Hoi An is definitely the prettiest city of our 7-day trip in Vietnam, although extremely touristic.

The action mainly happens in the Old Town around the canal. Lots of pretty shops, bars and restaurants in old French colonial houses. It’s also one of the 8 Vietnamese sites listed as at the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Restaurants:

• Typical: we tested (and were convinced by) the local white rose shrimp dumplings at Morning Glory
• Cheap: Cafe 43 is a real place for backpackers with cheap fresh beer and typical dishes
• Romantic & expensive: Amazing garden at the Brother’s Café, also slightly away from the downtown noise 

Bars: We literally fell in love with the Dive Bar: a huge list of cocktails, good music and comfy tatamis. And if you’re a cocktail addict, climb on Banana Leaf‘s terrace and ask for a bucket!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hotel: we stayed at the Calla Villa Hoi An just outside the Old town. Nothing amazing but we had a large room for a very low price and the swimming pool is quite big. Breakfast is average.

 

Activities:

• An Bàng beach: We rented a scooter (prayed that we would survived and drove for about 15 minutes to the An Bàng beach. I can recommend you a nice cocktail at Soul Kitchen or lunch with a view at La Plage.

• Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary: we booked a trip for less than 10$ somewhere in an agency in Hai Ba Trung street for half a day in another UNESCO ranked site. We explored the ruins of  ancient Cham temples discovered only about a century ago by French archeologists in the middle of the jungle. The site was unfortunately heavily bombarded during the US-Vietnam war.

• Boat: you won’t be able to miss the hundreds of candles floating on the water every night. I couldn’t resist and also went for a short romantic boat ride to add my red candle too!

• Shopping: loads of opportunities to buy cheap silk clothes and leather products and shoes. They all advertise the fact that they can do personalised items too. 

Hoi An is definitely a place you should stop if visiting Vietnam. It’s probably the one city on my trip I would consider going back to!