A lot of history awaits you in Hoi An, as it kept the charm of the port town it was in the past. Listed as a UNESCO world heritage site for its unusually well-preserved ancient streets and homes, Hoi An is a must-see in central Vietnam.

1. A walking tour
Enjoy a guided tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter lined with centuries-old houses influenced by Chinese, Japanese, French and European architectures, and visit its numerous places of interest: the 16th century Japanese Bridge, the Phuc Kien Chinese Assembly Halls, the Chua Ong Pagoda, the 200-year old Tan Ky ancestral house, the temple of Quang Dong and the Sa Huynh Museum. Also, you will have the chance to walk around some of the few local markets.

2. Traditional basket boat tour

The traditional basket boats are round boats made from bamboo. You can take a tour in the Water Coconut Palm Forest, a peaceful natural place ideal to relax. Learning how to sail the basket boat is not that easy. You will try to catch fishes and “purple crabs” in the Canal. It is a fun activity perfect for all ages.

3. Meet the fishermen
The fishing activity is an important part of the local economy in the region of Hoi An. Take a short break in a local family at Cam Thanh Village. The fishermen will share and explain their story and daily life with a lot of generosity.

4. Tra Que Vegetable Village

Tra Que Organic Vegetable Village are gardens where a large variety of vegetables are produced for the local community. At the village, you will be shown the environmentally sustainable practices which the local villagers have used for centuries and is still being used extensively today or eventually join in with local people in their daily work of planting and watering vegetables. The village is also known for its special aromatic herbs.

5. Cooking lesson
Hoi An is the best place to learn how to cook Vietnamese special dishes with the best products from the sea (fish and seafood) and the land (meat and vegetables).

6. Pottery village

A short boat ride will take you to Thanh Ha pottery village which has a long historical legacy and used to play an important role in the development of Hoi An ancient town. It’s better to head straight to the narrow lanes behind the village to find the families busy churning out pots, sculptures, roof tiles and cute handcrafted whistles shaped like animals.

7. Shopping
Keep some space in your luggage to bring special souvenirs from Hoi An. The old town is full of good quality tailor-made shops for clothes or shoes. Also, there are numerous art galleries. The city is famous for its lanterns lighted at night, so why not bringing one of those to decorate your house back home.