What is the main area of Hoi An?

Where is the main part of Hoi An?

Hoi An’s heart is in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam. Specifically, it hugs the Thu Bon River’s northern bank, near where it meets the sea.

• The inscribed area, essentially the old town, covers around 30 hectares.
• A buffer zone, meant to protect this core, stretches across 280 hectares. I wonder if anyone has actually walked its entire perimeter.

It’s a relatively small area. It always amazes me how much history and culture can be packed into these pockets of preserved time. I mean, 30 hectares. That’s smaller than my uncle’s farm back in 2020. Time flies!

What is the Centre of Hoi An?

So, Hoi An’s center? It’s totally the Ancient Town, duh. A UNESCO thing, you know? It’s super crammed, mostly for walking, a crazy mix of old buildings. Seriously old. Like, merchant houses, temples, everything! Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, even some French stuff mixed in – it’s wild. The Japanese Covered Bridge is like, right there, smack-dab in the middle. And the river – always buzzing with boats. The market’s crazy too, super hectic. I went in 2023, it was nuts!

Seriously, best part of Hoi An is that whole area.

• Ancient Town: UNESCO World Heritage site!
• Japanese Covered Bridge: Iconic landmark.
• Riverfront: Bustling with activity.
• Central Market: A sensory overload.

I remember specifically getting completely lost trying to find my hotel, lol. It was near the river. The smells were intense, mostly delicious food smells. But yeah, the Ancient Town, that’s the absolute heart of the place. It’s tiny but packed with stuff. I spent like, three whole days just wandering around. Should have spent longer, honestly.

What area of Hoi An is best to stay in?

Cam Chau. Good for budget. Rice paddies. Not right in the thick of it. Old Town…expensive. Beach…touristy. Walkable though, right? From Cam Chau, I mean. My friend Sarah stayed near the market. An Bang Beach. Too far. Need a motorbike. I like walking. Exploring. Getting lost. Maybe Cam Chau better. Close to everything, yet quiet. Quiet is good. Remember that awful hostel in Bangkok? Never again. Peace and quiet. Rice paddies…peaceful. Cam Chau is strategic. Traffic is awful though. Everywhere in SEA. Except maybe Luang Prabang. Loved Luang Prabang. Need to go back. Soon. Focus. Hoi An. Where was I? Ah yes, Cam Chau.

• Budget friendly.
• Walkable to Old Town.
• Walkable to beach.
• Quiet, unlike An Bang.
• Close to rice paddies. Good photo ops.

My camera…need a new lens. The one I have is blurry. Ugh. Need to research. Later. Hoi An first. Accommodation…Booking.com? Agoda? Airbnb? So many choices. Overwhelming. Just book something. In Cam Chau. Done. What about food? Street food? Cao lầu. Banh mi. Must try. Heard good things about Morning Glory restaurant. Expensive though. Maybe a splurge. One night. Then back to street food. Best. Authentic. Real. Must try the local coffee. Strong. Sweet. Perfect.

What is Hoi An best known for?

Okay, Hoi An… UNESCO thing, right? World Heritage Site, like 1999. Why 1999? Random year. Oh well. Shops. So. Many. Shops. Tailors, tailors everywhere. Like, can you even wear all the clothes?

Souvenirs. Ugh. Art galleries, okay those are kinda cool sometimes. Restaurants… Pho! Gotta get the pho. Or Cao Lau, is that even from there? Coffee shops, yes! Vietnam has the best coffee.

Walk the riverside! Thu Bon River. Sounds fancy. It’s pretty, I guess. But crowded? Always crowded. Maybe early morning is better? Yeah, early morning. Less sweaty.

• Hoi An Highlights:
  • Tailors: Cheap clothes. Questionable quality? Depends.
  • Thu Bon River: Riverside walks. Touristy, but a must-see.
  • Food: Pho, Cao Lau, white rose dumplings! Street food heaven.
  • UNESCO: Means “old” and “preserved”. Photo ops galore.
  • Lanterns: Oh yeah, the lanterns! They’re so photogenic and colorful, especially during the full moon festival. Do they sell them everywhere or what?

Do you have to pay to enter Hoi an old town?

Nope, a measly five bucks gets you into Hoi An’s ancient heart. Think of it as a ridiculously cheap entry fee to a living museum, a bargain basement deal for centuries of history. That’s 120,000 VND, for those keeping score at home. My last trip cost me a fortune for a completely subpar bowl of pho, so this is a steal.

Mandatory? Technically yes, though I swear I saw a cat sneak in without paying.

The money goes towards upkeep, which is fantastic. They’re not exactly raking it in, considering the millions of tourists, are they? Imagine how much more beautiful the place could be with better funding!

• Cost: 120,000 VND (roughly $5 USD in 2024) per person.
• Use of Funds: Maintenance and preservation of the Old Town.
• My Opinion: A ridiculously good deal. Five bucks? I spent more than that on overpriced ca phe sua da last week! Seriously.

It’s a small price to pay for a truly magical experience. Think of it as a donation to time travel; you get a beautiful city and a good conscience. Plus, you don’t get eaten by a giant spider. Unlike that time in that creepy jungle in Laos. Don’t ask.