Hoi An is a scenic town located an hour’s drive away from Da Nang. It's full of culture, character and beautiful fields. Here are a few ways you can experience this vibrant place:
Discover Cao Lầu
A speciality in Hoi An is the famous Cao Lầu noodle. The noodles are made from water in an ancient well located in Hoi An that gives the noodles a unique texture and taste. The best way to experience this dish is by the river in the ancient town from local street food vendors instead of a fancy restaurant. My go to spot is Vân Cô Hoa. Cao Lầu is full of a mixture of flavours from the famous noodles to soft and crispy pork topped with a handful of fresh veggies.
Drive through the rice fields
Hire a motorbike or simply cycle through Hoi An’s countryside to really get a feel for the place. The open roads showcase the beautiful fields and herds of water buffalo. I enjoyed stopping off at local restaurant’s and coffee shops to rehydrate and try more of the local dishes.
Take a coconut basket boat tour
Hoi An is home to rivers with coconuts growing in an abundance and a great way to experience local culture is taking a ride in a basket boat. Basket boats are typically used to harvest the coconuts in the rivers as well as get around. As you drive towards the coconut villages you are usually approached by locals selling you their tour so just follow along for some fun. I loved this experience and would do it again - highly recommend!
Walk the streets of the Ancient town
Discover the beauty of the colourful lanterns as you walk around the Ancient town at night. It is extremely popular with tourists and can get very busy but it’s the best way to see the famous tailor stores. Hoi An is famous for custom made clothing so if you’re in the market for a new dress or suit this is the place to go.
Relax at sunset on the beach
When researching Hoi An, the beach is rarely mentioned however it's beautiful and the sea is even warm. My favourite time to go is at sunset as this is when all the locals will head to the beach for a dip and to spend some quality time together. What really amazed me is that you will see more people in the sea than on the beach as they love to sit and chat in the water.
Learn to cook authentic Vietnamese dishes
Learn to recreate your favourite Vietnamese dishes with a cooking class in the rice fields. This beautiful setting is the ultimate place to learn how to make Pho, Cao Lầu, Banh Mi and much more.
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