Hoi An City: Old Town, Culture and Hotels

The Old Town of Hoi An is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a Southeast Asian trading port from the 15th to the 19th century. When planning a trip to Hoi An City, it offers a practical starting point: do you mainly want to experience architecture and history, or are you also interested in crafts, cuisine and activities outside the Old Town?

The Old Town: Trade and Architecture

The Old Town’s original street plan took shape as it developed into a port and has been preserved. Along narrow pedestrian lanes stand 1,107 closely packed timber-framed buildings. On a walk through the Old Town, 844 of these 1,107 buildings that make up the townscape are designated as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, the historic street layout and dense development meet at every turn.

At the heart of the Old Town stands the wooden Japanese Covered Bridge. It includes a pagoda dating from the 18th century. Tan Ky is a private house from the 18th century; descendants of the original family live on the upper floor. The Phuc Kien Assembly Hall was built in the 17th century as a communal space and spiritual refuge for a Chinese migrant community. To this day, it serves as a spiritual center for local people.

Cultural Venues and Crafts

The Hoi An Lune Center for the Performing Arts is home to the Vietnamese Bamboo Circus. Its performance tells Vietnam’s story through singing, dance and bamboo props. The Hoi An Traditional Art Performance House is associated with performances of folk songs from the province on ethnic instruments. Together, these two venues complement the historic buildings with different forms of performing art.

Silk processing is also part of the town’s history. Duy Xuyen Silk Village, also known as Hoi An Silk Village, is located in Hoi An and has a more than 300-year tradition of silk weaving. Visitors can observe the different stages there: from the old mulberry garden and silkworm rearing to weaving on looms and the production of finished shirts or colorful scarves. In workshops, you can also make your own lanterns as souvenirs.

Cuisine and Markets

Hoi An’s cuisine has been shaped by Chinese, Japanese, Western and other trade and cultural contacts. In cooking classes, visitors choose fresh ingredients and then enjoy the dishes they have prepared themselves. A unique dough-based dish from Hoi An has a name inspired by its rose-like shape. For travelers who want to include food in their trip planning, it offers practical insight into local cooking traditions alongside the historic sites.

The Old Town includes an open-air market and a ferry landing. Hoi An Cloth Market offers fabrics in many types and colors and has more than 50 stalls; the number of stalls may change. Market visits and cooking classes offer different experiences: one is an opportunity to discover fabrics and colors, while the other takes you from selecting fresh ingredients to cooking together.

Activities Outside the Old Town

About 3 km from the Old Town is Tra Que Vegetable Village. Visitors can get hands-on experience with vegetable growing there; cooking classes are also available, where they prepare Hoi An specialties using freshly prepared ingredients. Nearby An Bang Beach is less than 10 km from the Old Town. Parasailing, jet skiing and stand-up paddleboarding are offered there; beach conditions and providers may vary.

From Hoi An, visitors can cycle through rice fields toward Cam Nam Island; route conditions may vary. At sunset, sampan boat rides are offered along the riverbank, although operator availability may vary. For a different perspective, there is Cu Lao Cham Marine Park: this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of eight islands lies about 15 km off the coast of Hoi An. Conditions for access by sea vary seasonally. The possible activities therefore offer clear alternatives: vegetable growing and cuisine in Tra Que, water sports at An Bang Beach, a bike ride through rice fields or a trip out to sea.

Discover more destinations: Tam Ky City

For the main travel overview: Quang Nam.