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Hoian,
once known as Faifo, was a major international port in the
16th and 17th centuries, and the foreign influences are discernible
to this day. While the serious shipping business has long since
moved to Danang, the heart of the city is still the Old
Town, full of winding lanes and Chinese-styled shophouses,
which is particularly atmospheric in the evening as the sun goes
down. While most all shops now cater to the tourist trade, unusually
in Vietnam the area has been largely preserved as is and renovation
has proceeded slowly and carefully, mercifully absent of towering
concrete blocks and karaoke parlors.
The main thoroughfare in
the Old Town is Tran Phu. Just
south of the Old Town, across the Thu Bon
River, are the islands of An Hoi and
Cam Nam.
GETTING
IN
By plane
The nearest
airport is in Danang, which has frequent connections to Hanoi,
Saigon and some flights to Bangkok, Singapore and Siem Reap,
Cambodia (for Angkor Wat). A taxi from the airport to Hoi An costs
about US$12-18 thanks to the cartel, but only about half that in the
other direction.
By train
There
is no railway station in Hoi An. The nearest is in
Danang, from where there are several trains a day
from Hanoi, Saigon,
Hue, Nha Trang etc. Our hotel
receptionists can book a train ticket for
you.
By bus
Traveller buses run
daily up and down the coast from Da Nang, Hue and Nha Trang. Note
the road to Nha Trang is awful and the trip takes all day; it is
much better to take a train. Sinh Cafes office is at 18A Hai Ba
Trung st., just off Hai Ba Trung, and they charge US$3 for the trip
to Hue (4 hours, twice daily).
By motorbike or
taxi
It is easy to take a motorbike or taxi to and
from Da Nang via the Marble Mountains (see below), from where you
can catch a train onwards.
GETTING
AROUND
The centre of Hoi An is very small and
pedestrianised, so you will be walking around most of the time.
SEEING
Old
town
Entry to all historical sites in Hoi An is via
a coupon system, where US$5 gets you a ticket that can be used to
enter five attractions: one museum, one family house, one Chinese
meeting hall, the art performance theater and either the Japanese
Covered Bridge or the Quan Kong Temple. Tickets are sold at various
entry points into the Old Town, including Hai Ba Trung
St.
Japanese Covered
Bridge (Cau Nhat Ban or Lai Vien Kieu), on the
west end of Tran Phu Street. Hoi An's best-known landmark consists
of a covered bridge and pagoda. The bridge was constructed in the
early 1600's by the Japanese community, roughly 40 years before they
left the city to return to Japan under the strict policy of sakohu
enforced by the Tokugawa Shogunate. Last renovated in 1986. Entry
one coupon.
Museum of Trade Ceramics, 80
Tran Phu St. The dusty displays of broken pottery in this house are
eminently forgettable, but the house itself is nice enough. Entry
one coupon.
Phung Hung House, 4 Nguyen Thi
Minh Khai St (just west of the Japanese Bridge). Traditional
two-story wooden house, inhabited over 100 years by eight
generations - and the current one attempts to guide you around in
hope of a tip. Entry one coupon.
Chinese meeting
halls: Numerous congregation halls, where Chinese
expatriate residents met and socialized, are dotted about the town.
They are typically named after their home region, such as Fujian and
Canton. Entry into any hall one
coupon.
SHOPPING
Hoi An shopping is characterised by the traditional Vietnamese local markets, with more offerings of traditional craftsmanship and cultural souvenirs than is usually found elsewhere in the country. The range of merchandise available in Hoi An is more limited than other places in Vietnam, but highly regarded cultural souvenirs are more prominent here.
There's no better place for a bit of shopping spree! You will find that wandering around the shops and Restaurants of Hoi An is the main joy of Hoi An, and browsing through the shops will occupy many pleasant hours. For general information about Hoian restaurant and Hoian shopping, please contact with Hoian Vinh Hung 3 Hotel !
Hoi An Shopping Guide
Hoi An lanterns and tailor-made clothing are renowned throughout Vietnam. Hoi An is indeed well known for their shops, especially clothing shops. It is simply incredible what the tailors can make for the prices they charge. Most shops have the latest fashion catalogues, and you simply choose what you want, have a fitting and they set to work making it for you - often very quickly. Examples of prices are US$39 for a Cashmere suit, US$9 for trousers and so on, however be sure to haggle hard to get a great price.
You'll find plenty of other souvenir shops in Hoian, especially shops selling paintings, wood carvings and the aforementioned paper lanterns, which are beautiful when lit up at night.
BUY
Made-to-measure shirts,
blouses, dresses, suits etc. from the renowned tailors. When last
counted in 2002, there were 140 shops in the city and the number is
now well over 400. Be careful who you choose to manufacture your
clothes. As a rule of thumb, give all tailors 2 days advance to
prepare your garment and keep going back until you get your clothes
right!
GETTING OUT
My Son -
Cham ruins in the jungle a few hours away (lots of agents offer day
trips).
The Marble Mountains halfway to Da Nang are
well worth a stop. The hills loom out of the surrounding coastal
plain and feature a group of Buddhist temples built into caves - a
popular pilgrimage site for locals. Make sure you wear walking
shoes, as reaching many of the caves on the map require clambering
over rocks and through crevices. An small entry fee applies and
guides are available.
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