Best shopping in Vietnam

One of Hoi An’s biggest draws is the sheer amount of preserved historical buildings in itsOld Town, ranging from Chinese congregation halls, to traditional houses, to French colonial buildings. At any of the tourism information kiosks in town, you can pick up a general Old Town ticket that gets you entry to five sites of your choosing. The Japanese Covered Bridge is a great photo spot, and the candy-coloured Quan Cong Temple stuns with its intricate tile decorations, but make sure you stop by one of Hoi An’s museums to get your cultural bearings first. We recommend the Museum of Trade Ceramics for a look into Hoi An’s most historically important industry, as well as the museum’s setting in a well preserved old home. Within walking distance of each other are a few Chinese congregation halls, built in the 18th and 19th centuries as social and ritual areas (check out the intricate, gorgeous shrines typically in the back), and some traditional ‘old homes‘ that you can briefly tour. The ‘old homes’ of Hoi An are fascinating looks into the houses of the city’s elite – though you won’t be able to explore much past the front rooms, as many are still inhabited.

One of Hoi An’s biggest draws is the sheer amount of preserved historical buildings in itsOld Town, ranging from Chinese congregation halls, to traditional houses, to French colonial buildings. At any of the tourism information kiosks in town, you can pick up a general Old Town ticket that gets you entry to five sites of your choosing. The Japanese Covered Bridge is a great photo spot, and the candy-coloured Quan Cong Temple stuns with its intricate tile decorations, but make sure you stop by one of Hoi An’s museums to get your cultural bearings first. We recommend the Museum of Trade Ceramics for a look into Hoi An’s most historically important industry, as well as the museum’s setting in a well preserved old home. Within walking distance of each other are a few Chinese congregation halls, built in the 18th and 19th centuries as social and ritual areas (check out the intricate, gorgeous shrines typically in the back), and some traditional ‘old homes‘ that you can briefly tour. The ‘old homes’ of Hoi An are fascinating looks into the houses of the city’s elite – though you won’t be able to explore much past the front rooms, as many are still inhabited.

best place in vietnam Hoi An

There’s a certain something special about Hoi An. Walking through its Old Town streets, past preserved colonial buildings painted in pale hues, lanterns that glow bright at night, flowering trees adding bursts of colour, and a pale flowing river, you’ll feel a mile away from Vietnam’s more chaotic cities. Its chilled-out atmosphere and striking beauty make this the type of town that travellers plan just a few days in, and then decide to stay for another… and another… so we guess there’s no wonder that this UNESCO listed World Heritage Site often winds up being one of travellers’ favourites. Want to make the most of your stay? 

There’s a certain something special about Hoi An. Walking through its Old Town streets, past preserved colonial buildings painted in pale hues, lanterns that glow bright at night, flowering trees adding bursts of colour, and a pale flowing river, you’ll feel a mile away from Vietnam’s more chaotic cities. Its chilled-out atmosphere and striking beauty make this the type of town that travellers plan just a few days in, and then decide to stay for another… and another… so we guess there’s no wonder that this UNESCO listed World Heritage Site often winds up being one of travellers’ favourites. Want to make the most of your stay? 

Understand the (contemporary) culture scene

If you’re curious to see Vietnam’s traditional art forms up-close-and-personal, Hanoi is the heartland for performances. Most famously, it’s the best place to see water puppetry – a form of storytelling developed in the Red River Delta. Ca tru, a traditional music form featuring a female singer, is also alive and well, with near nightly performances at the Thang Long Theatre. But Hanoi isn’t just home to the traditional – it’s also home to a thriving contemporary art scene. Visit Manzi, a venue which acts mercurially as performance space, cinema and cafe, or San Art, an artist residency programme with collaborations between local and international artists, for Hanoi’s most innovative art. If video is more your thing, DOCLAB features both movie nights and video workshops, putting you behind the camera.

If you’re curious to see Vietnam’s traditional art forms up-close-and-personal, Hanoi is the heartland for performances. Most famously, it’s the best place to see water puppetry – a form of storytelling developed in the Red River Delta. Ca tru, a traditional music form featuring a female singer, is also alive and well, with near nightly performances at the Thang Long Theatre. But Hanoi isn’t just home to the traditional – it’s also home to a thriving contemporary art scene. Visit Manzi, a venue which acts mercurially as performance space, cinema and cafe, or San Art, an artist residency programme with collaborations between local and international artists, for Hanoi’s most innovative art. If video is more your thing, DOCLAB features both movie nights and video workshops, putting you behind the camera.