Hoi An has a way of slowing you down. Maybe it’s the quiet stretch of the river, or the way the sunlight hits the yellow-painted walls. You could arrive with a checklist of things to see and still find yourself lingering over details you didn’t plan for.
Start with the Old Town’s Timeless Appeal
The Old Town is the heart of Hoi An – a UNESCO-listed maze of narrow lanes, wooden shop-houses, and little temples that have been here for centuries. You’ll pass tailors calling out from their doorways, coffee shops spilling out onto the street, and lanterns strung up like it’s always festival season. If you want somewhere close enough to wander back after dark, Anantara Hoi An Resort sits right on the river.
Venture Beyond the Main Streets
Yes, the Old Town is beautiful. But hop on a bicycle and head out, and you’ll see another side entirely. Flat roads take you past bright green rice fields, water buffalo grazing without a care. Pottery villages still turning out clay by hand. A cooking class where you end up eating far too much. These slower moments often turn out to be the best things to do in Hoi An, simply because they feel real.
Taste the City’s Best-Known Flavours
Some people come here for the food alone, and it’s hard to blame them. Cao lầu with its chewy noodles, white rose dumplings so delicate they look like petals, bánh mì with the perfect crunch – you’ll find them at tiny stalls and family kitchens that have been doing this forever. If you can, grab a table by the Thu Bon River at sunset. The view steals your attention almost as much as the meal.
End the Day Under Lantern Light
Hoi An at night feels like it’s wearing its best dress. Lanterns swing overhead, soft light falling over the streets and the water. You might join the monthly lantern festival, when cars vanish and candles float downriver, or hire a small boat just to watch the reflections. Either way, the day ends the way it should – slow, warm, and impossible to forget.
