Taking around Hoi An means you have traveled to Japan, China and Vietnam. Why ? The architecture is a combination between China, Japan and European as well.
Hoi An- city of incredible festivals
Why travelers love to visit Hoi An? Fans world-wide call Hoi An as the city of festivals, and its ranking of “best city of festival in South Asia” is 5 out of 10. Specifically, Hoi An celebrates 22 festivals annually. These festivals are really attractive such as: Hoi An Lantern Full moon festival, Wandering Soul day, Long Chu Festival…With great street festivals and special events all year- it is always deserved for you to discover!
- Hoi An Lantern festival:
Dates: 26th Jul 2018, 24th Aug 2018, 23rd Sep 2018, 22nd Oct 2018, 21st Nov 2018 and 20th Dec 2018
Ticket fee: no entrance fee. However, you can buy lantern to join to festival, it is half dollar for 1 lantern currently.
Location: old district, between the Cau An Hoi Bridge and Japanese covered Bridge.
Lantern festival in Hoi An - Wandering Soul Day
Date: 15th Jul – lunar calendar. It is stemmed from Buddhist in which people go to pray for parents in this date.
Location: Pagoda and Shrines inside Hoi An. - Nguyen Tieu festival
Date: 16th January (lunar calendar). This festival is belonging to Chinese communities who live in Hoi An and Danang. Besides praying for bumper crops and health, there are many interesting activities. For instance: unicorn dance, lottery games, lantern carnival. - Mid-Autumn festival
Date: 15th Aug (lunar calendar).Visiting Hoi An this season, you are not only have a chance to see fire-work, lion dance but also enjoy Moon Cake. More interestingly, there are many children carrying different colorful lantern in different shapes such as: fish, rabbits, star on the streets.
Mid-Autumn festival
Hoi An is the city of Vietnamese specialties
With only $50, you can survive in Hoi An for a whole week with a lot of famous and delicious food. In fact, you are unable to enjoy in another cities of Vietnam except Hoi An. Let’s see what is it?
- Cao Lau Hoi An (Rice noodles with pork)
Until now, no-one knows exactly which year that Cao Lau appears in Hoi An. But it was existed in the 17th century which is combined between Chinese and Vietnamese cooking styles. Cao Lau looks like fried Japanese udon with xa xiu meat and herbal. It sounds simple but there are many seasonings make its taste complex.
Locations:
Thanh Cao Lau: 26 Thai Phien, Minh An ward, Hoi An, Quang Nam.
Price: 35 000 VND (1.4 USD)
Cao Lau- Khong Gian Xanh: 687 Hai Ba Trung, Hoi An
Price: 35 000VND- 50 000 (1.4- 2 USD)
In addition, you easily to see many Cao Lau stands alongside streets inside Hoi An. The price is 25 000 VND (1 USD) and the taste is not so different.
- Hoi An chicken rice
It is naturally said that Hoi An chicken rice looks so simple. However, the taste of this dish in Hoi An is totally different with ones in different cities of Vietnam. What is difference? They choose rice which has age of more than 1 year which makes flavor scent, chicken is walking chicken. These make Hoi An chicken rice becomes special.
There are so many delicious restaurants for you:
Cơm gà Bà Buội (Bà Buội’s chicken rice)
Opening hours: 10.30 AM- 21.00 PM
Location: 22 Phan Chu Trinh, Hoi An, Quang Nam
Price: 35.000-50.000 VND
Cơm gà Hương (Huong’s chicken rice- Sica alleyway)
Opening hours: 7.30 AM- 22 .00 PM
Location: 56 Le Loi, Minh An ward, Hoi An, Quang Nam
Price: 35.000-50.000 VND
Besides, you are able to find many chicken rice stand on the streets inside Hoi An with only 25 000VND. The taste is acceptable 😉
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Mi Quang (Vietnamese turmeric noodles)
Mi Quang is signature dish of Hoi An- Quang Nam. Going to Hoi An without eating Mi Quang is as you have not been here. Don’t miss it and let’s enjoy! There are many toppings: pork, peanuts, pork sausage, shrimp and herbals. Especially, noodle’s color is yellow because of turmeric makes it gorgeous.
Location: Mì Quảng Ông Hai – Mr. Hai Noodles, 6A, Trương Minh Lượng, Cẩm Châu, Hội An, Quảng Nam
Opening hours: from 11.00 AM
Price: 40.000- 50.000 VND. The price here is a bit higher than other stands on the way to enter the center of accent town.
Location: Cam Ha, Hoi An, Quang Nam
Opening hours: 7.00 AM-9.00PM
Price: 25.000-50.000 VND. This restaurant is recommended by a lot of Vietnamese backpackers! However, it is not located inside Hoi An accent town, around 3 KM far away from the center.
Besides above dishes, there are many interesting food that you need to try: Banh mi Hoi An (Hoi An Baguette), Bun thit nuong (noodles with grilled pork), Hoanh thanh chien (fried wonton) and Coconut coffee, etc..
How to visit Hoi An?
Taking a flight to Danang then less than 1 hour by taxi or bus to arrive at Hoi An. There are 3 choices for you:
Bus: bus no.1 from Danang to Hoi An, takes around 70 mins but only 16.000-40.000 VND per person.
Taxi: 40-45 mins, 350.000-450.000 VND.
Motorbike: around 1 hour and drive by yourself, the rental fee is around 220.000 VND for 1 day.
Last but not least, checking whether you need Vietnam visa or not! In case you need Vietnam visa at Danang airport, please apply online here: https://www.vietnam-visaonline.org/visa-services-apply.html