Hoi An City: Old Town, Silk Craft and Culture

Hoi An City is defined by its exceptionally well-preserved Old Town, which showcases a Southeast Asian trading port from the 15th to the 19th century. Narrow pedestrian lanes wind between densely clustered timber-frame buildings. For your trip planning, this offers a special combination of urban history, craftsmanship and cultural experiences, along with more to explore around the river, cuisine and coast.

Old Town and Living History

The preserved Old Town complex includes 1,107 timber-frame buildings. Of these, 844 are designated as part of the UNESCO World Heritage site. The original street plan has also been preserved; it developed as Hoi An grew into a port. A stroll through the narrow lanes therefore takes you through a townscape whose layout is connected to this maritime history.

At the heart of the Old Town stands the wooden Japanese Covered Bridge with its pagoda, dating from the 18th century. Tan Ky, a private house whose upper floor is still home to descendants of the original family, also dates from the 18th century. The Phuc Kien Assembly Hall was built in the 17th century as a communal space and spiritual refuge for a Chinese migrant community. It continues to serve as a spiritual center for local people in Hoi An.

Performing arts are also part of the city's cultural offerings. The Hoi An Lune Center for the Performing Arts is home to the Vietnamese Bamboo Circus. Its performance tells the story of Vietnam through singing, dance and bamboo props. At the Hoi An Traditional Art Performance House, folk songs from the province are performed on ethnic instruments. The two venues represent different forms: one tells a story through movement and bamboo, while the other features regional songs and instruments.

Silk, Markets and Cuisine

Duy Xuyen Silk Village, also known as Hoi An Silk Village, is located in the city and has a more than 300-year tradition of silk weaving. Visitors can observe different stages of the process, from the old mulberry garden and silkworm rearing to weaving and the making of shirts or colorful scarves. Those interested in craftsmanship will find a different way to connect with local history here than by visiting the Old Town's buildings.

For a look at fabrics, Hoi An Cloth Market has more than 50 stalls offering a variety of types and colors. The Old Town also has an open market and a ferry landing. At sunset, boat trips on sampans are offered along Hoi An's riverbanks. The market, fabrics and river trips each offer their own reason to spend time in the city.

Hoi An's cuisine has been shaped by Chinese, Japanese, Western and other trade and cultural connections. Visitors can book food tours or cooking classes. In cooking classes, they choose fresh ingredients and then enjoy the dishes they have prepared themselves. At nearby Tra Que Vegetable Village, about 3 km from the Old Town, visitors can get hands-on experience with vegetable growing; cooking classes are also available there, featuring freshly prepared ingredients for Hoi An specialties.

River, Islands and Coast

There are also different kinds of excursions beyond the Old Town. From Hoi An, visitors can cycle through rice fields toward Cam Nam Island. Cu Lao Cham Marine Park lies about 15 km off the coast of Hoi An. The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve comprises eight islands. An Bang Beach is less than 10 km from the Old Town and offers parasailing, jet skiing and stand-up paddleboarding. When planning your trip, you can combine the city's culture with cycling, water activities or a look at the island landscape.

If you are looking for a holiday rental in Hoi An City, consider which experiences you want to focus on: Old Town history and performances, silk craftsmanship and cuisine, or activities around the river and coast. These interests can help guide your choice of destination, without requiring you to fit every side of Hoi An into a single itinerary.

For the broader travel overview: Quang Nam.