Hoi An Activities

Activities and What to Do in Hoi An, Vietnam

Activities in Hoi An, Vietnam

 

Being a UNESCO World Heritage place, Hoi An's old town is veritably bursting with history. Of course, you can walk through the streets for free, but if you would like to visit several attractions in one day perhaps it's best to buy a Multi-entrance ticket.

You buy them in any of the ticket offices that are in some travel agencies in the old town. With one ticket (about US$3) you can visit one of the three museums, one of the three 'old houses' and one of the three assembly halls. The money goes to the old town maintenance.

 

MOST POPULAR ACTIVITIES IN HOI AN

 

Biking and Cycling

Biking and Cycling Tours in Hoi An, Vietnam

 

Biking is a must in Hoi An regardless of your level of fitness. Leave the city behind to explore 12th century pagodas, remote country villages, war memorials and rice fields.

Excursions will give you the chance to really get up close and personal with some of the more rural villagers and to see how they live from the land. There are two main companies offering a variety of tours and include all equipment hire.

 

Hoi An Bike Tours

Choose from a full- or half-day countryside bicycle tour and get to see a glimpse of the beautiful areas surrounding Hoi An. The Hoi An full-day bike tour includes a river ride on the Hoi An river and one hour’s biking around Kim Bong carpentry village. Both bike trips including cooking and enjoying lunch with a local family, and the chance to wander round local markets and vegetable villages. Hoi An Bike Tours also offers motorbike tours to the most famous attractions around the city: Marble Mountain, My Son, etc...

Location: 37 Ba Trieu, Cam Pho, Hoi An.
Tel: + 84 510 3919 370.

 

Green Apple Bicycle Tours

Green Apple bike tours offer a range of trips, including family trips, a bike and bamboo river tour and an agricultural tour which includes food tasting. The bamboo river tour features a trip to Cam Nam island with cycling along the bamboo dense waterways and an introduction to the island and her people. There are a range of other tours available catering depending on how long you have available and what you would like to see.

Location: Cam Ha, Hoi An.
Tel: +84 510 2241 503.

 

Hoi An Cooking Schools

Hoi An Cooking Schools, Vietnam

 

Hoi An is a great place to learn how to cook real Vietnamese cuisine via half-day, full-day or evening courses. Plenty of restaurants offer their own cooking classes including the picturesque Red Bridge where you get the chance to learn directly from the professionals.

Many of the classes include a visit to the local fresh produce market as part of the course where you’ll get a chance to ask questions and perhaps even sample some exotic delights. With so many places to try your hand at conjuring up some delicious flavours, you’ll also be pleased to discover that most classes are offered at very reasonable rates.

 

Thuan Tinh Island Cooking Classes

Thuan Tinh is well-known as offering one of Vietnam's most distinctive cooking class experiences. Starting with a potter round a local fresh produce market based in downtown Hoi An, you are then whisked off on a boat to Thuan Tinh Island arriving swiftly at the organic vegetable village to gather more ingredients for your cooking day. The journey then continues via rowing boat through coconut groves to Ms. Hoa's house where you will create traditional Vietnamese delights.

Thuan Tinh is an eco-friendly island rich in tropical foliage making it a beautiful place to cook, relax and then enjoy the dishes you've created. The village cooking class frequently ranks amongst the top 10 tourist attractions in Hoi An as it is so much more than simply cooking as the unique journey to the island making it so much more special.

Thuan Tinh Island Highlights
Thuan Tinh Island gives visitors a chance to glimpse rural village life in a remote spot where locals catch their own fish and farm their own meat and vegetables - living a very self-sufficient life. On the Thuan Thinh cooking course you will make your first stop at the market in ancient Hoi An to pick up some locally grown herbs for use in your dishes, before joining a river boat ride to Thuan Tinh for a relaxing meander through what has been officially recognised as an ecological zone.

You'll then catch a row boat to meet Ms. Hoa and her family where a fresh snack and cool drink await before you join a cooking class in an open-air environment offering spectacular views of coconut trees and the river. You will learn how to cook a varied menu featuring favourites such as beef rice noodle soup infused with cinnamon, ginger and star anise and crispy Vietnamese crepes filled with pork, shrimp and bean sprouts and spring onion.

There will be plenty of time for you to enjoy sampling the dishes in addition to meeting some of the local villagers and perhaps having a turn on one of Vietnam's famous magic spinning tables.

Good to Know
The river boat ride from Hoi An to Thuan Thinh Island takes about 30 minutes and is very laid back, the time spent at the market prior will be brief, so if you want to have a proper look round then its best to make a separate visit on another day.

You can expect to make four different dishes on the cooking tour and there will be plenty of time to sit back, relax and enjoy what you have created. Fresh fruit drinks will be in constant supply during your tour. The cooking tour costs around $30 and includes hotel transfer, drinks, ingredients and all cooking tour costs plus a side trip to the eco island.

 

Morning Glory Cooking School

Morning Glory was Hoi An’s first cooking school with the founder and owner Trinh Diem Vy a third-generation chef and Hoi An native. The Morning Glory cooking classes have been featured in publications across the world and are renowned for their street-style local recipes. There are six classes available geared to suit all levels and interests with some featuring guided market tours. Subjects in the gourmet class aimed at the more advanced chef, include cutting techniques, Vietnamese food history and food medicine.

Opening Hours: 07:45-13:30.
Location: 106 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Hoi An.
Tel: +84 510 2241 556.

 

Red Bridge Cooking School

Red Bridge offers a classic half-day class, and evening class as well as a deluxe full-day course. The full-day option is tailored specially for foodies, and gives a detailed insight into Vietnamese cuisine. You will get to make four dishes, including clay pot fish with dill and you’ll also go on a tour with the Chef to Tra Que. Once there you’ll explore the organic herb gardens, purchase ingredients from the local market and you will get a chance to enjoy all of your dishes.

Opening Hours: 08:00-15:00 (deluxe course).
Location: Thon 4, Cam Thanh, Hoi An.
Tel: +84 510 3933 222.

 

Secret Garden

Listen to live traditional Vietnamese music as you learn how to cook at Hoi An’s Secret Garden. Situated in a wonderful location right in the heart of the old town, Secret Garden offers the choice of four different cooking classes. The kitchen is open plan and fully accessible for all and also offers free cooking classes to children aged 8 years and under. You can expect to cook both Hoi An and Vietnamese specialities including spring rolls, pancakes and fish wrapped in banana leaves.

Opening Hours: 08:00-24:00.
Location: Passage 60 Le Loi, Hoi An.
Tel: +84 510 3911 112.

 

Hoi An Golf Courses

Hoi An Golf Courses, Vietnam

 

Vietnam is a great place to play golf with championship courses located in most major locations. Hoi An is no exception and offers two outstanding courses with equipment rental available.

Weekdays offer the best rates and also more space on the course and both the courses listed here have a clubhouse and restaurant on site.

 

Danang Golf Club

Designed by Australian pro Greg Norman, this is a fun course catering to all skills. Situated on China Beach, the views are spectacular delivering a stunning seaside landscape with 18 holes on a par 72 course. There is a driving range, pro-shop, bistro, clubhouse and practice area on site. Mother Nature really makes this a stunning place for a round of golf and there are plenty of amenities to keep you amused after play.

Location: about 15km north of Hoi An on the coast road.
Tel: +84 511 3958 111.

 

Montgomerie Links

Not too far from Danang Golf Club situated between China Beach and Hoi An old town, Colin Montgomerie created this brand-new course. The Marble Mountains and beautiful China Beach are close enough to be enjoyed on a course that is heavy on water features. Montgomerie is a links-style 18 hole, par 72 course with a pro-shop, driving range, clubhouse and restaurant all available for player use. Lush tropical vegetation makes this a great experience for any golfer visiting Hoi An.

Location: Dien Ngoc Commune, Dien Ban District, Quang Nam Province.
Tel: +84 510 3941 942.

 

Hoi An Spas

Spas in Hoi An, Vietnam

 

Many of the hotels and resorts in Hoi An offer spa treatments, but you might discover better pampering at a significantly lower price at one of the local day spas.

There are a few to choose from and it’s worth checking out what discounts are available as most of them offer at least 10% off during their quieter hours.

 

Na Spa

Na Spa have five branches across Hoi An with treatments including massages, waxing, facials and salon services. Group discounts are available for five or more people. Pampering packages are available where you can combine a turmeric and honey wrap with a facial, a manicure and pedicure, and an aromatherapy massage over three-and-a-half hours.

Opening Hours: 10:00-21:00.
Location: 100/5 Le Thanh Tong Street and four other locations across Hoi An.
Tel: +84 510.3914 199.

 

Palmarosa

An upmarket day spa with pampering such as hot stone massage, collagen facials and mud and salt body scrubs. Palmarosa is situated in Hoi An’s old town and offers discounts at certain times of day and a whole host of soothing packages including OPI nail services. The spa uses 100% natural ingredients in all of its facials and body treatments.

Opening Hours: 10:00-21:00.
Location: 90 Ba Trieu Street, Hoi An.
Tel: +84 0510 3 933 999.

 

Aly Spa

An Asian-style spa using traditional Vietnamese and oriental massage techniques combined with natural herbs. There is a massage menu offering Thai, Vietnamese, hot stone, aromatherapy and their own house technique which is a fusion of Asian and aromatherapy. There are also four different types of foot massages to choose from.

Opening Hours: 10:00-22:00.
Location: 49 Ba Trieu Street, Hoi An.
Tel: +84 510 3917 972.

Scuba Diving and Snorkelling

Scuba Diving and Snorkelling in Hoi An, Vietnam

 

Scuba diving and snorkelling are superb off the cost of Hoi An with hundreds of different varieties of coral and tropical fish thriving in the warm tropical waters.

Additionally, the Cu Lao Cham Marine Park is just 21km from Hoi An old town and comprises eight islands in the South China Sea that are just teeming with marine life, the most exciting of which is Cham Island.

 

Cham Island Diving Center

This company offers dives to Cham Island via their daily speedboat tours with options including a private tour. You can book your trip at the Cham Island Dive Bar in Hoi An old town and it will be tailored according to your ability. Beginners are welcome and the centre also offers Padi diver courses and certifications for novices through to Dive Master level. Instructors speak English, French, Italian, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Location: 88 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hoi An.
Tel: + 84 510 391 0782.

 

Rainbow Divers

Hoi An’s longest-running dive company and the only PADI-Nation Geographic centre in Vietnam. Multilingual instructors are on hand to take you through the PADI courses or just out for the day on a dive to the local marine park. Rainbow Divers offer snorkelling and diving trips to all levels of experience and will match the excursion accordingly.

Location: 39, Tran Hung dao.
Tel: +84 914 224 102.

 

Blue Coral Diving

Blue Coral organise diving and snorkelling excursions to the smaller Cua Loa Cham islands Hon Mo, Hon Giai and Hon Thai. They also offer interesting dive only trips to Ranh Manh also known as ‘the sunken island’. Blue Coral are a PADI dive centre running open water through to speciality PADI certifications.

Location: 77 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Hoi An.
Tel: +84 0510 627 9297.

 

Walking Tours

Walking Tours in Hoi An, Vietnam

 

The old town of Hoi An is definitely worth a walk around, and with so many historically vibrant streets to explore it’s easy to see why it was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status. The best way to visit some of the buildings in the old town is by purchasing a multi-entrance ticket which gives access to one of the three museums, one of the three ancient houses and one of the three assembly halls.

Your money is well spent offering superb value and the proceeds are filtered back into the old town maintenance. Tickets are easily purchased at one of the many kiosks across town and are valid for one day.e many activities and performances throughout the city./.

 

Tours in Hoi An

• Ancient towns - Away from busy life - 3 Days/ 2 Nights
• Passage to Middle Vietnam - 4 Days/ 3 Nights
• Relaxing in central of Vietnam - 4 Days/ 3 Nights
• Central Vietnam Explorer - 5 Days/ 4 Nights
• Heritage path in middle of Vienam - 6 Days/ 5 Nights
• Discovery Vietnam in style - 9 Days/ 8 Nights
• Vietnam in style - 11 days/ 10 nights