Hoi An Central Vietnam
3
Day Itinerary •
Vietnam
Three days in Hoi An and central Vietnam takes you through the most extraordinary preserved trading town in Southeast Asia, a UNESCO World Heritage Ancient Town of remarkable 15th to 19th-century merchant houses, assembly halls and covered bridges that survived intact while other Vietnamese cities were destroyed by war. This route covers the essential Hoi An. The Ancient Town at dawn before the crowds, the extraordinary Japanese Covered Bridge, the finest tailors in Vietnam, a boat trip on the Thu Bon River with the traditional basket boats, a day at the extraordinary My Son Cham Hindu ruins in the jungle and the finest white sand beach at An Bang.
Best Time To Visit
February to April
Getting There
Fly to Da Nang (DAD), 30 min drive to Hoi An
Getting Around
Bicycle in Hoi An; taxi for My Son and beach
Budget Per Day
Approx 40 to 80 USD per person per day
Difficulity
Easy
DAY 1
HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN
MORNING
HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN AT DAWN
The Hoi An Ancient Town at dawn before 7am is the most extraordinary version of Vietnam's finest historic town, the yellow-washed merchant houses, the Japanese Covered Bridge and the Thu Bon River waterfront entirely empty and the morning mist still over the water. The extraordinary Chinese Assembly Halls including the Fujian and Cantonese halls with their remarkable dragon pillars and lacquered altars are finest when empty in the early morning. Entry to old town approx 120,000 VND. Transfer: On foot
MIDDAY
THE JAPANESE COVERED BRIDGE AND THU BON RIVER
The Japanese Covered Bridge built in the early 17th century is the most distinctive monument in Hoi An, an extraordinary wooden covered bridge with a small temple inside connecting the Japanese and Chinese merchant quarters. The Thu Bon River boat trip in the traditional round bamboo basket coracles is the finest river experience in central Vietnam, the remarkably skilled boatmen spinning the round boats in extraordinary circles. Basket boat hire approx 150,000 VND. Transfer: 20 min walk
AFTERNOON
TAILOR STREET AND THE LANTERN MARKET
Hoi An is the finest tailoring destination in Vietnam, its extraordinary number of skilled tailors able to produce custom clothing in 24 to 48 hours at remarkable prices. The extraordinary Hoi An Lantern Market is the finest craft market in central Vietnam, the colourful silk lanterns that define the town's appearance available at all price points. The Hoi An Full Moon Lantern Festival on the 14th of every lunar month is the finest monthly event in Vietnam.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
Cao lau noodles are unique to Hoi An, made with water from a single ancient Cham well in the town and served with pork, herbs and crispy croutons. The dish cannot be replicated elsewhere and is the most extraordinary local speciality in Vietnam. White Rose restaurant on Hai Ba Trung serves the finest version.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe on the Thu Bon River Banh mi and Vietnamese coffee with the extraordinary morning river view. | Lunch: Morning Glory, Hoi An The finest Vietnamese restaurant in Hoi An. White Rose dumplings and cao lau noodles. | Dinner: The Cargo Club, Hoi An Rooftop restaurant with the finest Thu Bon River view. Vietnamese and fusion cuisine.
DAY 2
MY SON AND AN BANG
MORNING
MY SON CHAM RUINS, THE HINDU TEMPLES IN THE JUNGLE
My Son is the most extraordinary Hindu temple complex in Vietnam and the finest Cham civilisation monument in Southeast Asia, a series of extraordinary brick towers built between the 4th and 13th centuries deep in a jungle valley of the Truong Son mountains. The complex was the religious capital of the Cham kingdom for 1,000 years. Although damaged by US bombing in 1969, the remaining temples are extraordinary and the jungle setting is remarkable. Entry approx 150,000 VND. Transfer: 30 min drive to beach
MIDDAY
AN BANG BEACH, CENTRAL VIETNAM'S FINEST WHITE SAND
An Bang beach north of Hoi An is the finest beach in central Vietnam, a long stretch of white sand with a more local and relaxed atmosphere than the busier Cua Dai beach. The beach cafe culture of An Bang, with its extraordinary fresh seafood restaurants, cold Huda beer and the remarkable view across the South China Sea, is the finest beach afternoon in the region. The walk along the shore at sunset is extraordinary. Transfer: 20 min drive back
AFTERNOON
HOI AN COOKING CLASS
A Hoi An cooking class is one of the finest culinary experiences in Vietnam, the remarkable Vietnamese cooking tradition taught in the most extraordinary food culture town in the country. The classes typically begin with a market tour to select ingredients and cover the finest dishes of central Vietnamese cuisine including white rose dumplings, cao lau noodles, fresh spring rolls and the remarkable Hoi An specialities. Classes from approx 30 USD.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The My Son Group B temples are the best preserved in the complex, their extraordinary Cham brick tower construction with remarkable carved decoration still intact after 1,200 years. Arriving at 7am before the tour groups gives the extraordinary experience of the jungle temples in near-silence with the mist still in the valley.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel in Hoi An Vietnamese breakfast before the My Son drive. Leave by 7am to beat the heat. | Lunch: Beach cafe at An Bang Fresh seafood grilled on the beach. Whole fish and cold Huda beer. Extraordinary. | Dinner: Cooking class dinner Eat the dishes you cooked at the class. The finest self-made meal in Vietnam.
DAY 3
MARBLE MOUNTAINS AND DA NANG
MORNING
MARBLE MOUNTAINS, THE FIVE ELEMENT PEAKS
The Marble Mountains between Hoi An and Da Nang are the finest natural attraction in central Vietnam, five limestone and marble hills containing extraordinary cave pagodas, natural tunnels and a remarkable panoramic viewpoint over Da Nang city, the beach and the mountains beyond. The Huyen Khong Cave inside the largest mountain has an extraordinary natural skylight and was used as a Viet Cong hospital during the Vietnam War. Entry approx 40,000 VND. Transfer: 20 min drive to city
MIDDAY
DA NANG DRAGON BRIDGE AND BEACH
The Da Nang Dragon Bridge is the most extraordinary modern bridge in Vietnam, a 666-metre bridge shaped as a dragon that breathes fire and water on Saturday and Sunday evenings. The My Khe beach below the bridge is the finest urban beach in Vietnam, a long clean white sand beach within walking distance of the city centre. The stretch of beach near the Dragon Bridge is the finest in Da Nang. Entry free. Transfer: 30 min to airport
AFTERNOON
DA NANG DEPARTURE
The Da Nang airport is 30 minutes from the city centre and serves both domestic Vietnamese destinations and international flights. A final bowl of mi quang yellow turmeric noodles, the finest dish unique to Da Nang and the surrounding region, gives the finest farewell to central Vietnam before departure.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Lady Buddha statue on the Son Tra Peninsula above Da Nang is the tallest Guanyin statue in Vietnam at 67 metres, visible from the city and the beach. The drive up the Son Tra mountain road through extraordinary coastal forest gives the finest views over Da Nang bay and the Marble Mountains. Entry free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel in Hoi An Final Hoi An breakfast before the Marble Mountains drive. | Lunch: Restaurant in Da Nang Mi quang noodles, the finest dish of the Da Nang region. Under 50,000 VND. | Dinner: Airport or Da Nang Bun bo Hue spicy beef noodle soup if time allows before departure.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Hoi An Ancient Town area Little Hoi An or Anantara Hoi An. Approx 40 to 120 USD per night. Budget option Hoi An Hostel or guesthouses from approx 15 USD. Beach resort Nam Hai or Four Seasons near An Bang beach from 150 USD.
Top Tips
1. Arrive at the Hoi An Ancient Town before 7am when it is empty. The yellow buildings and silk lanterns in the morning mist are the finest version of this extraordinary town.
2. Get custom clothes made in Hoi An. Prices are remarkable for the quality. Allow at least 24 hours for production and try them on before the final fitting.
3. The Hoi An Full Moon Lantern Festival on the 14th of each lunar month is the finest monthly event in Vietnam. The electric lights are switched off and lanterns fill the river.
4. Cao lau noodles are unique to Hoi An because of the ancient Cham well water. Eating them in the town where they originate is an extraordinary culinary experience.
5. My Son is finest at 7am before tour buses arrive. The jungle atmosphere, the extraordinary Cham brick towers and the mountain mist make it one of the finest sites in Vietnam.
6. An Bang beach is significantly less crowded than Cua Dai and has the finest cafe culture in central Vietnam. Arrive mid-morning for a beach cafe and stay until sunset.
Total Budget
40 to 80 USD/day