Hoi An

Food & Drink

• Regional dish: Cao Lau – noodle soup with pork and vegetables, done right here
• Cabanon – can't miss, right on the river, this humble Frenchman-run spot serves authentic French/Italian food and was one of the nicest dinners of the whole trip (make a reservation)

Sights

• An Bang Beach – a great way to beat the heat, just 10 minutes from the city center
• The Old Town itself — lanterns, markets, tourists, and craziness, all at once

Experiences

• The shopping hub — markets and storefronts everywhere, save room in your bag. Two leather belts from Da Bao Leather ($10 each) and traditional collapsible lanterns (about $1.20 each) were my best pickups
• Bar Street — you genuinely can't miss it
• Getting a tailor-made suit for around $100
• Cooking classes and lantern-making classes
• Coconut boat rides — the half-sphere boats popular with tourists

Getting Around

• Hoi An's Old Town is compact and walkable; rent a bike for the beach and the outskirts

Travel Tips

• If you can, time a visit around Lunar New Year — it's chaotic in the best way
• Otherwise, one or two days is plenty unless you're headed to the beach — the main draw is wandering and taking it in
• Expect the Old Town to feel built for visitors more than locals; it's touristed, but there's a reason it has the reputation it does

Overall Review

Hoi An is one of those places you feel an obligation to visit — not because it's vastly different from everywhere else, but because of the reputation it carries. It gives you shopping, beautiful old-town decor, water via the river and the beach, endless food, and lively nightlife. I was here for 3 days over Lunar New Year, which was a fantastic experience, though I was overwhelmingly struck by just how touristed this small city is — the bar street was abhorrent but extremely fun for the occasion. If you're not here for Lunar New Year, one or two days should be plenty unless you're settling in at the beach.