We had high expectations for Hoi An – a UNESCO heritage town also known as the magical town of Vietnam. Colourful, hand-painted lanterns hung all across the ancient town shophouses, adding a new charm to the well-preserved buildings at night.
However, we were overwhelmed and confused on the first day.
Are we the only ones who think that this so-called magical town is dampened by the massive crowds and overpriced activities, street foods and even a bottle of water sold in this town are priced higher than all other big cities in the country?
Hoi An in the morning is like a paradise but that is a totally different story which we are not going to discuss in this article. We found activities to do OUTSIDE of the ancient town for the next two days which we determined was way more fulfilling than rubbing shoulders (literally) with tourists.
Here are our three worthy reasons why you should also get out of the Hoi An ancient town:
1. The Hoi An old streets are swarmed with tourists
Let’s talk about the most obvious first. We were surprised how popular was Hoi An among the Koreans! There were more Koreans than Vietnamese at one glance in the old town streets.
Our short time spent in the town showed us that no restaurant is ever empty, no path is ever quiet. You may find some attractions quieter than the streets because paid tickets are required to get in but this only applies to smaller and less glamorous attractions. The prominent ones still get full tourists’ attention like the Japanese Covered Bridge.
2. There is a happy coconut village with round fishing boats outside Hoi An ancient town
Wait, what?
About 6 km away from the ancient town lies a happy village called the Cam Thanh Coconut Village. A regular city bike will get you there just fine with the breezy flat roads. Before we reached there, we were invited by a man on his motorbike to engage in his tour. We negotiated the price on the road without stopping our bikes (where can we experience this other than in Vietnam, really?).
The village is known for offering a traditional basket boat ride experience along the Cua Dai River, home to mangrove palms. The community somehow worked out a range of entertainment on the river including a thrilling dance on the basket boat, folding palm leaf into a grasshopper, experiencing throwing the traditional fishing nets to make sure it is not a boring ride. We absolutely loved the tour!
Address:
Tuấn Minh Thuyền Thúng (100,000d per pax)
Google Maps
3. Take a scenic cycling route to experience how locals make a living and pristine beaches
Rent a bike from your hostel or find a rental shop in the town – it should be easy. The ancient town is cyclist-friendly but a short ride out of the town brings you to the countryside that provides a different charm of Hoi An. Our hostel offers a bicycle tour that let us visit a rice noodle making house, a neighbourhood temple and more.
Going a little further would unveil a long stretch of charming white beaches. Most of these beaches are very tourist-friendly with food sellers like An Bang Beach. If you prefer a quieter and untouched scene, try the nearby Cua Dai or Ha My Beach.
You can read a more in-depth self-guided cycling tour in Hoi An here.
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