Vietnam Hoi An: all useful information about the city. Review, photo. Phuc Kien Assembly Hall. Video. Museum of History and Culture

Hoi An City (Vietnam) is located on the banks of the Thu Bon River, south of Da Nang (30 km). With one-story houses covered with tiled roofs, narrow streets, endless beaches, excellent diving and many interesting sights, this city attracts tourists from all over the world.

Historians claim that the first settlements on this land appeared more than two thousand years ago. Hoi An, which is under the protection of UNESCO, is often called. Over eight hundred historical buildings are located here: temples, commercial and Chinese houses. The town is famous for its sewing workshops and souvenir shops.

This Vietnamese city provides tourists with the opportunity to choose a variety of hotels for accommodation. Hoi An (Vietnam) has both very modest hotels and luxurious five-star apartments. There is no public transport here, people move around the city on foot or on bicycles. Bus tickets to neighboring settlements or excursions are sold at hotels.

Tourist season

You can visit Vietnam (Hoi An in particular) at any time of the year, but the period from April to September is most suitable for a trip. Open at this time beach season. The air warms up to +30 ... +35 °C. The rest of the time it blows from the sea strong wind, the sky is covered with clouds, it begins heavy rains. Despite this, the air temperature does not fall below +23 °C.

From the second half of September to January it is very hot here, but at this time, hotels, as a rule, provide a significant discount on accommodation (almost thirty percent). Winter in Vietnam is also very warm (+24 °C). In the city of Hoi An (Vietnam) the rainy season lasts from September to December, the main share of precipitation falls on October - November. During this period, typhoons and floods are not uncommon.

Beaches

Fans of a beach holiday feel quite comfortable in this city. Sandy beaches are located two kilometers away. Getting to them is easy. You can rent a motorcycle or bicycle, order a taxi or rent a shuttle bus for free.

If you are tired of traveling, we recommend that you stay at one of the hotels that are located right on the seashore. You can choose your favorite beach. Hoi An (Vietnam) has two of the most popular holiday destinations - Cua Da Beach and An Bang Beach. They are located on the same coast and have only a conditional border.

In fairness, it should be said that the beaches are not very well equipped - you can rent a sunbed, use free parking for a bicycle or motorcycle. And here water activities there is practically none here. Nevertheless, the beaches of Hoi An resemble the paintings of famous landscape painters - sandy, almost deserted, clean. In some places, there are casuarina trees and palms leaning towards the water, as well as fishing boats.

The cleanest Cua Dai beach delights with its white sand. Even walking along it will give you pleasure. These places are made for a relaxing holiday and contemplation magnificent nature. On the island of Cham, closest to the city, a diving school accepts everyone. This kind active rest very popular in Hoi An.

Attractions

Hoi An impresses everyone who comes to Vietnam with the number of attractions and memorable places. In the city you can admire ancient buildings and temples, see the famous Japanese bridge (covered), many the most interesting museums, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall. Many interesting places are located in the vicinity of Hoi An - the ruins of My Son, the Marble Mountains or Cham Island.

You don't need to rent a taxi or a bike to visit the city's sights. All of them are very compactly located on the streets of the Old Town. You can easily get around them on foot.

Old city

Vietnam is famous for many amazing monuments of history and architecture. Hoi An is no exception. His Old city occupies a small area (0.5 ha) bounded by Cam Pho, Minh An and Son Phong quarters. The most interesting and most significant buildings are located in the Minh An quarter.

Since the 17th century, the city of Hoi An (Vietnam) has been the international port of central Vietnam. Ships of other countries entered its harbor for six months a year to hold fairs, exchange goods, and buy and sell. Many merchants from Japan, China, Holland, and India stayed here and built their quarters in the traditional style. The old city was practically managed to be preserved in its original form. There are ancient temples and pagodas, residential buildings and bridges, piers and narrow streets, which are arranged in a checkerboard pattern.

Japanese covered bridge

Russian tourists have long discovered Vietnam. Hoi An attracts them primarily with its unique architecture. The famous bridge connects Nguen Thi Minh Khai and Tran Phu streets. It was built at the beginning of the 17th century. In the past, the Chinese community lived on one side of the building, and the Japanese community occupied the other. He became peculiar to these peoples.

On north side is small but very beautiful temple- Chua Kou. It's funny that during the day the inspection of the monument is paid, and in the evening everyone can visit it completely free of charge.

Museum of History and Culture

This small museum will allow you to get acquainted with the history of the ancient city. Its central exposition is made up of valuable exhibits that were previously kept in the Quan Am pagoda. Here are collected photographs and furniture, bells and dishes, an ancient altar. And in this museum there is a wonderful pond, which is inhabited by goldfish.

carpenter village

Many memorable places in the city are famous throughout Vietnam. Hoi An and its carpenter village Kim Bong is well known in the country. Since the 16th century, it has played an important role in the reconstruction of almost all artistic and architectural structures in Vietnam. Magnificent craftsmen are known for creating unique works of art, the finest wood carvings, and exquisite products made from sativa.

The village itself is very picturesque - pagodas and family houses will certainly be of interest to tourists.

Tang Kee's house

Most travelers who come to Vietnam, Hoi An (reviews confirm this) amazes with a variety of monuments and their unusual architecture. The Tang Ki House was built over two centuries ago. It has strikingly beautiful architecture and is one of the best preserved

Today, this house is residential, and for several decades it has belonged to the same family. However, since the 80s of the XX century, it has been turned into a museum. Guided tours are conducted by the owner of the house. He communicates with tourists in English. The house is small, so you can see it pretty quickly. If you speak English, you can stay here - the owner will tell you in detail about the history of the building and its inhabitants.

Chapel of the Tran family

This chapel was built at the beginning of the 19th century. It reflects the life of the aristocrats of Vietnam and cultural values. The building today is a very popular attraction, tourists from all over the world come to take a look at it.

It got its name in honor of the owner - Tran Tu Nhuk. In 1802 he built a house and a chapel to make it a place of veneration for the ancestors. The graceful structure is distinguished by a pronounced Chinese style. Traditional gifts and antiques are stored here.

Hotels

As we have already mentioned, tourists will not have problems with resettlement in this Vietnamese city. There are many different hotels and inns here. We will tell you only about those that are popular with Russian tourists.

Agribank Beach 4*

Modern comfortable hotel guarantees its guests a great holiday. It is distinguished by first-class service, well-developed infrastructure and friendly staff.

Guests are offered to stay in wonderful villas with spacious rooms, a swimming pool, a restaurant, a bar and a conference room. Here, guests can visit the Health Center, where they will be offered a variety of medical procedures. The hotel has a laundry, car rental, transfer to the airport. The hotel is located on Cua Dai Beach, and therefore is an ideal place for those who like to relax on the coast.

Maison Vy 3*

This hotel is decorated in a modern style. All of its rooms feature pleasant neutral tones. Includes LCD TV, cable channels, minibar and safety deposit box. Most of the rooms have great view to the pool or garden. Each room has a well-equipped bathroom with a shower. The friendly and helpful staff at the hotel can assist with express check-in (24 hours). The hotel is located two kilometers from historical museum Hoi an. It is 25 km from Da Nang Airport.

Hoi An (Vietnam): reviews of tourists

Travelers remember this city with warmth and admiration. Many were especially struck night city. With the onset of evening, all the streets are illuminated with multi-colored lights. Chinese lanterns are hung everywhere, which create a festive mood.

The beaches of the resort delight guests with their cleanliness. True, sophisticated travelers note that they are not well equipped. Anyone who wants to relax alone can visit wild beaches where there are practically no tourists. The sand and water there are as clean as on the rest of the coast.

In Da Nang at the airport, information about Hoi An is posted on the racks in Russian. Study the map, the location of attractions, beaches, hotels and feel free to hit the road.

If you are traveling on your own, keep in mind that direct flights with Hoi An, you will first have to get to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, then to Da Nang, and only then to the resort by bus, taxi, or by car ordered in advance. The distance from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh to Da Nang is almost the same: about 850 km. Choose for yourself where it would be better for you to fly first for a transfer to Da Nang.

In Da Nang, for the convenience of tourists, every hour and a half there is a minibus transfer from the airport to Hoi An, delivering for 100,000 dong to the hotel you need. It also runs from Da Nang and the bus is cheaper: it departs from the city's bus station. The fare in it costs 10,000 dong.

From different cities of Vietnam you can come by night buses, they are comfortable for night trips and inexpensive. For example, from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Hoi An, the fare will cost 320 thousand dong, from Hue - 100 thousand dong, from Dalat - 300 thousand, and from Nha Trang - 200 thousand dong. Tickets must be purchased in advance, they may not be on sale on the day of departure.

Hoiang Hotels

Hotels in the resort are located on 1, 2 and 3 coastlines. Basically, hotels with 2, 3, 4 stars are located on the 2nd and 3rd coastlines. On the first coastline, hotels with 5 * have chosen a place for themselves. They have everything a vacationer needs. There are also private beaches.

The more stars, the better the service: hotels have a currency exchange office, their own souvenir shops, restaurants, bars, barbecues, car rentals and other amenities and services. Some hotels provide free tours"bonus" for payment of accommodation.

Beaches near hotels with a small number of stars are municipal, i.e. free. Getting to them is quite far. With transport (motorcycle or bicycle), they are not allowed on the beach, which exacerbates the problem. You have to walk or use paid parking. Fortunately, the beaches are clean and organized.

Meals in BB type hotels: breakfast only. It is rare that hotels in Hoi An offer the HB type of food: with breakfast and dinner (or with lunch). Only one hotel Sunrise Hoian Beach Resort 5 * provides All Inclusive the prices are very high.

The town is small and you can walk around its streets in 2-3 hours. There are two dozen attractions in Hoi An. Tickets for visiting them are distributed in city information centers: small booths.

Complex tickets are sold for a visit to the five main attractions, and such a “complex” ticket costs 120,000 dong. In such a "booth center" do not forget to take a map of the old city, then you can figure out where is just a house, and where is a museum or gallery. After all, all the houses are old, so visually they can be very easily mistaken for a landmark.

I went to Hoi An for one day, but stayed there for a month... In my mind, an Asian city is a noisy anthill with frantic traffic on the streets, smelly food and barracks adjacent to skyscrapers. Imagine my surprise when I saw Hoi An.

Old cobbled streets, neat two-story houses with a tiled roof, cute cafes, workshops and art galleries - this is Hoi An, a typical port city of the 16th-18th centuries. The first impression when you find yourself in the center is that you are not in Asia, but in Europe.

This is the only city in Vietnam that survived the war. The entire center is protected by UNESCO, more than 800 objects: temples, houses and bridges are of historical importance.

Hoi An is considered tourist mecca for Europeans and Americans. Here you will not meet “packagers” from Russia, this direction has not yet been chosen by travel agencies. Hoi An is a paradise for curious solo travelers and backpackers. The city has a large selection of hostels, budget hotels and villas.

Hoi An is located on the banks of the Thu Bon River. Many tourists compare it with Venice. Only instead of inflated gondoliers here, colorful Vietnamese grandmothers offer to ride local gondolas.

Shopping is another reason to go to Hoi An. No, there are no huge shopping centers, supermarkets and outlets here. This city is famous for its tailors. For little money, they will sew an evening dress or suit no worse than in Italy.

Hoi An is also called the city of lanterns. They are lit every evening in the streets: red, yellow, orange, of various shapes and sizes.

How to get there

The simplest and fast way to get to Hoi An from Russia is to fly to Danang airport with transfers in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, and from the airport take a taxi or bus to the desired city.

There is another option: take a direct ticket to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and from there to Hoi An by bus. Between these cities there is a so-called sleeping bus, in which you can sleep lying down, which is very convenient for long distances. On the way, you will have to spend more than 12 hours, of course, with small stops.

By plane

There are no direct flights from St. Petersburg to Vietnam, it is more convenient to get from Moscow.

From Moscow to Da Nang

There is no airport in Hoi An itself. The nearest one is located 30 km to the north in the city of Da Nang. It is the third largest international Airport country and the largest in central Vietnam. It is small but very comfortable: there is Duty Free and several cafes with Vietnamese cuisine in reasonable prices.

Planes arrive there from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Dalat, as well as Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Siemrial, Seoul.

From Moscow to Da Nang, as I said, you can get with a transfer in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Aeroflot and Vietnam Airlines planes fly 5 times a week. To Hanoi - 9 h. 15 min. in the sky, to Ho Chi Minh City - 10 hours. The cost of a round-trip ticket is 450 €.

There are also flights from Moscow with transfers in Singapore (Singapore Airlines). It takes 10 hours to fly from Moscow to Singapore, and from there to Da Nang - 2 hours 50 minutes. You will have to pay 500 € for a ticket.

Tickets can be viewed on well-known aggregator sites, or, for example, in the Travelask section.

From Da Nang to Hoi An

By taxi

From Da Nang Airport to Hoi An you can take a taxi - $ 20-25, but you need to bargain.

Taxi drivers are waiting at the entrance to the airport.

Transfer

You can order a transfer from your hotel, it will cost less than a taxi. A minibus ride costs $5 (VND 110,000), and a private car costs $14 (VND 300,000-350,000). I booked a minibus through the hotel. Arrived for $5 (110 VND) and 40 minutes.

In recent years, the Vietnamese dong has fallen sharply against the dollar, so the locals will be happy if you pay in US currency.

By bus

Between Da Nang and Hoi An, there is a yellow bus number 1 with the inscription Danang-Hoian. It leaves from the local bus station, which is located at Dien Bien Phu, after the junction with Highway 1A. It is better to get to it by taxi ($5-10).

Then the bus goes along the streets of Dien Bien Phu, Hung Vuong, Ong Ich Khiem, Nguyen Thi Minh Kha. It is better to catch on the streets, you need to raise your hand up, and the driver will slow down. Buses in Vietnam do not stop completely, you need to jump on the go.

In Hoi An, the bus will bring you to the northern station, where taxi drivers will stand. I took a motorcycle taxi at my own risk. Taking into account the bargain, he drove me with a large suitcase for $ 3 (60 thousand dong). If you print out a map of the city in advance, you can walk to the hotel on foot - the Old Town is small.

By train

Vietnam has a well-developed network of railways along the coastline, to any big city can be reached by train. in Hoi an railway no, the nearest station is in Da Nang.

Trains run to Da Nang from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Hue.

If you are going from Hoi An to Da Nang, you can take a taxi, bus or buy a ticket in Hoi An at travel agency- they will take you to the railway station.

By bus

Vietnam has public buses where the locals go. Here they are "killed". The people in the salon are planted to the eyeballs, people sit in the aisles between the seats. In addition, they are very slow, as the driver constantly picks up people on the street. And tourists usually want to take a double or triple rate.

This mode of transport can only be used for short distances. Tickets are sold at the station. I drove one from Hue to Da Nang, the impressions are indescribable. If you want to feel the local flavor, then you are here.

There are also tourist buses and sleeping bus (buses in which you can sleep). They are just right for long journeys around the country: the salons are clean, they distribute water and even something to eat. In the sleeping bus, separate beds (unlike neighboring Laos, where two people sleep on the bed) give a blanket.

You can buy tickets at hotels and agencies throughout the city. Tourist buses come to Hoi An from Hanoi ($30), Ho Chi Minh City ($40), Nha Trang ($24), Hue ($13), Da Nang ($5).

On such a bus you can get to Vietnam from neighboring Laos. I traveled from the city of Pakse (southern Laos) to Da Nang ($ 33), and from there by taxi to Hoi An. Travel time is about 10 hours with several stops.

You can rent a scooter ($5 per day). Anyone who has been to Asia knows that this is a more convenient mode of transport.

From Da Nang to Hoi An there is a route that leads through the Marble Mountains.

Clue:

Hoi An - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow - 4

Kazan − 4

Samara − 3

Yekaterinburg - 2

Novosibirsk 0

Vladivostok 3

How to get there

By plane

Clue:

Hoi An - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow - 4

Kazan − 4

Samara − 3

Yekaterinburg - 2

Novosibirsk 0

Vladivostok 3

Hoi An is located in the central part of Vietnam. In the region, the high season lasts from March to September, this time is favorable for a beach holiday. The greatest amount of precipitation falls in autumn. In winter, the sea is very cold, but this period is perfect for sightseeing, as there is little rainfall, and the average daytime temperature is +22.

Pick up package tour in Hoi An, you can use various search engine sites, or, for example, follow the link.

Hoi An in summer

Summers in Hoi An are dry and hot. June and early July is a more comfortable time for a beach holiday.

In August, the temperature rises to +40, this is for true lovers of the heat.

Hoi An in autumn

Autumn is the rainy season in Hoi An. The weather is still hot, but there is a lot of rainfall. The wettest months are October and November. At this time of the year the sea is restless, coastline blurs.

Hoi An in spring

The dry season starts in March. At this time, the sea is still cool, but the average air temperature rises to +30. You can already sunbathe on the beaches.

In April-May, tourists flock to Hoi An for a beach holiday, ticket prices rise significantly.

Hoi An in winter

Winter in Hoi An is wet and warm, but there is much less precipitation than in autumn. The sea is very cold, there is a storm.

From December to March, there is no swimming in Hoi An, but this time is perfect for walking around the old town.

Hoi An - monthly weather

Clue:

Hoi An - monthly weather

When is the season. When is the best time to go

Hoi An - monthly weather

Clue:

Hoi An - monthly weather

Districts. Where is the best place to live

Conventionally, Hoi An can be divided into three zones:

• Old city,
• coast,
• outskirts.

Old city

If you are planning a trip in the low season, then it is better to stay in the Old Town and the territories closest to it. A double room in the Old City costs $40-70.

Hostels are suitable for young people and backpackers, there are many of them in the area. For a bed in a dormitory you will have to pay $ 8-9.

Pros of living in the Old Town:

• There are many cafes and shops around.

• Prices are higher than on the outskirts.
• Far from the sea.

Coast

If the main purpose of the trip is a beach holiday, then choose hotels near two beaches: "An Bang" and "Kua Dai" (about them below).

On the coast there are expensive hotels with large area and its beaches. Price per night: $100-250 per room, depending on the season. Cheaper hotels are within walking distance from the beach. The room costs $50-70.

Cons of living on the coast:

• Far from the Old City. You need to take a taxi or rent a motorbike to get to historical center.
• During the rainy season, the coastline is heavily washed out.

You can book a hotel in Hoi An at Booking - by, and you can compare prices from different sites.

Where is it more comfortable to stay

In Hoi An, the most popular housing are villas - these are two-story houses converted into hotels, the owners themselves live there. Usually in such hotels there are separate rooms and common rooms (like in a hostel). The atmosphere is very homey. I stayed in this villa.

The advantages of such a residence:

• You are in a beautiful villa and you can watch how wealthy Vietnamese people live.
• The hosts prepare breakfast for you.
• Clean and comfortable. At least that was the case where I stayed. It felt like I was visiting relatives.

You can view offers for renting private apartments.

Clue:

The cost of food, lodging, transportation, etc.

Currency: Rubles, rub. Dollars, $ Euro, €

It is difficult to single out the main attractions of Hoi An, the entire Old Town is an open-air museum.

Hoi An has been preserved since the 16th-18th centuries, when the city was a major trade and port center in Southeast Asia. Chinese and Japanese merchants sailed the Thubon River and traded in silk, ceramics, porcelain, spices, and Chinese medicines. Many of them stayed in the city and built houses, temples, pagodas in their national style. The entire center consists of yellow two-story houses, the first floor of which is equipped for cafes, shops, art galleries and workshops, and the second floor for living quarters.

The largest number attractions are located on the streets of Tran Phu St, Nguyen Thai Hoc and the Bach Dang promenade. All of them lead to the symbol of the city - the Japanese bridge.

Hoi An has a special ticketing system for attractions. You can buy one ticket for 120,000 dong ($5) and see five of the 22 attractions. This can be:

1. one of four museums;
2. one old house;
3. one meeting room;
4. traditional workshop or theater;
5. pagoda or bridge.

Tickets are sold at small kiosks in the old town.

Each time, coupons are torn off the ticket until it runs out. To see other attractions, you need to buy a ticket again for five visits. For entry to old houses that are not included in the list, the owners themselves can charge a small fee. Many temples are free to visit.

In addition to self-guided sightseeing in Hoi An, there are many city tours. You can buy bike tours around the city and its surroundings, photo tours of sights. Tours are conducted in English.

Top 5

Covered Japanese bridge (Japanese Covered Bridge)

Cau Nhat Ban Bridge, built in 1593, connects the Chinese and Japanese quarters. There is a legend associated with him.

Once upon a time there lived a huge monster Ku, whose head was in India, the tail in Japan, and the body in Vietnam. And when the monster moved, cataclysms occurred in Vietnam: earthquakes and floods. This bridge was built on the monster's weakest point in order to kill it.

Inside there is a small temple with an exhibition of old photographs. The two entrances are decorated with figures of dogs on one side and figures of monkeys on the other. According to legend, the Japanese emperors were born in the year of the Monkey and the Dog, so people revered these animals. According to another version, the construction of the bridge began in the year of the monkey and ended in the year of the dog.

Entrance to it is possible with a general ticket, but I never paid. In the evening there are no controllers, you can freely walk across the bridge and look into the temple. Every evening the bridge is illuminated with different colors.

Phuc Kien Assembly Hall

The assembly hall was built in 1679. The Vietnamese themselves call Phuc Kien pagoda. Initially, the Fujian Chinese met and communicated here, so the building became famous as an assembly hall.

Inside is Thien Hau Temple. It is dedicated to the goddess who guards the ships at sea. The territory is decorated with picturesque gardens, fountains and statues.

Entrance by general ticket.

Opening hours: daily 07.00-11.30 and 13.30-17:00.

Address: 46 Tran Phu St.

Cantonese Assembly Hall

It is difficult to pass by this pagoda while walking near the Japanese Bridge. The assembly hall of the Cantonese Chinese community, built in the 18th century, attracts tourists with unusual architecture.

The entrance is decorated with columns carved from solid granite and decorated with breadfruit wood. Notice the carvings on the wooden beams.

Entrance by general ticket.

Opening hours: 8.00–17.00.

Address: 176 Tran Phu St.

Night market

In the evening, multi-colored lanterns are lit on the streets of Hoi An, bridges and figurines on the river bank are illuminated, and the main action moves to the Anhui Peninsula, where a night market opens.

Its main difference from all Asian markets is a huge selection of flashlights of all colors and sizes. You can buy them as a gift or just admire and take pictures against the backdrop of this beauty. Sellers before your eyes show how these beautiful "lights" are made from silk and paper.

Night market – perfect place to taste street food and buy a variety of souvenirs. And do not forget to haggle, initially sellers call a double price.

Opening hours: after sunset until 22.00.

Address: Nguyen Hoang Street.

Old House of Tan Ky

Tang Kee's house, built two centuries ago, belonged to a wealthy Vietnamese merchant. The interior, old inlaid furniture and some relics have survived to this day: engravings, ceramic dishes and family seals. The house has a flood mark. It was often flooded, so the goods were stored on the second floor.

The back facade of the house overlooks the Thu Bon River. Goods were unloaded from ships here. The owner gives a tour of the house in English.

Entrance with a combined ticket.

Opening hours: 8.00–12.00 and 14.00–16.30.

Address: 101 Nguyễn Thái Học, Minh An, tp. Hội An, Quảng Nam.

Beaches. Which is better

There are two sandy beaches in the vicinity of Hoi An:

• "An Bang" (An Bang Beach) 3 km from the city center;
• "Cua Dai" (Cua Dai) 4 km from the city center.

"An Lang"

There are many sunbeds on An Bang beach belonging to neighboring cafes. If you dine at their establishment, the sun lounger is free. On the coast there are several expensive beach hotels. Eat budget options for $30-50 per day, 15 minutes walk from the sea.

The beach is popular among tourists, in the high season there are quite a lot of people. I would recommend this particular beach, it is cleaner.

"Qua Dai"

Cua Dai beach is often washed away by monsoons. If you come during the low season, you will find sandbag dams.

There are several 4-star and 5-star hotels with their own beach. The price per night is $100-200. Also on the coast there are cafes with their sunbeds.

The best way to get to the beaches is by bike, which you can rent for $1 per day.

Churches and temples. Which are worth a visit

Quan Kong Temple

Quan Kong Temple was built by the Chinese in the 17th century. It is dedicated to the hero Quang Kong, whose gilded figure is on the central altar. It is made of papier-mâché and is supported by wooden frames. In Chinese mythology, this hero is similar to the Greek Hercules - strong, brave and courageous. Also, visitors can see the figures of his comrades and horses.

Wooden nameplates hang on the walls - this is a list of people who donated money for the construction of the temple. Mostly they were Chinese merchants. Pay attention to the rain gutters on the roof, which are made in the form of carps. This fish in China symbolizes patience, and very often its images can be found in Hoi An.

Opening hours: 08.00–17.00.

Address: 168 Tran Phu St.

Tran Family Chapel

This chapel was built almost 200 years ago for ancestor worship. The Chinese Chang family moved to around 1700.

The architecture of the building is made in Chinese and Japanese styles. The altar is decorated with wooden boxes with stone tablets engraved with Chinese characters.

Opening hours: 8.00–17.00.

Address: 21 Le Loi.

Chapel of the Truong Family (Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel)

The chapel is the tomb of Truong's ancestors. Family members who served as officials and mandarins in the imperial court were given some of the plaques as honors by the emperors of Vietnam.

Opening hours: 08.00-17.00.

Address: 8 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, tp.

Hoi An Cathedral

In the courtyard of the church there are graves of Europeans. When this modern building was built to replace an earlier one located elsewhere, the remains of several 18th-century missionaries were reburied here.

Address: 4 Nguyen Truong To Street.

Museums. Which are worth a visit

Assembly Hall (Chaozhou Hall Trieu Chau)

This Assembly Hall was built by Chinese merchants in the 19th century to worship the Goddess of the Sea.

Entrance by general ticket.

Opening hours: 08.00–17.00.

Address: 157 Nguyen Duy Hieu st.

Diep Dong Nguyen House

The house was built for a Chinese merchant at the end of the 19th century. On the ground floor there used to be a pharmacy of Chinese medicine, medicines were stored in closed glass vessels along the wall. The atmosphere of that era still reigns there.

On the second floor there is a private collection of porcelain, furniture and photographs. Items are not for sale. Two of the available chairs were once given by the family to Emperor Bao Dai.

Entrance by general ticket.

Opening hours: 08.00–12.00 and 14.00–16.30.

Address: 80, Nguyen Thai Hoc.

House on st. Chan Fu, 77 (Nha Co Quan Thang)

The house was built three centuries ago. The interiors are decorated with wood carvings. The roof beams are made in the form of a shell. Note the green ceramic tiles laid in a fence around the courtyard balcony.

Entrance by general ticket.

Opening hours: 08.00–17.00.

Address: 77 Tran Phu Street.

The Old House of Phun Hung

This two-storey house was built 230 years ago. The museum is located on the first floor, and the owners live on the second.

With a shared ticket, you will be given a tour of the house.

Opening hours: 08:00–17:00.

Address: 4D Nguyen Thi Minh Khai.

Museum of Ceramics (Museum of Trade Ceramics)

The museum occupies an old building that is over 200 years old. The collection contains ceramics found during archaeological excavations in the Hoi An area. There is also a map with Vietnamese country names hanging there.

Entrance by general ticket.

Opening hours: 08.00–17.00.

Address: 80 Tran Phu St.

Museum of History and Culture of Hoi An (Hoi An Museum)

The museum introduces visitors to the history of Hoi An in different time periods. The exhibition features photographs, furniture, dishes, bells, statues and an altar. In the center of the museum there is a small pond with goldfish.

Entrance by general ticket.

Opening hours: 08.00–17.00.

Address: 7, Nguyen Hue (near the central market).

The Sa Huynh Culture Museum

The museum provides information about people of Sa Huyin culture. There is a collection of jewelry, weapons, ceramics from the 1st and 2nd centuries.

Entrance by general ticket.

Opening hours: 08.00–17.00.

Address: 149 Tran Phu St.

Museum of Folk Art (Hoi An Folklore Museum)

The museum contains more than 500 exhibits that tell about the history, culture, literature and art of ordinary villagers in central Vietnam.

Most attention is paid to the production and products of silk.

Entrance by general ticket.

Address: 33 Nguyễn Thái Học, Minh An, tp.

Opening hours: 08.00–17.00.

Handicraft Workshop

An artisan workshop where you can buy souvenirs and watch local folk dances, mini-operas and traditional songs.

Entrance by general ticket.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday from 10.15 am to 15.15.

Address: 9 Nguyen Thai Hoc.

Traditional Theater

In the evening, performances with traditional Vietnamese songs and dances are shown here.

Entrance by general ticket.

Opening hours: 21.00–22.00.

Address: 39 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street.

Bale well

This well, built in the 10th century, has long been overgrown with legends.

The water for making authentic Cao Lau, a local noodle dish, must come from this well. There is a cafe with the same name nearby. local cuisine. Tasty and inexpensive.

Address: 45 Phan Chau Trinh Street | in the garden of Mr. Ba Lo Le, off Kiet Gieng Lane.

Silk Village (Hoi An Silk Village)

This is a new landmark of Hoi An, opened in the 21st century.

Here you can see how silk is made using ancient machines and tools, visit a sewing workshop and learn how silk larvae are grown. If desired, you can buy products made of silk.

Entrance costs $5 (100,000 VND).

Opening hours: 08.00–21.00.

Address: 28 Nguyen Tat Thanh.

What to see in the surroundings

Cam Nam Village

Is located opposite side Hoi An river. You can drive along the Cam Nam bridge, which is next to the market.

Take a bike and go see how the locals live.

There are many cafes and restaurants with Vietnamese cuisine, prices are lower than in the center of Hoi An.

Marble Mountains

This attraction is located 20 kilometers from Hoi An on the way to Da Nang. You can get there on your own on a bike or by buying an excursion at a travel agency ($20-30).

In my opinion, it is better to go on your own, it will be cheaper, and you can see Danang.

The Marble Mountains consist of five hills, several caves and temples. Some caves are very easy to get to, others require skill and fitness to see. Waiting for you inside interesting statues Buddha. Of all the caves that I have seen in Asia and Europe, these impressed me the most.

The territory is impressive, consists of steep descents and ascents, be sure to wear sports shoes. It is better to arrive early in the morning - fewer tourists. And take a flashlight with you, some of the caves are dark.

Here you can buy marble souvenirs.

Entrance costs$0.7 (VND 15 thousand), marble mountains map - $ 0.7 (VND 15 thousand).

You can get to local bus Hoi An - Da Nang. The Central Bus Station is located on Hung Vuong Road.

Ruins of Michon (My Son sanctuary)

Michon is an ancient city of Champa. The open-air museum consists of 17 temples and towers of the 13th-14th centuries.

If you have seen Angkor Wat in Cambodia or the ancient capital of Thailand, Ayutthaya, then Michon will hardly surprise you. The scale of the city-museum is much inferior to the above sights. Part of the city was destroyed during the war, and most of the details were transferred to the museum. The traditional Cham show with songs and dances is also shown on the territory.

Michonne can be reached by rented bike, taxi ($20) or take a half-day tour at the tourist office for $15-20 (400,000 VND).

Entrance:5$ (100 thousand dongs).

Cableway and Mount Bana (Ba Na)

Bana Mountain is a 2-hour drive from Hoi An. It is also called the second Sapa or Dalat. Height above sea level - 1478 meters. At the top there is a spa resort and an amusement park during french style.

The peculiarity of this mountain is that in a day you can see 4 seasons on it: spring in the morning, summer in the afternoon, autumn in the evening, and winter in the late evening. From Mount Bana to the neighboring Mount Vong Nguyet, there is a cable car, one of the longest in the world (5042 meters). From the top you have an unforgettable view of the mountains and a tropical forest. On the other side you will find a statue of a seated Buddha and temples.

Can be taken organized tour- $ 35 (750 thousand dong), get on your own by taxi ($ 60-70) or by bike.

A ticket for the cable car and the amusement park is $ 25 (500 thousand VND), but you will have to pay extra for many rides. Flower garden - 3$ (70 thousand dongs).

nearby islands

Cu Lao Cham Islands

The Cham Islands are half an hour away by boat. The archipelago consists of 8 different islands.

The largest of them is Khon Lao, where you will find restaurants, markets and hotels.

For wildlife and deserted beaches, you need to go to other islands. Here you can go diving and snorkeling.

How to get there

1. Public ferry - $ 2-3 (50 thousand dong) per person. For a bike and a bicycle, you will have to pay another $ 1 (30 thousand dong). The ferry departs from the port in the city center.
2. Rent a speedboat at a hotel or agency - $ 25 (550 thousand VND).
3. Excursion from a hotel or agency - $ 30 (650-700 thousand dong).

Main attractions. What to see

Rickshaw

In the old town, tourists are offered a ride on bicycle rickshaws, which looks very authentic. They are mainly used by older Chinese.

For a 10-minute walk around the city, you will have to pay $ 2.5 (50 thousand dongs).

This article contains all useful information about Hoi An city (Vietnam): how to get to Hoi An, how to get around the city, where to live, where to eat, what to buy and how much it all costs 🙂

Vietnam, Hoi An. Well the streets of the old town

Vietnam Hoi An: general information

Hoi An - small town in central Vietnam on the banks of the Thu Bon River. The history of Hoi An began over 2000 years ago, and in the 16th century Hoi An was an important port and shopping mall South-East Asia. Merchants from Europe, China, and Japan sailed here.

Now Hoi An is called an open-air museum city: the city has preserved old Chinese-style houses, temples, assembly houses, and a Japanese bridge. More than 800 buildings in the city have historical value. Hoi An has been under the protection of UNESCO since 1999.

chic beach Hoi An is located 4 km from the old town of Hoi An. The road to it runs past rice fields and houses of local residents.

The old town of Hoi An is simply made for romantic walks. Central streets of the old city every day from 8:30 to 11:00 and from 15:00 to 21:30 they block traffic from entering and the floor of the city turns into a kind of Walking street 🙂

Weather in Hoi An. Best time to visit

There are two seasons in Hoi An: the dry season and the rainy season. The dry season starts in January-February and ends in August. The rainy season starts in September and lasts until December. The largest amount of precipitation occurs in October - November. Heavy rains, typhoons and even floods are possible during these months. Houses in the old town of Chojna sometimes flood up to the second floor!

Winters in Hoi An are cool and summers are very hot. The hottest and driest period is July - August.

When is the best time to visit Hoi An?

If you prioritize beach holiday, then for a holiday in Hoi an it is better to choose period from June to August. In September - November, strong storms, and in winter the water temperature in the sea is cool.

For sightseeing holiday best choice in hoi an period from January to April while it's still not so hot and it's nice to walk around the city.

We rested in Hoi An at the end of May: it was wildly hot outside (more than +40!), but the sea was still cool.

How to Get to Hoi An

From Danang railway station to Hoi An, you will also have to take a taxi or a pre-booked transfer.

By bus

The best way to get to Hoi An is by bus. Buses in Vietnam are good, at night you can even sleep in slipping buses 🙂

Approximate cost of bus tickets to Hoi An:

• Nha Trang - Hoi An - 200,000 VND
• Dalat - Hoi An - VND 300,000
• Da Nang - Hoi An - VND 80,000
• Hue - Hoi An - 100,000 VND
• Hanoi - Hoi An - VND 320,000
• Hong Shimin - Hoi An - VND 320,000

We traveled by bus from Nha Trang to Hoi An. We left at 19:00 and at 8 am were at the bus station in Hoi An. If not for the road repair, we would have arrived a couple of hours earlier. I advise you to buy bus tickets in advance, especially if the trip falls on weekends or holidays (by the way, during the long Vietnamese holidays, the fare on buses and trains officially increases by 20-50%). We bought tickets for the Nha Trang - Hoi An bus two days before departure and there were almost no seats, we got the last seats at different ends of the bus.

Transport in Hoi An, how to get around Hoi An

Hoi An Old Town is quite small and easy to walk around. Or you can take a walk in such a carriage - a cycle rickshaw 🙂 I have never traveled in this way, I really feel sorry for the Vietnamese pedaling 🙁

For longer distances you can travel:

By bike. Many hotels provide bicycles to their guests absolutely free of charge. Or you can rent a bike from tour agencies for $1-3 per day.

On the bike. Renting a bike will cost 5-6 dollars per day. Often they don't even ask for anything.

By taxi. In Vietnam, an inexpensive taxi, just tell the driver right away that you are driving only on the meter. A taxi from the city center to Hoi An Beach will cost 3-4 dollars.

Where to stay in Hoi An: Hotels in Hoi An

Hoi An is a popular tourist city and there are a lot of hotels in it 🙂 The cost of rooms in Hoi An hotels is slightly higher than in other cities. But this does not mean that in Hoi An it will not be possible to find a room for $ 10 per night. Whoever seeks will always find it 🙂 We wanted a more comfortable stay in Hoi An, so we rented hotel rooms in the price range of 20-30 dollars per day.

In Hoi An, in addition to large hotels, accommodation in Homestays is very popular. Home Stay - private houses in which the owners rent out rooms. Now most of these houses have turned into mini-hotels. More details about Hoi An hotels:

I recommend booking a hotel room in Hoi An in advance especially if you're in town for the weekend or holidays. You can choose and book a hotel in Hoi An on these sites, just choose the best price 🙂

What to do and see in Hoi An

1. The old town of Hoi An is one solid attraction 🙂 In Hoi An, you can and should take a leisurely walk around the city, along the embankment, going along the way to museums, temples and numerous cafes. Shall we walk together?

2. In Hoinai you can and should enjoy gentle South China Sea, lie on sun loungers under an umbrella on the beach, dine in fish restaurants on the shore, drink white wine and stroll along the long and uncrowded Hoi An beach. Read more here:

3. Swim on the "big-eyed" boats on the river. The trip can be combined with dinner on the boat (the cost of dinner with a walk from $ 23 per person).

4. Ride on small Vietnamese boats down the river and run flower with a candle for luck. Such flowers can be bought on the bridge for only $ 1, and sometimes even for $ 0.5 (otherwise someone wrote that these flowers are sold for “mad money” 🙂).

5. Ride on cycling along the rice fields.

6. visit traditional musical performance. Held every day at 10:15 and 15:15 at Hoi An Art Craft Manufacturing Workshop. Admission fee: free.

Traditional musical performance in Hoi An. Video

7. visit puppet theater on the water. Two performances per day at 16:00 and 18:40 at the Art Performance House. Ticket price - 80,000 VND (~$4).

8. Visit the Marble Mountains near Da Nang

9. Go to Michon Complex

10. Climb one of the longest cable cars in the world to Mount Bana and spend the whole day there in the amusement park

11. Go on an excursion to the Cham Islands

Food: shops, cafes, restaurants in Hoi An

There are no large stores, such as in Hoi An. The nearest Big C supermarket is located 30 km from Hoi An in Da Nang. There are many small shops in the city where you can buy water, cookies, chocolate, bread, alcohol and other small things. Meat, fish, seafood must be bought at the market. We bought vegetables and fruits at the layouts along the Hoi An-Danang road. In the central market, the prices for fruits seemed very high to us.

Hoi An will delight lovers of sweets and coffee. There are a lot of coffee houses and confectioneries in the city, where you can drink not only Vietnamese coffee (which is very tasty, but still sometimes you want a huge cup of cappuccino), but also other types of coffee 🙂 And of course, with a cake 🙂

• A piece of cake - from 50,000 VND
• Espresso coffee - VND 25,000
• Cappuccino - VND 35,000
• Coffee Latte - 40,000 VND

Hoi An is a paradise for gourmets. It is in Hoi An that you can try dishes that are not presented in other regions of Vietnam. For example, noodles with Khao Lau meat, crispy Hoi An-style pancakes with shrimp or meat, crispy Wonton.

There are a lot of cafes in Hoi An, for every taste and budget: you can eat in Vietnamese cafes in the market, in cheap cafes with plastic chairs near the river, and in nice restaurants with European service and a cozy interior.

Every evening, Vietnamese-style macaroons start working on the river bank 🙂

Prices in Hoi An for food in Makashi:

• Cao Lau noodles – VND 25,000
• Fried spring rolls - VND 30,000
• 10 small pork skewers - VND 50,000
• Fried rice with chicken - VND 40,000
• Pho Bo (Vietnamese soup with beef) - VND 30,000
• Pancakes in Hoi An - 30,000 VND

We preferred to dine in nice tourist restaurants on the waterfront. In addition to the traditional Khoyna dishes, they always ordered fish or shrimp. We tried to choose an institution with draft beer. Yes, I forgot to say that another feature of Hoi An is cheap and good draft beer 🙂 A small glass of beer will cost only 2,000 - 5,000 dong (0.1 - 0.25 dollars)! Well, why not drink here? 🙂 We went from one cafe to another tasting beers. That's how fun we had our evenings in Hoi An 🙂

Prices in Hoi An restaurants in the old town

• Vietnamese soup - VND 50,000
• Cao Lau noodles – VND 50,000
• Fried Wonton (I don't know how to translate this) - VND 50,000
• White Rose (something like rice flour dumplings with your choice of filling) – VND 40,000
• Pancakes in Hoi An - 60,000 VND
• Fried rice with beef and vegetables – VND 60,000
• Calamari in different sauces - 70,000 - 85,000 VND
• Shrimps - VND 90,000 - 120,000
• Pizza - VND 120,000
• A glass of wine - 30,000 VND
• Beer on tap - from 2,000 VND
• Bottled beer - from 15,000 VND

As you can see, for tourist restaurants in the heart of Hoi an on the waterfront prices are very low! In addition, every day from 17:00 to 19:00 in many Happy Hours restaurants, when you order one cocktail, you get the second one for free or beer and wine at a special price.

Shopping and Souvenirs from Hoi An

Hoi An is not only a paradise for lovers of beautiful restaurants and delicious food, but also a paradise for shopaholics! Girls, if you love dresses as much as I love them, then you should definitely come to Hoi An! 🙂

There are many sewing workshops in the city, where any thing will be sewn for you in a day, whether it be an evening dress or a business suit. And, of course, dresses - skirts - sundresses can simply be bought in numerous stores. Dresses start at $20. Beautiful evening dresses to the floor - 50-100 dollars. Oh, it's a pity that I didn't buy anything… Well, where should I wear evening dresses on or in?

What other souvenirs to bring from Hoi An?

Choina is a city of lanterns, such multi-colored lanterns will be a pleasant reminder of this wonderful city. Lanterns are made of paper, thread, silk.

Many Chinese live in Hoi An, and you can buy Chinese tea and tea sets in numerous tea shops.

conclusions

Have you been to Hoi An yet? And in vain! Hoi An is a truly extraordinary city, a city that perfectly combines sightseeing and beach holidays, a city for romantics and couples in love, a city for lovers of delicious food and beautiful restaurants, a city of cheap draft beer and bright lanterns! Hoi An is a city where you want to return. Hoi An - Vietnamese Venice 🙂

During our trip to Vietnam, I fell madly in love with two cities: and Hoi An. They are so different, but so cool!

Is Hoi An suitable for holidays?– definitely YES!

Is Hoi An suitable for living, for wintering? For me, it's more of a NO than a YES. There are no large supermarkets in the city, and you can’t run over 60 km for groceries ... Yes, and houses for rent are mainly rented among the rice fields. Living in the fields, of course, is cool, but I'm not a fan of village life, I'll get bored in a month. And here nearby town Danang I would consider for wintering.

And some more photos of the city of Hoi An (Vietnam)

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Traveling around Vietnam on our own, we spent a couple of days in a very interesting town of Hoi An. This city belongs to the Vietnamese province of Quang Nam. It is located in the central part of Vietnam, not far from the large resort town of Da Nang. Hoi An is located on the coast of the South China Sea, so it is suitable for a beach holiday. But just for the sake of the coast, I would not consider Hoi An. It is interesting in a completely different way - sights and atmosphere!

Hoi An is under the protection of UNESCO. More than 800 objects: temples, communal houses, ancient monuments - are of historical importance. Hoi An is called the "open air museum" for a reason.

Hoi An Vietnam

The main and longest streets of Hoi An are Tran Hung Dao and Tran Fu. The historical part of the city is located next to Hoang Dieu Street, adjacent to the bridge to Kamnam Island, where we chose our hotel. The central streets at certain times during the day and in the evening are blocked for the passage of vehicles, which is very convenient for tourists. This area is transformed into a walking street, along these streets there are shops, restaurants, ateliers, etc.

Hoi An Vietnam

It is best to come to Hoi An between March and June, as at this time it is warm and relatively dry. From September the rainy season begins, there are even small floods. In winter (November-January) it is quite cool here, especially for swimming. We rested in March 2016 - the air temperature was very comfortable, but the sea had not warmed up yet, the water was cool.

Where to stay?

Hoi An is a very small Vietnamese town visited daily by tourists from different countries. Therefore, it is necessary to book a hotel in advance. Hotel prices seemed slightly higher than in Hanoi and Da Nang. Most likely, precisely because of the small size of the city and its excessive popularity among foreign tourists. By the way, for 2 days we did not see the Russians. In Hoi An rest mainly Europeans and Chinese.

As always, we booked the hotel on the website booking.com, based on the location and reviews of tourists. This time our choice fell on a small family hotel - Bonsai Homestay. It is located on Cam Nam Island, which is connected by a bridge to Hoi An City. The big plus of the hotel is its proximity to the historical part of the city. View from the bridge leading to Cam Nam Island.

Hoi An Vietnam

Near the bridge there is a large market where you can buy fruit. The choice of fruits is very large, you need to bargain. You can buy not only fruits on the market. There is a large selection of various spices, souvenirs, etc.

Hoi An: romantic and cozy city Vietnam with a rich history

Cam Nam Island is mostly inhabited by locals, so here you can see the daily life of the Vietnamese. Walking along the narrow streets of Cam Nam village, we looked at the gardens and houses of local residents. Banana palms, jackfruit trees, unusual flowers grow in almost every garden. In general, walking around the village is very pleasant and interesting.

Bonsai Homestay has a great location if you come to Hoi An not for a beach holiday, but to see the main sights. Since it is located very far from the beach, you can not walk on foot. We went to the beach by taxi (about 15 minutes by car - 100 dong (5 dollars)). But the hotel is very close to the historical center of Hoi An. The walk takes about 10 minutes. You can rent a bicycle at the hotel.

The hotel rooms are identical. We booked three rooms: they were absolutely identical.

Hoi An Vietnam

The room has everything you need, pleased with the very high ceilings and the large size of the bathroom. Room rates at Bonsai Homestay are $27 per night, including breakfast prepared by the owners themselves. For breakfast, you can choose one of several dishes. I advise you to opt for Pho soup (Pho-Bo), it is cooked perfectly in the hotel.

Bonsai Homestay is a small family hotel with a very nice area. The yard is decorated with a huge number of bonsai trees, flowering shrubs, orchids.

Hoi An Vietnam

Hoi An Vietnam

Hoi An Vietnam

In a cozy courtyard it is very pleasant to relax, drink tea and eat fruit. There is a small pool on site, but we didn't see anyone using it. But you can sunbathe on the sun loungers next to the pool.

Hoi An Vietnam

Hoi An has a large selection of hotels of different price categories. If you want to live near the beach, and not near the city center, you can choose the Victoria Hoi An Resort. Of course, it belongs to a different price category. Room rates start at $150 per night. This hotel is located on the first line from the beach, its territory is simply immersed in greenery and flowers.

Hoi An Vietnam

Victoria Hoi An Resort is located on one of the most popular beaches Qua Dai. The hotel has a large spa complex, which is visited by tourists from other hotels. This luxurious four-star hotel is suitable for tourists who travel for comfort and tranquility. Passing by this hotel to the beach, we appreciated its beautiful territory.

Near the hotel there are all kinds of unusual bikes that you can rent.

Hoi An Vietnam

Prices in Hoi An

Prices in Hoi An are quite democratic. A hotel room with private facilities and air conditioning will cost $ 25-50, depending on the location and the number of stars. Taxi prices are the same as in Da Nang. On average, a trip around the city will cost 80,000 VND (4-5 dollars). Prices in restaurants seemed a little higher than in Hanoi and Da Nang. Perhaps due to the fact that we chose the most popular restaurants among tourists.

We were pleased with the prices for freshly squeezed juice in roadside shops - 20,000 dong for a glass of juice. The choice of fruits for juice is huge: I advise you to definitely try guanabana juice with avocado and mango and sapodilla juice. We found a great store where we drank fresh juices several times a day. In addition, they bought a lot of interesting gizmos there at reasonable prices. There is a shop on Cam Nam Island, not far from the bridge on the right side of the road. Prices for natural silk scarves, leather goods and all sorts of knick-knacks are much lower here, since the store is located far from the center.

Hoi An is the center of leather goods sales. In stores you can buy a wide variety of goods made of genuine leather: bags, purses, wallets, belts, jackets, etc. These products are made right here in numerous workshops. Even in the stores themselves, you can see how somewhere in the corner the master sews another bag. So you can buy a handmade bag or wallet in Hoi An at every step and at very affordable prices. Also in Hoi An, leather shoes are sewn: shoes, sandals, sandals, etc. We, of course, could not resist and bought a few leather items.

I have never seen so many ateliers as in Hoi An. Here on every street you can find several ateliers with a huge selection of fabrics. Masters promise to sew a variety of outfits in a day. You can choose a model from the catalog, or come up with your own outfit. Such a pleasure will cost 20 - 150 dollars, depending on the model and the chosen fabric.

Hoi An Vietnam

As in any tourist place, in Hoi An there is a huge selection of a wide variety of souvenirs: useful gizmos for the home, beautiful jewelry, all kinds of accessories, kitchen utensils and just bright goods without any meaning.

Hoi An Vietnam

Hoi An Vietnam

It is better to buy coffee in other cities of Vietnam, here it is much more expensive. There are many departments in Hoi An with a variety of teas: green, black, pu-erh, mostly enough expensive brands. In the store you can taste tea, brew it in front of you according to all the rules.

Hoi An Vietnam

Hoi An Vietnam

Hoi An Restaurants

Hoi An is becoming more and more popular with tourists from all over the world every year. Therefore, here you can find dishes for every taste: both Vietnamese cuisine and European. A lot of restaurants located in the historical part of the city will not leave even the pickiest eaters hungry.

There are really a lot of restaurants. We were in Hoi An for only two days, so we only visited four restaurants.

One of them was next to the beach. Not the best option, so I will not advise. It is better to choose a restaurant in the central part of the city and pay attention to the number of visitors.

I really liked the Nhahang.bar restaurant.

Hoi An Vietnam

We noticed that it is very popular with tourists. And, as it turned out, not in vain. The atmosphere in the restaurant is very cozy: unusual paintings hang on the walls, there is a bar counter and billiards.

Hoi An Vietnam

The only downside was that we waited about half an hour for the food. Apparently the restaurant was full. It is interesting that the dishes are lowered on a special “elevator”, since the kitchen is located on the second floor. The dishes are beautifully presented, the portions are large enough, everything is fresh and tasty. Prices in the restaurant are average, for a European menu they can be called low.

Hoi An Vietnam

All cafes in the central part of Hoi An are so cozy, unusual and authentic that I wanted to go into each of them.

Attractions Hoi An

Hoi An city itself is one big attraction in Vietnam. It is a small old town where you can find interesting architectural monuments, ancient communal houses, museums and temples at every step. Of course, in general, the city looks very dilapidated, but this is its charm. Looking at these yellow-painted low-rise houses, ancient buildings and bridges, it is as if you find yourself in another era.

Hoi An Vietnam

In the 4th century AD, Hoi An was the largest port city in Southeast Asia, it was part of the state of Champa. At 60 kilometers from the city of Hoi An, the buildings of this ancient Champa people, the Hindu temple complex of My Son, have survived to this day.

Hoi An served as an important port and trade center for many years in Vietnam, where Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, Dutch and other merchant ships sailed. At that time, this port was known to foreign merchants under the name Fifo. Foreign merchants sailed to Hoi An for high quality fabrics, medicinal herbs and infusions, porcelain and lacquerware, lead and other metals, wax, and so on.

Archaeologists have found fragments of ceramics on the territory of Hoi An, which were made more than 2200 years ago. They are evidence of such a long development of these lands by people. Historians believe that these finds belong to ancient civilization Sahuyin of the late Iron Age.

The old city stretches along the Thu Bon River, where you can see a large number of small boats. Tourists are offered to ride along the river on one of the boats, there are several restaurant boats. The embankment is very well maintained, ancient buildings, painted in bright yellow, give it a unique atmosphere. On both sides of the river there are nice restaurants where you can drink freshly squeezed juice or a cocktail and take a break from the heat of the day.

Hoi An Vietnam

The two banks are connected by an unusual bridge, which in appearance fits perfectly into the overall picture of Hoi An.

Hoi An Vietnam

To see the main attractions, you need to purchase entrance tickets. There is a certain system here: buying one ticket, you can go to 5 places to choose from: these can be community houses, museums, temples, etc. The first time we walked around the city center in the evening and did not find information centers where you can buy tickets. Probably because they were tired and did not want to go anywhere.

At the entrance to community houses and temples, you will not be able to purchase tickets, you must definitely go to special information centers. Even the passage on the ancient Japanese bridge is paid. But in the evening, for some reason, no one asked us for tickets, and we walked along the bridge without them.

The next day, we still found an information booth, where we bought tickets. The cost of a ticket for 5 visits is 120,000 VND (5-6 dollars). They also give out a map where all the sights of the city are marked.

Hoi An Vietnam

Hoi An Vietnam

One of the main attractions is the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, built

as early as 1679. It represents the halls and pagodas, which were intended for meetings of representatives of the Chinese community.

Hoi An Vietnam

Here is the temple of Thien Hau - the goddess of the seas and oceans, who patronizes sailors. The entrance to the temple is decorated with Chinese lanterns. Naturally, since Hoi An was an important port city, Thien Hau temple is very revered among the locals. In the temple, those who wish can make a wish, write it down on a piece of paper and leave it in the “card file of desires”. The monks at a certain time select several cards at random and pray for the fulfillment of these desires.

The Chinese temple Quan Kong Temple is located in the center of the historical part of the city near the Japanese bridge.

Hoi An Vietnam

Hoi An Vietnam

The temple is very bright with a beautiful authentic facade and a cozy green courtyard. Inside the temple is a large statue of the Taoist god of war - Guan Gong. On the walls of the temple, you can see tablets with the names of the Chinese who provided material assistance in the construction and reconstruction of the temple. Quan Kong Temple is visited by both tourists and pilgrims who perform their religious rituals here.

There are a lot of Chinese temples and community houses in Hoi An, this is due to its history. Chinese communities still reside in Hoi An.

Hoi An Vietnam

Hoi An Vietnam

Of course, we did not pass by the famous Hoi An landmark - the Japanese bridge.

Hoi An Vietnam

The first bridge on this site was built in the 16th century by the Japanese community of Hoi An. The bridge connected the Japanese part of Hoi An with Chinatowns, which were located on the other side of the river. Later in the 19th and 20th centuries, the bridge was reconstructed. But its original original form has been preserved.

The bridge is guarded by sculptures of a dog and a monkey. There is a legend associated with the Japanese bridge. According to an ancient legend, once upon a time there lived a dragon called Ku. Its dimensions were so huge that the tail was in China, the head was in India, and the body was in Vietnam. And this dragon brought only misfortunes: earthquakes and devastation. The Vietnamese recognized the place where the dragon's body is most vulnerable and built on this site famous bridge. After that, the dragon was defeated and the earthquakes stopped.

The first time we came to the bridge late in the evening. It was almost completely unlit. Despite this, the bridge was crowded with tourists. We also took a walk, this time no one asked for tickets, although the entrance to the bridge requires a ticket.

Hoi An Vietnam

The fact that such a popular tourist city as Hoi An was not illuminated in the evening surprised us very much. The time was around 8 pm. Near the bridge on the river we saw a large crowd of people. They launched flower and paper boats with lit candles along the river. It was very beautiful and romantic.

Hoi An Vietnam

As it turned out, at this time, as part of the global action "Earth Hour" on March 19 from 20:30 to 21:30 local time, everyone turns off the lights and electrical appliances. All enterprises, shops, cafes participate in this action. locals turn off the lights in their homes. At this time, Hoi An was surprisingly quiet and beautiful. Light fell from a huge number of lit candles, torches, fuel lamps. After 21:30 local time, the city turned on the backlight: hundreds of Chinese lanterns and lamps.

Hoi An Vietnam

Hoi An Vietnam

We read that such evenings paper boats, candles and torches (without electricity) are held in Hoi An not only as part of a global action, but every month on a certain day.

The tradition of decorating the city with Chinese lanterns of various sizes, shapes and colors has been going on for several hundred years. By the way, such lanterns can be purchased as a souvenir home.

In Hoi An, you can even visit special workshops for making such lanterns with your own hands.

Tourists, arriving in Hoi An, usually visit not only city attractions, but also country ones, located in the immediate vicinity of Hoi An - marble caves and the ruins of Michon. The latter are located 60 kilometers from the city. This is what remains of the ancient temple complex of the Champa people. Currently, only a small number of temples and other religious buildings have survived: most of the buildings were destroyed during the wars.

Due to limited time, we did not have time to visit the ruins of Michon, as the tour takes half a day. Picked up by bus in the morning, and brought back in the afternoon. The cost of an excursion to the ruins of Michon starts from 200,000 VND per person ($10). You can go there on your own by bike. The entrance fee to the temple complex is 100,000 VND ($5). The complex is open for visiting from 6:30 to 16:30.

The Marble Mountains are located between Da Nang and Hoi An. The most convenient and cheapest way to visit the Marble Mountains is on the way from one city to another. So we did, but I will talk about this in the next article.

Hoi an beaches

Our beach holiday in Hoi An cannot be called successful. We, unfortunately, were absolutely not prepared and did not know which beach to go to in this city. We only owned general information that there are bathable beaches in Hoi An, and they are quite good. At the hotel, we called a taxi, told the taxi driver to take us to the nearest beach. We drove for about 10 minutes, after which he stopped next to a coastal cafe, where we had lunch. By the way, it was absolutely tasteless. But the mood was not spoiled by this. The weather and the beach itself were not conducive to swimming at all: a strong wind was blowing, there were waves, even fortifications were built from bags near the shore.

Hoi An Vietnam

Hoi An Vietnam

The next day we arrived at this beach early in the morning, it was completely deserted, there was no wind and waves. The water temperature, of course, is much lower than in Nha Trang, but nevertheless quite suitable for swimming. Taxi drivers are constantly on duty near this beach, so we easily got back to the hotel.

As we learned later, there are much more attractive places for swimming in Hoi An. You just had to go not to the right side of the Victoria Hoi An Resort, but take a taxi to the left side. There is a developed infrastructure, and a wide sand strip, and restaurants. In general, everything you need for a comfortable time at sea. So, there is a reason to return to Hoi An again!

Hoi An Transport

The easiest way to get around the city is, of course, by taxi. We took a taxi to the beach, called a seven-seat car to the reception. The cost of a trip from the historical part of the city to the beach is about 70,000 VND ($3). We also got back by taxi, several cars are always on duty near the beach.

If you are a confident driver of a bike or bicycle, you can easily rent them here. You can rent a bike even without a license, the cost is 5-6 dollars per day. Bicycles can be rented at almost every hotel. We noticed that a lot of tourists move around the city on bicycles. But the traffic is quite busy, so we did not dare to sit behind the wheel of a bicycle and ride in the stream of bikes and cars.

In the historical part of the city, tourists move on foot. To get around the most interesting streets, you need to spend at least two to three hours. Traffic on the main streets is limited, especially in the evening. Therefore, you can safely walk along the streets and go to your favorite shops.

Hoi An Vietnam

How to get to Hoi An from Nha Trang, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City

Slipbuses (these are night buses with sleepers typical of Asia) in the direction of Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi call in Hoi An every day. In the direction of Ho Chi Minh City, the bus leaves around 18:00. Tickets must be purchased in advance. We stayed in Hoi An for 2 days, after which we went to Nha Trang on a slipbus. We got seats on an extra bus, half of which were broken. The bus drove very slowly and stopped every few hours: every time something was repaired. Other sleepbuses overtook us with a breeze!

Summing up our stay in Hoi An, I would like to note that this is one of the most comfortable cities we have visited in Vietnam.

Three or four days is enough to explore the city. During this time, you can visit all the sights, plunge into the atmosphere of the ancient city, enjoy the cuisine, sunbathe on the beach. Usually tourists do not stay here for a long time, as the town is very small. We had only two days in Hoi An, but we spent this time very interesting and eventful.