What to see in Hoi An in one day

Hoi An means a peaceful meeting place in English and is a UNESCO world heritage site on the central coast of Vietnam which is 40 minutes from Da Nang Airport. The city has a blend of cultures and nationalities. Hoi An is a busy little town full of history, culture and flavourful dishes that you can explore in one day. Here are the things to see in Hoi An in one day.

Fishing Village basket boat rides

A Visit to Bay Mau Coconut Forest which is just 3 minutes from Hoi An is a must. The basket boat will float along the Thu Bon river and the tour will take about 35-50 minutes. You should plan to visit Bay Mau early in the morning so that you can watch the sunrise. During the boat ride, you will see a very dense coconut grove and, a basket boat dance where the locals spin their baskets round and round.

Cultural and culinary adventures

As the day warms up, you can take a break from sightseeing and enjoy freshly made Vietnamese food. You must try Banh Mi, a Vietnamese baguette. Another must-try food is Cao Lau, a noodle dish unique to Hoi An. There are many other street food delicacies like white rose dumplings and Mi Quang which are worth trying.

Lanterns and Colours

Hoi An is famous for paper lanterns introduced by the Japanese centuries ago. These paper lanterns are now an important craft in Hoi An. There is a street full of colourful lanterns in Hoi An. They also make a great souvenir from Hoi An. To make the experience more unique some resorts like Anantara Hoi An Resort located close to the historic quarter and overlooking the Thu Bon River, offer lantern-making classes. They help you make your lanterns step-by-step while teaching you the significance of different coloured paper used in lantern making.

Explore the Ancient Town

The ancient town is the heart of the Hoi An. The streets are lined with mustard-yellow buildings and bougainvillea making the view picturesque. Make sure you take a walk to the Japanese covered bridge, which is an iconic 18th-century bridge. Then make your way to the Assembly Hall of Fujian Chinese congregation known for its grand gates and vibrant interior. While walking in the historic city you will also walk past Quan Gong Pagoda, a beautiful Chinese temple and Ba Mu temple gate with stunning intricate details. It is better to go sightseeing in the ancient town during the morning or evening hours so that you can beat the intense heat during the day.

Watch the Sunset from Hoi An River

You can go on a sunset boat ride along the Thu Bon River towards the end of your trip. The wooden boat ride is about 1 hour long, and you can witness the sunset while creating beautiful shades in the sky. As the night falls the lanterns come to life, lighting the entire town. A Hoi An tradition is to light up flower lanterns and send them down the river as a ceremony of dispelling stress and evil. You will see locals coming to the river at night to practice this ritual.  You can also get colourful lanterns to release during the boat ride. These lanterns make beautiful, picturesque moments.

Night Market

Dining at a riverside Hoi An hotel is a great way to end your day. After your dinner, you can explore the night market. The streets will be alive at night, and you can enjoy a variety of street food while walking in the street full of lanterns and take beautiful pictures of the myriad lanterns.