December 5, 2024 17:30 PM

5 Places You Have to Visit When You Go to Hoi An, Vietnam

Ever wondered how Vietnam looked like back in the day? Well, watching documentaries or movies isn't really enough to get the full experience, but there is another way you can go about it.

Visit Hoi An!

Hoi An, Vietnam
Linh Pham/Getty Images

Hoi An is home to the Hoi An Anciety City. A United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site since 1999, it is located in the Quảng Nam Province. It is described by UNESCO as "an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century."

Definitely packed with a whole lot of old world charm, here are five places you have to visit when you go to this remarkably timeless city.

Hoi An Ancient Town

Hoi An Ancient Town, Hoi An, Vietnam
Hieu Tran on Unsplash

It will be pretty much a sin to start this list without at least talking about the Hoi An Ancient Town, even if some places we will talk about are located in it.

The Hoi An Ancient Town is a delightful mix of European and Asian architecture, and 844 of its 1107 buildings make up the UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is full of galleries, cafes where you can enjoy good old ca phe sua da (iced Vietnamese coffee), and shops.

Hoi An Riverside

Hoi An Riverside, Hoi An, Vietnam
Linh Pham/Getty Images

Trading is a crucial part of Hoi An's history and heritage as it is located along the Thu Bon River. Today, the riverside is where you can find a number of restaurants and bars for a good meal.

You can likewise charter one of the boats to try your hand at fishing. If that isn't really your thing, you can opt to simply cruise along the river at your leisure.

Japanese Covered Bridge

Japanese Covered Bridge in Hoi An, Vietnam
Benjamin Wong on Unsplash

One of the city's most photographed spots is known as the Japanese Covered Bridge. It might surprise you to find something Japanese-inspired in an old Vietnamese city. However, Japanese merchants have settled in the area way back in the 15th century.

According to Vietnam's tourism website, the bridge was built back in 1593 by the Japanese in order to link their neighborhood to the Chinese neighborhood across.

An Bang Beach

An Bang Beach in Hoi An, Vietnam
Richard James on Unsplash

A mere 10-minute drive from the Hoi An Ancient Town, An Bang Beach is where you must go if you want to enjoy the sun and sand when in Hoi An. You can likewise find restaurants and bars if you wish to have a meal and drinks by the beach.

However, if you're after some adventure, don't worry! An Bang Beach is where you can go parasailing and paddleboarding. You can likewise hop onto a jet ski to enjoy the water in a different way.

Fujian Assembly Hall

Fujian Assembly Hall
dalbera on Flickr / Screenshot taken from Wikimedia Commons

Last and definitely not the least on our list is the Fujian Assembly Hall. Constructed in 1690, this place was used as a meeting place of residents from Fujian, China, who now lived in Hoi An.

Initially constructed using wood, the structure you see today has been made using bricks and tiles.

Tags
Vietnam, Asia
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