Trade in the hustle and bustle of the city for a tranquil weekend in Hoi An, Vietnam. Experience culture at its finest in the old historic seaport town located right between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and feast to your heart’s content.

Just about an hour away from Da Nang is the beautiful town of Hoi An that’s an eclectic mix of eye-catching French colonial architecture, Chinese temples and iconic Japanese covered bridges. Once a major port city before trade eventually moved to Penang at the end of the 19th century, the ancient town of Hoi An is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site with an obvious focus on tourism. Therefore, walking through the lantern-fringed streets, it’s not hard to find a ton of modern bars, cafes and hostels that have taken home in the old timber-framed structures of restored tea warehouses. If you’ve got some time on your hands, or a long weekend coming up, why not find some much-needed respite by the river banks of what was once the most important harbour of the powerful Champa Kingdom? Scroll down for our weekend guide to Hoi An!

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🇻🇳  Weekend Guide To Hoi An 2022: Day 1 

Start The Day Cooking

Walk around Hoi An and you’ll quickly realise that there are two things in great abundance here — tailor shops and cooking classes. While the former is a convenient addition, especially if you’ve been on the road for a while, the latter could be overwhelming. It really depends on what you’re looking for when in the market for a cooking class, however, if you’re partial to authentic, relaxed and intimate settings, Green Bamboo Cooking School is probably the one for you. 

You’ll be in the safe and skilled hands of multi-lingual Vietnamese chef Van as she takes you through the whole cooking process — from shopping for fresh ingredients at the morning market, discussing your game plan at a local coffee shop, to cooking up a storm at her home from her very own selection of traditional recipes. 

It might be a little pricey, but what better way to take home a piece of Vietnam than acquiring the ability to whip up some local dishes to wow your loved ones?

Duration: 7 hours, from 8 am to 3 pm
Price: £42.33 (~S$73.90) per person (minimum 2 pax)

Find out more here. 

Take An Evening Stroll Around Town

Just east of Hoi An Market, you’ll find Phan Boi Chau Street aka Rue des Arts — a dedicated arts street filled with galleries, museums, and cafes. Pick up a free walking map at any one of those establishments, or start exploring the former French Quarter on your own. Thereafter, head on over to Cua Dai Bridge for spectacular views of the sun setting over the Thu Bon River. Once you’ve captured that Insta-worthy shot, follow the glow of the Old Town for a lantern-lit stroll before dinner.

Pro-tip: Every 14th day of the lunar month the Old Town celebrates the Full Moon Festival by turning off all electric lights to allow the lanterns to shine — a sight to behold!

Dinner At Long Com Ga Chicken Rice

Image credits: Tripadvisor

Keep your eyes peeled when going past alleyways in the Old Town because you never really know what gems you might uncover. Long Com Ga is one of them, a hidden chicken rice store serving up fragrant variations of Hoi An’s signature dish doled out alongside bowls of chicken broth. 

Address: 16 Phan Chu Trinh, Phường Minh An, Hoi An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam

Opening hours: Daily, from 11 am to 10 pm

Price: From ₫ 35,000 (~S$2.10)

🇻🇳  Weekend Guide To Hoi An 2022: Day 2 

Start The Day With Madam Khanh — The Banh Mi Queen

Image credits: Tripadvisor

Foodies will know that when in Hoi An, there are but two true contenders for the spot of best banh mi in town — Banh Mi Phuong and Madam Khanh. While both are great, we’re fans of Madam Khanh because of her perfectly balanced sauce mix (spicy, medium spicy, and non-spicy options available) and warm and crunchy baguettes. Popular options here include the Mixed Banh Mi and the Barbeque Pork Banh Mi. 

Pro-tip: The restaurant gets packed fairly regularly, but it’s a great meal to have on the go whilst walking around town. While you’re at it, don’t forget to pick up a cup of egg coffee to wash it all down with!

Address: 115 Trần Cao Vân, Phường Minh An, Hoi An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam

Opening Hours: Daily, from 6.30 am to 7.30 pm

Price: From ₫ 20,000 (~S$1.20)

Spend The Day At An Bang Beach

A quieter option compared to Cua Dai Beach, An Bang Beach is about 20 minutes away by taxi from Hoi An city centre. To make the most of your day trip, we recommend renting a bicycle (~₫ 30,000) from any of the rental shops littered around Hoi An for a scenic ride over to An Bang’s pristine white shores. The waves here aren’t large and looming — which makes it perfect for an afternoon dip in the sea. You can also opt to rent beach chairs (~₫ 100,000) for the day which come with bamboo umbrellas to shield you from the heat. Additionally, there are some restaurants and bars nearby, plus locals peddling souvenirs just in case you wish to take something home to remember the place by. 

Pro-tip: The beach gets busy amongst locals after 4 pm so come early!

End The Day At Cao Lau Khong Gian Xanh

Image credits: Tripadvisor

We’re back in the ancient town for yet another must-eat when in Hoi An — Cao Lau, that sees thick rice-floor noodles pre-soaked in a concoction made from wood ash and the alkaline waters of the Ba Le Well on Cham Island. It’s then topped with roasted pork and garnished with fresh herbs, bean sprouts, rice crackers, and pork-rind croutons.

Address: 687 Hai Bà Trưng, Phường Minh An, Hoi An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam

Opening Hours: Daily, from 9.30 am to 9 pm

Price: From ₫ 35,000 (~S$2.10)

🇻🇳  Weekend Guide To Hoi An 2022: Day 3

End The Trip At My Son Sanctuary

Deep in the wooded hills just 40 km southwest of Hoi An, in the shadow of Cat’s Tooth Mountain, is another UNESCO World Heritage site — the Champa sanctuary ruins of My Son. Back in the day, My Son was known as the headquarters of gods and god-kings. In fact, excavations have shown that Cham kings were buried here as early as the fourth century, with the stone towers and sanctuaries dating back to the seventh and thirteenth centuries! Unfortunately, because of the Vietnam war, many buildings were heavily damaged. Yet, there are still a ton of awe-inspiring remnants that are worth the journey over. 

Day Tour: From S$13.85

Find out more here. 

Have A Blast With YouTrip’s Weekend Guide To Hoi An!

Now that travel is opening up worldwide, and you’ve got all the know-how with this weekend guide to Hoi An, you are ready for your solo adventures in Vietnam! Before you go, don’t forget to pack along your YouTrip card to enjoy Wholesale Exchange Rates with zero bank fees when booking your trip and travelling around.

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_{*All currency conversion rates are accurate to the nearest 10 cents on 28 April 2022 SGT 5 PM. Bank card prices are calculated based on 3.25% foreign currency transaction fee.}