Embark on a tour of the city centre,the ancient heart of Hoi An. Wander through the narrow streets to visitassembly halls and ancient houses, sample a variety of traditional foods and browseshops and museums.
The city centre’s biggest drawis the ancient old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site that covers approximately74 acres (30 hectares). Cross the Japanese Covered Bridge, a wooden structurewith a pagoda roof that was originally built in the 16th century. Inside thebridge is a small temple to Tran Vo Bac De, a god who is said to control theweather. Stop by Quan Thang Ancient House, a property that's more than 150years old and features beautifully carved wooden furniture and décor.
Admire the architecture of theold town's five assembly halls that were built for Chinese immigrants. Go tothe Hoi An Folklore Museum to study objects that depict local customs andepisodes of daily life. Examine ceramic artifacts from the 8th to the 18thcentury in the Museum of Trade Ceramics.
The city centre is also a greatplace for shopping. Look through the shops for leather goods, clothing,traditional lanterns and other handcrafted souvenirs. Note that prices tend tobe inflated for tourists in this area, so it is best to haggle. Take advantageof the many tailors in Hoi An and have a bespoke outfit made for you.
Stop by the riverfront area forits bars, restaurants and cafés.Try traditional breads, soups and noodle dishes. After dark, make the most ofHoi An’s nightlife, with its mixture of casual and upscale restaurants andnightclubs.
The city’s old town is close toCham Island. Take a speedboat or ferry trip to explore its beaches, forest andfishing village.
The best way to see Hoi An’s city centre is onfoot. To make the area more pedestrian friendly,cars and motorbikes have been banned during certain hours of the day.
