Hoi An is a suitable tourist destination year-round, especially during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year), when the ancient town is decorated in a richly traditional style and many festivals take place.
This 48-hour itinerary in Hoi An is designed for tourists from other locations who arrive in Hoi An by air, landing at Da Nang airport. The suggested itinerary is provided by Ms. Ngo Minh Trang, media representative of a hotel in Hoi An, Xuan Phuong, a local tourism professional, and is based on the firsthand experience of a VnExpress reporter.
Day 1
Morning
Have breakfast and coffee in Da Nang city. Breakfast options in Da Nang include: fish cake noodle soup, fermented fish noodle soup, Quang noodles, and banh mi (especially banh mi made with tapioca flour) on streets such as Nguyen Chi Thanh, Le Duan, Le Dinh Duong, and Hoang Dieu.
Enjoy coffee at cafes along Bach Dang Street overlooking the Han River swing bridge, the Dragon Bridge, or along Pham Van Dong Street towards My Khe Beach.
It's about 30 km to Hoi An Old Town.
A corner of Tra Que vegetable village. Photo: Minh Trang
Visit Tra Que Vegetable Village, located near the route from Da Nang to Hoi An Ancient Town, about 4 km from the town center. This is a popular destination for many foreign tourists and has recently attracted the attention of domestic tourists as well, with activities such as: working as a harvester, learning to cook.
Tra Que vegetable village, spanning over 18 hectares and cultivating more than 40 varieties of vegetables, is located next to the Co Co River and is enriched by alluvial soil year-round. Its most famous crops are basil, onions, coriander, and water spinach grown from seeds. Tra Que supplies clean vegetables to supermarkets and hotels in the region.
Noon
Visit An Bang Beach to relax and have lunch. There's a row of restaurants serving fresh seafood for visitors to choose from. Remember to check the menu and prices beforehand. If you don't eat seafood, you can also visit Vietnamese or European restaurants at An Bang Beach.
Recommended seafood restaurants: Sao Bien, Canh Buom Trang, Gio Bien, Nam Gia, Hai San Sen. European restaurants highly rated by Tripadvisor guests: Shore Club An Bang Beach, Moyo Beach Club, The Deck House, The Hmong Sisters, and The Fisherman Vegan Restaurant.
The villa is located in the Renaissance Hoi An Resort & Spa. Photo: Marriott Bonvoy
Renaissance Hoi An Resort & Spa is located in the Cua Dai area. This resort has 193 rooms, including 25 beachfront villas with 3 to 5 bedrooms, private pools, and gardens, ideal for family vacations. Room rates start from 3.5 million VND. The resort boasts a quiet and peaceful atmosphere, yet is conveniently located, just a 15-minute drive from the ancient town.
If you don't like staying in the Cua Dai area, you can choose hotels in the heart of the Old Quarter, on streets like Hai Ba Trung, Tran Phu, and Tran Hung Dao.
Afternoon and evening
Relax, swim in the sea, or take a dip in the hotel's infinity pool. Enjoy an early dinner at the Food Studio restaurant with local dishes.
Enjoy the "Memories of Hoi An" live performance, located approximately 6 km from the hotel, with private transportation available. Memories of Hoi An was honored as the " World's Leading Entertainment Destination" in 2022 by the World Travel Awards.
Hoi An Memories Island is a tourism, resort, and cultural complex. This complex comprises three main areas, including the "Hoi An Memories" live performance show, which features over 500 performers on a 25,000 m² outdoor stage and a grandstand with a capacity of 3,300 spectators, located on Con Hen Island, Cam An Ward. In over four years since its launch, "Hoi An Memories" has had more than 2,000 performances and welcomed over 2 million visitors.
Entrance tickets range from 600,000 VND to 1,000,000 VND per person (depending on seating location). Visitors can book tickets online in advance, or through travel agencies to receive discounts.
Return to the hotel to spend the night.
Day 2
Morning
Cycling through Hoi An's Old Town in the early morning. Photo: Minh Trang
I woke up early in the morning, cycled to Hoi An Old Town for sightseeing and breakfast.
"Wandering through the old town early in the morning before the tourists arrive and the shops open is an experience not to be missed, because that's when visitors can feel the most authentic Hoi An," Trang suggested.
Have breakfast at one of the sidewalk eateries along the Hoai River or the Old Quarter, such as Pho Tung, a signature Hoi An pho restaurant. The small bowls of dry pho have fewer noodles but the meat is delicious and tender, and the seasonings are different from those in other regions. Other dishes visitors can choose from include: banh mi (Vietnamese baguette), Quang noodles, wonton, banh canh (rice noodle soup), banh dap (rice cake), and sticky rice with chicken.
Visit the Bay Mau coconut forest (Cam Thanh coconut forest). In winter, the coconut forest is open from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM daily.
The Bay Mau coconut forest is located about 3 km from the center of the old town. Entrance fee: 30,000 VND per person, rental of a basket boat ranges from 150,000 VND to 200,000 VND per boat. The main activities here that most tourists participate in are: sightseeing by basket boat, watching basket boat dances and races, casting nets to catch fish, and making souvenirs from coconut leaves.
midday and afternoon
Returning to the old town, enjoy one of Hoi An's signature dishes: steamed buns, White Rose rice cakes, or chicken rice. Some of the chicken rice stalls recommended by many tourists in Hoi An include: Ba Buoi, Ba Nga, Com Ga Xi, and Co Man.
Hoi An chicken rice is special because of its ingredients. The rice used is a type of rice from Central Vietnam, fragrant, nutty, with round, unbroken grains. The chicken used is usually firm, tender, and not mushy. Another highlight is the bright yellow chicken skin, which gives the dish its distinctive color.
Enjoy panoramic views of Hoi An from a rooftop cafe at one of these establishments, such as Faifo Coffee, The Chef, The Hill Station Hoi An, or 92 Station - Restaurant & Cafe. These cafes also serve food, allowing visitors to combine eating and drinking to save time.
"Many young people and foreign tourists prefer to choose elevated spaces to admire Hoi An in a peaceful and relaxing way," Phuong said.
Alternatives
If staying in Hoi An longer, visitors can choose to visit Cham Island, stroll through the ancient town at night and take a boat ride to release floating lanterns, have clothes made (ao dai, skirts, Western-style clothing) on the same day, visit Thanh Ha pottery village, and explore the classified ancient houses.
During Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year), it's worth staying longer in the ancient town because it's filled with traditional Tet atmosphere. Hoi An during Tet is also a place where many cultural activities and traditional festivals take place, where you can experience handicraft stalls, release lanterns on the Hoai River, and enjoy folk art performances.
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