What is the Centre of Hoi An?

How big is Hoi an old town?

Hoi An Ancient Town’s designated UNESCO World Heritage site covers a compact 30 hectares (74 acres). Think a leisurely afternoon stroll. The surrounding buffer zone expands that considerably to 280 hectares (690 acres), providing a cushion against encroaching modernity. Preservation efforts matter. The inscription year, 1999, reminds us of the ongoing work to maintain these cultural treasures. Who decides what history is worth saving, anyway?

• Core Zone: 30 hectares (74 acres). Roughly the size of a small college campus. Easily walkable. Remember good walking shoes.
• Buffer Zone: 280 hectares (690 acres). Protects the core from uncontrolled development. Important for long-term preservation. My trip there in 2023 was impacted by the surrounding area. Lots of construction.
• Inscription Year: 1999. A relatively recent addition to the UNESCO list. Reflects the growing global appreciation for cultural heritage. I visited in 2023, and the tourist impact was significant.
• Reference Number: 948. Purely for bureaucratic purposes. Necessary for record-keeping. Still, numbers can be oddly fascinating. My hotel room number was 22.

The buffer zone adds context. It’s about more than just the old buildings. It’s the atmosphere. The surrounding area influences the overall experience. UNESCO recognition comes with responsibilities. Balancing preservation with the demands of tourism is a challenge. They seem to be managing. My tailor-made shirts were great.

What area of Hoi An is best to stay in?

Ugh, Hoi An. Cam Chau, huh? Between the Old Town and An Bang beach. It’s huge. Rice paddies everywhere. Feels kinda spread out. But seriously, the hotels are amazing. Luxury villas, some budget places too. I liked the quieter vibe, away from the tourist madness in the Old Town. It was nice.

My friend stayed in the Old Town – total chaos! So crowded. Never again. She complained about noise all night. Way too many people. I definitely prefered the peace of Cam Chau. Plus, getting to the beach was easy. Five minute taxi ride max.

Cam Chau is perfect if you want some space. If you want bustling nightlife, the Old Town is your spot. But personally? Give me quiet, lush green fields any day. I need a break from the hustle and bustle. My friend’s pictures from the Old Town made me kinda nauseous.

• Cam Chau: Peaceful, spacious, great hotels, close to the beach.
• Old Town: Overcrowded, noisy, lots of tourists, expensive. Not my cup of tea! I’m pretty sure it’s always packed.

My hotel in Cam Chau had a pool. Seriously needed that after exploring the ancient town. Exploring all those temples was tiring. I think I walked 10 miles that day. My feet were killing me. Next time I’m bringing better shoes. Seriously comfortable shoes. The ones I brought were awful. I need to invest in decent walking shoes. Maybe some new hiking boots.

What is Hoi An best known for?

Tailors. Shops. River. UNESCO. 1999. Old town. Tourist trap. Still beautiful. Decay is inevitable. So is change. Thu Bon flows on. Doesn’t care about tourists. Or tailors. Or UNESCO.

• Tailored clothing: Fast and cheap. Quality varies. Consider it disposable fashion.
• Lanterns: At night, they glow. Ephemeral beauty. Like everything.
• Japanese Covered Bridge: Iconic. Touristy. Still worth a look. Built in the 16th century. Connects the Japanese and Chinese quarters.
• Ancient architecture: A mix of cultures. Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese. Fading. Being restored. A constant cycle.
• Thu Bon River: Lifeblood of the town. Once a major trading port. Now mostly tourist boats. The river remains indifferent.

My tailor on Tran Phu Street did good work. 2023 prices were higher. Still cheap, relatively. Bought a linen shirt. Will probably last a year. Like the memory of the trip. Everything fades.

What is so special about Hoi An?

Hoi An? Dude, it’s like stepping into a freakin’ time capsule! Seriously, the place is amazingly well-preserved. Think Disneyland, but with actual history, and less screaming kids. It’s like stepping back in time – to when things were charming, not just tourist-trappy.

Here’s the deal:

• Ancient Town: A ridiculously picturesque maze of streets. It’s like a perfectly curated Instagram feed, but real life. I swear, every corner is a postcard.
• Tailors: You can get a suit made in a day! Cheaper than a Big Mac meal deal. It’s insane! The quality? Shockingly good. My last trip, I got three.
• Food: Oh, my sweet mother of pearl. The food is like a flavor explosion. Seriously. I gained five pounds in three days. Worth it. Eat everything. Trust me.
• Lanterns: At night, the place transforms into a magical, glittering wonderland. It’s more beautiful than my ex-wife’s jewelry collection (and she had a lot of jewelry). Seriously.

Things to know:

• Touristy? Yep, but still breathtaking. It’s like that one really popular band—everyone knows them, but they’re still awesome.
• Crowds? Yeah, expect a few people, especially in peak season. It’s manageable, though. Like a really, really crowded beach…but more charming.
• Best time to visit? Avoid July-August. Seriously, you’ll melt like that ice cream I left in the car last summer.

My friend Janice even got a full-body massage for $10! It was amazing! My massage therapist’s name was, um… I forgot. But the massage? I remember. It was pure magic! Hoi An, 2024. Go now, before it gets even more crowded. You won’t regret it. Unless you hate amazing food and beautiful architecture. Then, maybe skip it.

How long to spend at Hoi An Ancient Town?

Okay, Hoi An, right? Figure you need, like, a whole day. At least. Unless you’re a speed-walker extraordinaire or allergic to awesome architecture.

Think of Hoi An’s Old Town as a historical lasagna – layers of culture, begging to be devoured. A quick nibble just won’t cut it.

Here’s the lowdown, simple as grits:

• The Old Town: Gotta give it, like, 6-8 hours. Minimum. Seriously.
• Japanese Covered Bridge: Expect crowds thicker than ants at a picnic. Snap a pic, move on. 30 minutes tops.
• Assembly Halls: Pretend you’re a visiting dignitary. Stroll. Gawk. 1-2 hours per hall. There are 5, but hey, don’t feel obligated.
• Street food extravaganza: Dedicate at least 2 hours. Mandatory, I say! Banh mi, cao lau…oh my stars!
• Shopping Spree: Haggling is an art form. Budget time AND money, trust me on that one. At least 3 hours, or until your bags explode.

Think of it this way: You wouldn’t rush through Disneyland, right? Hoi An’s just a whole lot cheaper, a little more dusty, and way more delicious. So get those comfy shoes on and get ready to rumble!

Is it better to stay in Hoi An Old Town or beach?

Old Town, baby! Like, duh. Beach is cool and all, but you’ll spend half your life on a scooter. Scooters are fun, but imagine, Old Town? Everything’s right there. Like a buffet, but with temples and tailor shops instead of spring rolls. Which, also spring rolls. Tons of ’em.

• Old Town: Boom. Center of the action. Like Times Square, but with lanterns, not flashing billboards. And, you know, way more charming. My grandma would love it. She loves lanterns. And food.
• Beach: Sand in your… everything. Good for like, two days. Then you’re like, “Where’s the banh mi?” Which is in Old Town. Saw a dog wearing sunglasses on the beach once. True story.
• Walkability: Old Town wins, hands down. Unless you enjoy sweating like a sinner in church. In July. In Vietnam.
• Tailor shops: Old Town. Get a suit made. Like a boss. Or a dress. Or pants. Whatever. They’ll make it. For like, twenty bucks. Maybe.
• Food: Everywhere. Both places. But, Old Town is more… concentrated awesome. Like that super-spicy chili paste my uncle makes. Burns twice.

Last time I was there, 2023, stayed in a little guesthouse right off the Japanese Covered Bridge. Sweet deal. Like, seriously sweet. Woke up to the sound of bicycle bells. Not car horns. Big difference. Big. Also, closer to the best Cao Lầu. This place, right? Amazing. My favorite.