Peaceful and poetic, Hoi An charms on-lookers as a rich melting pot of cultures, dating back since 17^th century. The town had been a bustling commerce port full of harboring merchant boats. Today, centuries-old stories and colorful legends still rest within those yellow ochre walls, letting Hoi An visitors step inside a world where time stands still, and picturesque landscapes inspire much romance. Strolling along ancient streets. Get submerged into history. Live and breathe in legends. Embrace nature from blooming rice paddy fields to fresh basket from the ocean and green vegetable villages. Take any of these chances to become a part of this charming town and you’d find Hoi An a once-in-a-lifetime experience no global cultural enthusiasts would want to miss.

1. Wandering around Hoi An Ancient Town

No Hoi An trip is complete without visiting the Ancient Town. Walking down Bach Dang, Nguyen Thai Hoc and Tran Phu streets, you can spot many ancient houses, precious heritage well-preserved for centuries, and take in the depth of architectural and cultural values. The most well-known ancient house is Tan Ky, recognized as a national relic and been welcoming many local and international delegates. Your ancient town must-visit stops may include Japanese Bridge, the Phung Hung ancient house, the Tran Family Chapel, or the Fujian, Chaozhou, and Quang Dong Assembly Halls. Rent a bike, sit on a cyclo, or simply take a walk. Let your eyes and soul capture these beauties and get hold of charming peaceful moments of local life. Hoi An is also famously called the lantern town and been hailed one of the most romantic destination in Asia for a reason. The view of myriad colorful lanterns on ancient streets is a feast for the eyes at both day and night time. You might find a camera essential in this expenditure, or simply let go of all things related to hectic city life, and embrace that tranquil and exotic beauty. Let your soul wander and stumble on beautiful discoveries hidden within Hoi An.

2. Seeing shows at Lune Performing Center Hoi An – A unique way to experience Vietnamese culture

As twilight drenches the old town, let’s take a stroll along Hoai river bank. And there across the river, overlooking the ancient town, the distinct half-moon-shaped dome of Lune Performing Center can be easily spotted at the joint of two rivers, by the end of Nguyen Phuc Chu Street, Dong Hiep Park.

The architecture itself is a charmer, a blend of feng shui from the east and efficient geometric structure, industrial method of the west. Thousands of bamboo rods were lined up, forming the patterned dome shell, interlacing and dancing with sunlight and limelight, making conversation with the wind and the living bamboo nest right beside the dome. Harmony created between old wisdom and contemporary approach, nature and human’s creation.

Underneath that relatively small but graceful structure, breathtaking spectacles such as The Mist, Teh Dar and A O Show are performed regularly with exotic materials and rich stage languages: bamboo cirque, acrobatics, contemporary ft neo-classic dance, live ethnic music. Visitors to Lune Performing Center Hoi An are treated to a feast of unique stage visuals, mesmerizing sounds from authentic ethnic instruments, and beautiful Vietnamese cultural stories: poetic farmers’ life in Mekong Delta, the humor and contrasting discordance of urban villages, the wild central highlands. Most nights of the week (except Monday and Thursday), the cozy auditorium is filled with robust applause and even standing ovations by both local and international visitors. Many of the audience were brought to tears of happiness and extreme excitement. As much love and critical acclaims were received during the performance stints of these shows at the Saigon Opera House, and also during their touring time to 15 countries spanning across 4 continents.

The moment you leave the auditorium, lights went out, but those images and sounds still linger in your head, and your heartbeat still rhythm with the beat of bamboo sticks, gongs, and drums. That’s when you knew you’d had an unforgettable cultural experience in Hoi An. And you’d tell your loved ones it’s a must-see, at least once in a lifetime.    

3. Have a taste of local delights

Many visitors choose Hoi An as the town with tastiest delights in Vietnam. Despite its relatively small size, the city is extremely rich in culinary culture, offering choices of cuisines ranging from street treats to 5-star feasts. From the famous chicken rice that landed brand names such as Bà Buội, to the distinguished Cao Lau which secret recipe dated back since 17th century. And don’t forget to grab a scrumptious banh-mi, recommended by Cameron Stauch, the chef who served the President of Canada. The crispy, succulentbanh mi opens up to mouth-watering flavors: bacon, paté, signature local style grilled pork, served with cucumber, cilantro, and delicious meat sauce. Fulfilling and at the same time extremely healthy, Hoi An’s secret comes from fresh ingredients straight out of the river, organic vegetable farming villages, and the An Bang and Cua Dai beaches just a few miles away. A must-try for any gastronome through and through.

4. Discover pottery villages, handicraft workshops and signature ‘fast-and-fabulous’ tailor services

Once an economic hub where cultures converge, the Hoi An local forms an open and progressive attitude towards foreign cultural influences and embrace diversity. Consequently, their crafts have reached a certain level of sophistication through the absorption of different cultures’ aesthetics. These traditions have been refined and passed on for centuries, resulted in a rich history of ceramics trade, silk making, Cham-influenced pottery, and woodwork.

Nowadays, a visit to Thanh Ha pottery village, Kim Bong carpentry village, or Hoi An handicraft workshop is only maximum 3 km away from Hoi An, which basically takes you a boat ride, a short journey on bike, or a quick drive from the heart of ancient town. Roll up your sleeves for fine lantern making workshops, or flex some creative muscles through a rustic hands-on pottery experience with the artisans.

Alternatively, you can simply bring home a physical piece of Hoi An memory, whether it’s wood-carved, silk-woven, earthly created carrying soul of the local soil, or the must-try fast-and-fabulous local tailoring service, which has grown so famous it’s featured on Forbes magazine and become a signature of Hoi An. A suit is said to take only 24 hours to complete. Customers can watch the making-of just like waiting to be served at a sushi bar, and by far no less interesting. High quality hand-made clothes delivered by seasoned tailors in an incredibly short time, with a smile. Guess what? Found only in Hoi An.

After so many colorful experiences and bustling activities, what would beat sitting down at a cozy place hidden in an alley somewhere at the heart of Hoi An, warming your hands and quietly sipping a cup of coffee? Smell roasted beans and fresh baked in the air, and let yourself drift into this comforting space where time sits still and whispers in your ears enchanting stories.

Once upon a time in Hoi An… 

Lune Production.