Top 15 interesting things must do in Hoi An

Hoi An ancient city and top 15 interesting things you must do in Hoi An 

Exploring the enchanting ancient streets is a must do in Hoi An for any traveler. The mossy ancient streets, tiled roof houses, and small winding roads are all steeped in rich historical stories. Every brick and tile roof seems to whisper tales of the golden age when Hoi An was the busiest commercial port in Vietnam. If you are planning a trip to this ancient city, let's delve into the top 15 interesting things you must do in Hoi An, as recommended by Hoi An Memories Land, offering unique experiences you might not find anywhere else!

1. A must do in Hoi An ancient town: Walking to fully explore every corner

Walking is the best way to fully explore every corner of Hoi An ancient town, a must do in Hoi An. Under the sparkling lanterns light, the tiled roof houses covered in moss or the winding golden walls along narrow streets all enchant tourists with this antique beauty. Tourists will have the opportunity to admire unique and rare ancient architectural works in the world that are preserved till today, such as Tan Ky ancient house, Chaozhou Assembly Hall, Cau Pagoda, ancient well, etc.

Exploring well-preserved ancient structures to this day

>>> See more: Hoi An Ancient Town and 1001 things you might not know

2. Explore the cultural and artistic heritage of Hoi An ancient town

Hoi An ancient town is a treasure trove of cultural heritage, traditional craft villages, and unique festivals, creating a vibrant and colorful cultural scene. Exploring these aspects is a must do in Hoi An Villages like Thanh Ha Pottery and Kim Bong Carpentry are famous for their unique skills and beautiful handmade products. The town also hosts traditional art performances such as Hat Boi, Tuong, and Bai Choi, showcasing the unique culture of Vietnam and Hoi An. Additionally, Hoi An attracts tourists with its lively festivals like the Lantern Festival, Cau Bong Festival, and Cau Ngu Festival, offering a fun and immersive experience of local culture.

Cau Ngu Festival - A unique feature in the culture of coastal people in Hoi An ancient town

3. Spend relaxing time at An Bang beach

An Bang Beach, located about 6km from Hoi An city center, can be easily conquered by bicycle or motorbike. From the center of Hoi An, follow Hai Ba Trung street to Cam An ward, at the end of the road, you will admire An Bang beach, one of the most beautiful and experience-worthy beaches in Vietnam. This place is favored by nature with fine white sand, clear blue sea water and fresh air. An Bang Beach is an ideal destination for those who want to find a place to relax and enjoy beautiful nature. Besides, tourists can immerse themselves in nature with interesting experiences and activities such as swimming, surfing, or simply strolling along the white sand beach admiring the sunset.

Blue sea and white sand are the beauty that nature bestows on An Bang beach

>>> See more: Experience traveling to Hoi An for 2 "enchanted" days with your loved one

4. Explore 800 artifacts inside Hoi An museum

Hundred-year-old artifacts hundreds at Hoi An Museum of History and Culture

5. Experience a must do in Hoi An: learn to make lanterns

Hoi An lanterns have long been an indispensable symbol of this ancient city. Many tourists visiting Hoi An want to make their own lanterns as a souvenir of their trip. Understanding this desire, many lantern making workshops in Hoi An have opened day classes for tourists. Lantern artisans will provide detailed step-by-step instructions to complete a traditional lantern. This will be a wonderful and interesting experience for tourists to gain a deeper insight into the culture and appreciate the value of traditional lanterns.

One must do in Hoi An is learning to make lanterns

6. Participate a local cooking class - Essential things must do in Hoi An

The local cooking class at Hoi An Memories Land is an experience where tourists should try in order to learn how to prepare and cook traditional Hoi An dishes such as Cao Lau, fresh spring rolls with shrimp and meat, seafood pancakes, etc, under the guidance of experienced local chefs. The class is held at AN BISTRO Restaurant with a spacious, airy space located on Hoi An Memories Land where you can get there by bicycle, electric car or boat.

The uniqueness of the class lies in combining the combination of market shopping experience with local people, witnessing firsthand the diversity of ingredients, learning how to choose fresh food and learning about the culture of buying and selling at the local market. Moreover, upon completing your dish, you will be provided a certificate from Hoi An Memories Land and enjoy the results you made with your own hands.

An exciting experience to cook specialty dishes by yourself at Hoi An Memories Land

7. Scuba diving at Cu Lao Cham

Cu Lao Cham - a beautiful island not far from Hoi An, is an ideal destination for those who love scuba diving and a must do in Hoi An. The sea water at Cu Lao Cham is clear, calm and is an ideal habitat for many aquatic species.

While scuba diving, tourists can admire vibrant coral reefs, schools of colorful fish swimming around and other fascinating marine creatures.

8. Kayak along the banks of Hoi An river

Kayaking is an exciting experience that allows tourists to discover the beauty of the ancient town from a different perspective. tourists will be able to kayak on the romantic Thu Bon River, weave through lush green coconut trees and admire the ancient moss-covered houses along the banks.

9. Enjoy the Hoi An Memories show 

Hoi An Memories is one of the beautiful real scene shows meticulously staged on a vast outdoor stage spanning 25,000m2. With the presence of nearly 500 actors and a modern world-class sound and lighting system, the show promises to bring new artistic experiences to tourists.

If you're visiting, a must do in Hoi An is to enjoy the Hoi An Memories show

The Hoi An Memories show is a journey back in time, bringing tourists back to the past of the ancient town. The unique feature of Hoi An Memories is its focus on exploiting historical and cultural stories. Each performance is a separate story, giving tourists new perspectives on the cultural life and customs of Hoi An people through the ages.

The show begins with the "Life" performance, taking the audience back in time to the origins of the nation and the early days of Hoi An. Next, the "Wedding" performance recreates the historic wedding ceremony between Princess Huyen Tran and the King of Champa, celebrating the beauty of Vietnamese-Cham culture and its deep spiritual values.

In the "Lamps and Sea" performance, viewers are immersed in a touching love story between a girl from Faifo and a young man who works at sea. Despite the challenges, their love is filled with hope and happiness.

The "Integration" performance showcases the cultural blending between Hoi An and Eastern and Western countries, highlighting the prosperity of this once bustling trading port. The show concludes with the "Ao Dai" performance, portraying the grace and elegance of the traditional Vietnamese Ao Dai, honoring the pride of the nation's heritage.

>> See more: Top 4 Mesmerizing Hoi An Performances that captivate travelers

Information about the Hoi An Memories show:

• Show schedule: Every day of the week, except Tuesday
• Duration: 60 minutes (8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.)
• Location: Hoi An Memories Land - Hen island (turn left at 200 Nguyen Tri Phuong), Cam Nam, Hoi An.

Ticket price (depending on ECO, HIGH or VIP seat type):

• Tourists: From 600,000 - 1,200,000 VND for adults, from 150,000 - 600,000 VND for children from 1M - 1M4
• Locality: From 350,000 - 950,000 VND for adults, from 120,000 - 480,000 VND for children from 1M - 1M4

10. Take lots of beautiful photos in Hoi An ancient town

With its unique architecture and poetic natural landscapes such as ancient houses, rivers, and rice fields, Hoi An is a photographer's dream. Every moment you capture will result in wonderful photos, so don't forget to take lots of pictures to preserve beautiful memories of this place.

A must do in Hoi An for photography enthusiasts includes visiting famous locations such as:

• Cau Pagod: The bridge spans the creek flowing into the Thu Bon River, bordering Nguyen Thi Minh Khai and Tran Phu streets.
• Faifo Coffee: No. 130 Tran Phu, Minh An Ward, Hoi An city.
• Le Nghia Basketball Court: No. 31 Phan Chu Trinh, Hoi An city.
• Thanh Ha Pottery Village: Pham Phan Street, Block 5, Thanh Ha Ward, Hoi An city.
• Duy Vinh old brick kiln: Vinh Nam village, Duy Vinh commune, Duy Xuyen district, Quang Nam province
• Bay Mau coconut forest: Group 2, Can Nhan village, Cam Thanh commune, Hoi An city.

The vast coconut forest is a must-visit location for check-in 

11. Visit Hoi An night market - A must do in Hoi An

The night market is usually gathered from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., when night falls and the lantern lights illuminate, creating an extremely poetic and romantic scene. The night market has many stalls selling souvenirs, from exquisite handicrafts to sparkling jewelry. Tourists can also find unique souvenirs to give to friends and relatives. Additionally, the night market is also a place where tourists can enjoy a variety of delicious street foods.

12. Visit Tra Que vegetable village 

Located about 3km from the center of Hoi An ancient town, Tra Que vegetable village is a unique destination that attracts tourists with its simple and peaceful beauty. This place is known as the "vegetable area" of Hoi An, providing clean vegetables to the whole city and surrounding areas. With an age of more than 400 years old, Tra Que vegetable village is famous for its traditional vegetable farming system and specialty herbs.

13. "Cup" of delicious Hoi An specialties

Hoi An has a rich and unique cuisine. Each dish tells a story, a quintessential feature of the local culture, making tourists remember it forever. When you come here, don't forget to enjoy the specialties below, otherwise you will regret missing out:

Cao Lau

Cao lau, a traditional dish with golden noodles, rich broth and diverse toppings, brings a rich, irresistible flavor. Prices range from 30,000 - 60,000 VND, the Cao Lau restaurants you should experience are:

• Cao Lau of Hoi An Green Space High Floor: No. 687 Hai Ba Trung Street, Hoi An City
• Cao Lau of Hoi An Trung Bac: No. 87 Tran Phu Street, Hoi An City
• Cao Lau of Mrs.Thanh Hoi An: No. 26 Thai Phien Street, Hoi An City

Cao Lau of Hoi An

Hoi An chicken rice

Hoi An chicken rice is frugal and light with fragrant rice, well-boiled chicken and rich chicken broth. Prices range from 35,000 - 50,000 VND. Recommended spots to try Hoi An Chicken Rice include:

• Mrs. Buoi’s Chicken Rice: No. 22 Phan Chu Trinh Street, Hoi An City
• Mrs. Ho’s Chicken Rice: No. 16 Phan Chu Trinh Street, Hoi An City
• Mrs. Nga’s Chicken Rice: No. 8 Phan Chu Trinh Street, Hoi An City

Phuong’s Banh Mi

Phuong’s Banh Mi with delicious grilled meat, fatty pate and vegetables, creating a harmonious flavor, stimulating the taste buds. Prices range from 20,000 - 30,000 VND, located at 2B Phan Chu Trinh, Hoi An City.

Clam served with smashing rice paper

Clam served with smashing rice paper is a unique combination of grilled rice paper, steamed thin rice pancake, stir-fried mussels and raw vegetables, providing a crispy, chewy, rich experience. Prices range from 15,000 - 50,000 VND, the Clam served with smashing rice paper stalls you should experience are:

• Cam Nam Hoi An: No. 679 Hai Ba Trung Street, Hoi An City
• Hoi An Clam served with smashing rice paper: No. 82 Nguyen Tri Phuong Street, Hoi An City
• Ba Gia Hoi An: Village 1, Cam Nam, Hoi An City

Water fern cakes

Water fern cakes in small cups are soft and smooth, made with rice flour, braised shrimp, pork and sweet and sour fish sauce, creating a rich and easy-to-eat flavor. Prices range from only 2,000 - 3,000 VND/1 cup, the water fern cake stalls you should experience are:

• Mrs. Bay's Water fern cake: No. 2 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Hoi An City
• Mrs. My’s Water fern cake: at the end of Tran Phu street, adjacent to Phan Chau Trinh, Hoi An City
• 17 Water fern cake: No. 17, Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hoi An City

>> See more: 20+ Hoi An food specialties that tourists must try when visiting the ancient town

14. Discover why exploring Hoi An Memories Land is a must do in Hoi An

Hoi An Memories Land - A must-try tourist, resort and entertainment complex

Memories Land is a unique tourist, resort, and entertainment complex, where beautiful memories of Hoi An's culture, history, and people are preserved. Walking along the shady green paths, tourists can admire the houses reconstructed in the ancient architecture of Hoi An's ancient town and participate in various exciting entertainment activities.

Coming to Memories Land, tourists should not miss more than 20 outstanding art performances organized continuously from 5 p.m to 7 p.m. every day in different areas such as the Hoi An World show at 5 p.m. at the gate, the Trang Ti performances at 6:10pm at Vietnamese Village and a number of other performances.

Most especially, you should not miss the Hoi An Memories show - a magical story about the 400-year historical journey of the ancient town with a magnificent stage, vivid sound and light effects, and a talented actor that will take tourists from one surprise to another, leaving unforgettable impressions.

>> See more: A perfect vacation at the the luxury resort in Hoi An with only 1,300,000 VND

15. Enjoy a super chill time at a beautiful cafe

Enjoy a super chill time at a beautiful cafe is must do in Hoi An

Hoi An has countless cafes with diverse styles, from classic vintage to youthful modern, from romantic river views to vibrant rooftops such as Faifo Coffee, The Chef Cafe, Hoi An Roastery, etc. Each cafe has its own beauty, creating unique experiences for tourists.

>> See more: Top 24 Hoi An coffees that make visitors fascinated and let their souls wander

Conclusion

Hoi An ancient town is not only a tourist destination but also a journey to discover unique cultural and historical values. With the top 15 interesting things must do in Hoi An listed above, Hoi An Memories Land hopes that you will have more travel experience in Hoi An as well as a complete experience when visiting this heritage land.

Contact Hoi An Memories Land immediately if you want to book tickets with the best seats for the Hoi An Memories show!

>> See more: How to travel to Hoi An by motorbike