. So, if you're interested in taking back a piece of Vietnam's culture and heritage with you, sign up for a class! It's a fun activity to do, especially when you're travelling in a group.

Traverse the Scenic Countryside

One of the main draws of Hoi An is its beautiful countryside and the friendly locals that inhabit it. So, if it's your first time making a trip to this city, do make sure to allocate some time in your itinerary to explore the countryside. You can rent a bicycle or even a jeep based on your preferences and the composition of your travelling party. Keep in mind that if you're travelling with small children or more elderly members, or if you plan to do a lot of exploring, it might be more comfortable to rent a jeep. You could also plan a half-day trip to the My Son ruins. These ruins have been acknowledged by UNESCO as a heritage site and are thought to have originated around 1500 years ago.

Time your Trip for the Lantern Festival

Plan ahead and ensure that you are in Hoi An around the start of the lunar month or the middle of it. Why? The city holds a lantern festival twice a month on the nights of the 1st and the 14th. As a newcomer to the city, this colourful festival of lights is a not-to-be-missed experience. The city transforms itself on these nights into a truly magical destination, so make sure to head over to the historic quarter where the festive decorations can be best enjoyed. The streets are blocked off to traffic on these evenings and a myriad of traditional lanterns are strung up to light the way for pedestrians. As you explore the city on the night of the lantern festival, keep your eyes peeled for the traditional offerings that the local families have put out next to their houses. The offerings would usually include edible items such as tropical fruits as well as other things such as flowers, incense, and candles.