The old city of Hoi An was the most pleasant surprise of our first trip. All the guidebooks will tell you that the city is a picturesque village “lost in time” as it were. Jaded Asian travelers that we are, we expected a Singapore-style block or so of old buildings gutted and rebuilt to look like what we think old buildings should look like, but with all the modern amenities, like air conditioning.
Old-fashioned wall sign in Hoi An
That definitely does not describe Hoi An. We're talking serious quantities of old buildings - old inside and out. Before we go too far, let's be sure to point out that Hoi An is very tourist oriented. You're never more than a few meters from an art gallery, or a tailor. More on that later.
Still, it is like a whole town went into stasis some time at the end of the nineteenth century and only came out a few years ago. If it wasn't for the power lines and television aerials, it could be the 1940's.
The old town area covers about a dozen blocks. At one end is one of the more interesting sites, the Japanese covered bridge. Some of the most notable buildings within the old town itself are the Chinese congregation halls built by Chinese settlers from various regions of China.
Also be sure to set aside some time to browse through the central market. If you have time, a tour of the nearby river and its islands by boat is worthwhile.
NOTE: The old city of Hoi An is now a world heritage site. Many of the places described here require the purchase of a ticket for 90,000 Dong which allows you to visit five places. Tickets can be purchased at your hotel or at one of several information booths around the edge of the city.
Hoi An's status as a big tourist attraction means there is a wide range of accommodations available. Many are in or near the center of town, but some are often over-priced for what you get. If you don't like my picks, you can use the search box below to use HotelsCombined to search dozens of sites at once to fine the best rates.
All of the hotels below may be booked on-line through our travel partners.
Hoi An was really a surprise. It's a perfect place to end your trip to Vietnam. You could easily spend three or four days just wandering the streets of the old city and its environment. This is also a very good place to do any shopping you might want to do.
Perhaps the most famous commodity to purchase is clothing. There are tailors galore who will make you anything you want.
The Chinese have long been present in Hoi An, and probably contributed much to its importance as a trading center. The traders came from various parts of China, and over time each community built its own clan houses as places where they could make contact with their own distant kinsmen.
The Cantonese Congregation Hall The Cantonese congregation hall was founded in 1786. Like most of the halls, there is a central courtyard with a meeting area near the front entrance and a alter at the back.
The Japanese Bridge was built by the Japanese trading community in 1593 to link them with the Chinese quarter on the other side of a small stream. The bridge is obviously very solidly built, almost out of proportion to the small trickle which runs under it.
The entrance to the covered Japanese Bridge At either end of the bridge are alters to guardians of the bridge. One end has a pair of monkeys, while the other is guarded by dogs.
It's not all old buildings. Before we look at some more, let's visit the market. Hoi An boasts a thriving market, and it definitely is not just for the tourists. In fact, if you visit early in the morning, you might feel a little in the way. The market is open all day, so visit around mid-day when things are a little slow. It will work up your appetite for lunch!
After schlepping around the old town for a day or two your feet are going to be ready for a rest. One way to take a load off is to rent a boat and take a tour of some of the communities spread around the estuary where Hoi An is located. There are several boats, both with an engine and rowed, available at the far end of the quay, near the Japanese bridge.
