Hoi an local guide

oi An is a small town in Central Vietnam on the coast of South China Sea. Hoi An Hwas used to be a busy international commercial port in the 16th and 17th

centuries. Today Hoi An stands as an example of ancient architecture and is declared as

a World Heritage by UNESCO for being one of the best preserved ancient Southeast

Asian trading ports. Its buildings and its street plan reflect the influences, both

indigenous and foreign, that have combined to produce this unique heritage site. From

the moment you enter the city, the mystique of an secluded ancient town isolated

from the modern world will take your feeling back to old countryside society of

Vietnam.

In this Guide...

1.The Essential information?Getting there?Getting around?Useful phrase?Weather? Tourism Contact?Hoi An Tourist ticket?Hoi An Full moon

2.Local Taste3.Things do not miss4.After Dark5.Mark your calendar6.Top attractions7.Unravelling the architecture

features of Hoi An 8.Around Hoi An

Getting There

By PlaneHoi An does not have a domestic terminal, the nearest airport is in Da Nang (30km away from Hoi An), which has frequent connections to Ho Chi Minh, Ha Noi City and some international flights. There are two that service Vietnam's domestic routes: Vietnam Airlines and Jestar Airline From Da Nang you can travel by public bus, private car or taxi to Hoi an. A shared airport transfer service from the airport to Hoi An is the best way to get to Hoi An. The journey takes around 30 minutes and cost from $3. If you take bus, you will get to the bus station (not in the airport) before going to Hoi An.

By TrainThere is no railway station in Hoi An. Most guests going to Hoi by train must stop at Da Nang or Tam ky Railway Station. Everyday there are many domestic trains from Ha noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Nha Trang etc. From Da Nang you can travel by bus, private car or can take a taxi to Hoi an. Da Nang Railway Station: 202 Hai Phong, Tan Chinh Ward, Thanh Khe District, Da Nang City.

Check train schedule on

By Open Tour BusesHoi An is one of the stopping spots of Open Tour cars from Ha Noi, Ho chi Minh City, Hue, Nha Trang, Dalat, etc. There are many night buses which can help you save more time. The bus will pick up you at your hotels.

Check bus schedule on www.hoian-tourism.com

www.hoian-tourism.com

Getting Around

On footThe centre of Hoi An is very small and pedestrianised, so you will be walking

around most of the time. Motorbikes are only banned from the center of town during certain times of day (Mon-Tue-Wed-Fr i -Sat , 8am-11am, 14pm-16h30pm).

TaxiIt is easy and cheap to find a taxi.

MotorbikeTraffic in Hoi An is minimal, so if you've been avoiding getting on a bike in the big cities, Hoi An is ideal to get used to the road rules. Rental motorbike is available from guesthouses, cafes, travel agencies, etc. Rent a bike for US$3 per day (60,000 dong) for a semi-automatic or $5 (100,000 VND) for a fully automatic.

LOCAL GUIDE

www.hoian-tourism.com Your Local Buddy

The Essential information

Hoi An Private Airport Transfer Start from $20 USD www.yourlocalbooking.com

The Essential information

Bicycle

By far, the most enjoyable mode of

transport in Hoi An is the bicycle. You can

rent them for about 10,000 VND/day or

5,000 VND/half day. Rental bicycle is

available from guesthouses, cafes,

travel agencies, etc.

Useful phrases

Hello/ goodbye – xin chao / tam biet

I'm glad to see you – rat vui duoc gap

ong/ba

Thank you- Cam On

You're welcome- Khong co chi

Yes- Vang

No- Khong

Sorry- Xin loi

How are you? – ong/ba khoe khong?

I'm fine, thank you – cam on, toi khoe

What is your name? – ong/ba ten la gi?

My name is … - toi ten la …

Open: Mo cua

Close: Dong cua

How much?- Bao nhieu?

Hoi An Weather

Hoi An is comparatively warm especially during the entire year, and can be classified into two main categories namely wet and dry seasons. Experience a dry season in Hoi An during the months of February to May and accompanied with sunshine, along with a warm and mild raise in temperatures. The hottest month is June and July, with a daily temperatures ascending to mid 90's F.

Hoi An Weather experiences its monsoon

showers especially during the months of

September to January. The months of

December and January are considered as

the coldest wintry months. The daily

temperature rises beyond 70's F reaching

mid 60's F especially during the night time.

Tourism Contact

Hoi An Tourism Information Office

Add: 45 Le Loi St, Hoi An

Hoi An Office of Tourist Service

Add: 12 Phan Chau Trinh St, Hoi An

Immigration Management Office

Add: 88 Phan Chau Trinh St, Hoi An

Hoi An Police

Add: 8 Hoang Dieu St, Hoi An

Tel: ( 84-510) 3 861666

Guide Office

Add: 5 Hoang Dieu

Tel: (84-510) 3 862715

Taxi Hoi An

Tel: (84-510) 3. 919919

Hoi An tourist ticketThe tourist office sells Hoi An Tourist ticket

for admission to any five attractions

(90,000VND/ticket), including an old

house, assembly hall, museum, and one

other attraction. Tourists can choose any

interesting places introduced in tickets.

Tickets can be purchased at one of six

outlets in Old Town.

?52 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai

?19 Hai Ba Trung

?05 Hoang Dieu

?12 Phan Chau Trinh

?37 Tran Phu

?78 Le Loi

Group more than 8 people are entitled to a

free guide for the day; otherwise, you can

hire one for around $15. The ticket outlets

are open from 7am to 6pm, as all the sights

included in the scheme

Hoi An Full Moon Festival- Legendary

Night Festival Hoi An

The Full Moon Festival is held on every

14th day of the lunar month (Chinese

calendar). Under the full moon, Hoi An

becomes one big center stage where all the

locals come out and participate in reviving

the golden days of prosperity and folklore

cultural activities. The festival starts around

6.00pm when the whole of HoiAn town is

lighted with only dainty lanterns and

everyone takes a stroll on the old narrow

streets absolutely free from the sound of

vehicles engine. In the old quarter, only

pedestrians are allowed, in fact you

cannot even peddle or push your bicycle

through the town until 10 pm. Check our

calendar to note the date of this monthly

event.

?17-18/01/2011

?16-17/02/2011

?18-19/03/2011

?16-17/04/2011

?16-17/05/2011

?15-16/06/2011

?14-15/07/2011

?13,14/08/2011

?11-12/09/2011

?10-11/10/2011

?09-10/11/2011

?08-09/12/2011

Check www.hoian-tourism.com for

update information

The Essential information

Local Taste- Local ExperienceWhite Rose

With a recipe that has descended over

four generations, White Rose is a must

try local favourite. It's a shrimp dumpling,

that due to its shape (similar to the rose)

and white starch colouring, was given its

memorable name. In Vietnamese, it is

called “Banh Bao Banh Vac”

Where to eat White Rose: 533 Hai Ba

Trung

Price: 70,000-100,000VND/ dish

Banh dap

Banh Dap is made from rice paper, one

being crispy and the other wet. They are

fused together on the table and served

with a potent nuoc mam (fish sauce) that

is mixed from soybean, onion, chilli and

other spices. The sauce is indeed

(smashing rice paper)

delicious, albeit pungent. Simple as it

seems, the contrast of texture and flavour

(crunchy/soft, salty/sweet) makes for a

tasty snake.

Price: 6000VND- 10,000VND/dish

Hen Xuc Banh Trang

Also Cam Nam specialty, Hen Xuc Banh

Trang are tiny clams served with crispy rice

paper. The clams are boiled and then fried

with a myriad of local herbs, vegetables

and spices. Spring onion, scallions, black

pepper, chilli, ginger, and peanuts are

necessary.

Price: 15,000VND- 20,000VND/ dish

Where to eat Hen xuc banh trang: Cam

Nam village

Che bap (sweet corn soup).

Che bap is made from tender corn and

sugar. Hoi An's sweet and sticky corn is

perfect for this soup. Local nutritionists say

this soup is very beneficial for the elderly.

(clams served with

crispy rice paper)

Price: 3000VND

Where to eat Che Bap: Cam Nam village

Chi Ma phu (black sesame sweet soup)

Ground black sesame seeds are mixed

with sugar, vegetable juice, and thanh dia

(a kind of Chinese medicine) and then

boiled to make a pudding. Chi Ma Phu is

also a tonic for people recovering from

recent illness.

Price: 5000VND- 8000VND

Where to try Chi Ma Phu:

Wonton

This dish comes from China but has been

adapted by the inhabitants to suit local

tastes. Similar to ravioli, wonton is made

with rice flour and filled with ingredients

like shrimp, pork, egg, and spices. There

are many kinds of wonton dishes: fried

wonton, wonton soup or wonton and

noodle soup are a few examples.

Where to try:

Cao Lau

The secret is the

water used to make it, and authentic cao

lau uses only water from Ba Le Well

fresh greens and

herbs

Eating Place 62 (Mr Son) at

An Hoi Island

Cao lau noodles are carefully made from

local new sticky rice.

. On

the Cao Lau noodles were some meat

slices mixed with fat made from fried

noodles served with

and bean sprouts.

Price: 20,000-25,000VND/bowl

Local Taste- Local Experience

Hoi An Shared Airport Transfer Start from $4USD www.yourlocalbooking.com

Local Taste- Local ExperienceBanh Beo (Rice Flour Discs with Dried

Shrimp)Banh beo is made from a mixture of rice flour and water. The mixture is poured into small, clay bowls. The delicious core of Banh beo are stuffed with small shrimps and the dipping sauce is made by mixing fish sauce, sugar, garlic, chilly, fresh small shrimps and watery grease.

Price: 5000VND/ dish

Where to try Banh Beo: opposite Duong

Thuong Assembly Hall

Banh xeo

“Banh xeo” is Vietnamese style crepe

with whole shrimp, thinly sliced pork

and bean sprouts. Like the salad roll,

the “banh xeo” is a do-it-yourself dish that

involves the messy but delicious process

of wrapping the crepe in lettuce with

cilantro and basil. Though the filling might

fall out on your table, you will be

completely lost in the crispy, warm

combination of lettuce and crepe, and the

attentive staff will happily clean up after

you.

Ba Le Well. The restaurant is in a little

alley just off of Tran Hung Dao Street. Or

go to Phan Chau Trinh St, between Le Loi

and Nguyen Hue

There is no menu - it's a set meal. They

charge based on how much you eat

Chicken rice

Hoi An chicken rice is very simple: the

recipe includes only rice, chicken, sauce

and pickled carrots. The combination of the

different ingredients further create a

wonderful blend of flavors between the

saltiness of the topped onions, spiciness of

the Vietnamese coriander, pepper and

chilli, sourness of the papaya and the

sweetness of the chicken and rice. All

these pleasant tastes fused together in a

single meal would make anyone truly

savour your dining experience.

Price: 20,000-25,000VND/dish

Where to try chicken rice: Ms Buoi 22 Phan

Chau Trinh, Ms Ty 27 Phan Chau Trinh, Ms

Huong Le Loi, near Thu Thuy shop, Ms

Thuan 17/4 Nh? trýng

Quang noodle

Quang noodle soups are generally pork

and dried shrimp broth based, although

some regional and family recipes will use

chicken and even duck. Accompanying

vegetables are water morning-glory,

cress, young banana flowers and herbs.

Especially, the famous Tra Que savory of

Quang Nam Province will give the dish

more flavour.

Where to try Quang Noodle: Mr Hai 6A

Trýõng Minh Lý?ng, near Yaly shop

Sticky rice vendor

Using glutinous rice as main staple, this is

a dish enjoyed by Vietnamese households

but many visitors also like the sweet/ salt

taste. Mixing rice with either green or black

beans, peanut, salt, sugar and small stir-

fried onion, the dish is sold hot and comes

wrapped in banana leaf. A meal of sticky

rice should never run more than

VND10,000 (US$0.5).

Where to eat: The lady (Mrs Nam) plods

through town every day. She sells from 5

am to noon

Tofu soup seller

It has custard-almost crème caramel-

semblance and is made from silken

soybean that has been cooked with

ginger and sugar. Each bowl is between

5 0 0 0 V N D - 7 0 0 0 V N D ( 0 . 3 U S D )

depending on the size. You can find Mrs

Thanh walking around the old quarter

everyday

Banh My (Vietnamese Baguette Sandwich)

It is pronounced "bun me." Sometimes spelled banh my. Banh My includes fresh coriander, pickled vegetables, chili. They can be filled with barbecue pork, grilled chicken, tofu or even scrambled eggs in a breakfast version. For Vietnamese style, they can be filled with slices of cha lua (also known as Vietnamese devon) and thit nguoi (ham).

Where to try Banh My: Ms Phuong, Hoang Dieu, near Cam Nam bridge

Pho Bo (Vietnamese Beef noodle Soup)

This iconic Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup or Pho Bo is probably one of the most well-known noodles to come from Vietnam. It features succulent medium rare beef slices on top of the pho =, together with some wonderfully fresh veggies and herbs that bring a fresh balance to the tasty and nutritious soup.

Where to try Pho Bo: Mr Tuan- 323 Cua Dai, Near Pacific Hotel, Lien Noodle- Le Loi St, opposite Luong Gia Restaurant, Le Loi St

Local Taste- Local Experience

Hoi An Hotels Instant Booking Confirmation www.yourlocalbooking.com

Things do not missVietnamese Cooking Classes in Hoi

An

Vietnamese cuisine is globally known for its varied flavors, presentation and freshness. Classes usually take a half a day and there are several to choose from in Hoi An. Highlights include a guided tour of Hoi An's colorful central market, boat trip on the Hoi An River, and hands-on cooking classes.

Price: form 12$- 15$

Become a farmer at Tra Que Vegetable

This is an interesting discovery of Hoi An traditional values with a tour called "one day of becoming an old town resident".

It was a delightful and very affordable way to spend the day and learn about the food and culture of the area. The variety of herbs and vegetables was amazing.

Hoi An Eco Tours

Hoi An Eco-tour - "A unique cultural

window into The Vietnamese way of life"

will help you to understand more about the

daily life of the locals. A green-minded tour

offering localize experiences with the Hoi

An people with the focus of preserving the

environment and giving tourists a real

insight into rural life.

Custom Made Tailor

Hoi An is best known for its custom clothing trade and is the multitude of tailor shops. You might have a nice outfit just in several days or hours with a reasonable price. You will find an array of different colours, patterns, textures & quality of fabric.

Hire Motorbike or bicycle - A fantastic

way to see the town

If the traffic scared you in Ho Chi Minh or

Hanoi, Hoi An is a good place to learn. The

quiet streets makes it becomes an ideal

place to hire a bike to get around and

surrounding Hoi An. You will have the

opportunity to ride your own motorbike or

bicycle, which gives you the freedom of

being in control of your own destiny. You

will travel along, never rushing, really

enjoyable.

Diving site in Cham Island Hoi An Cham Island Marine Park is still an unexplored diving site, many other dive sites and also old wrecks are yet to be

discovered. During the good season, from beginning of March till end of August, the water gets clearer and can offer up to 20 meters underwater visibility, revealing some beautiful coral reefs near all the islets and also Rang Manh pinnacles that will make many experienced scuba divers very happy.

Hire a boatWhile many motorized boats offer river tours, but hiring a boat is a nice change to instead glide along the water. You can find many local people along the Bach Dang riverside, or near Japanese Covered Bridge offer this service.

Fee: 15,000VND-20,000VND/ hourMorning: 8-9 am Afternoon: from 3-5 pm. Night: Only for full moon night

Hoi An market

Hoi An market retains an appealingly

traditional atmosphere, despite the

number of tourists. Like most, it's the best

in the early morning, spectacle best

captured between 6 and 7 am when the

fishing boats are unloading their catch,

especially among the riverfront fresh

food stalls. Look out for jars of tiny

preserved tangerines, a regional

speciality, amid neat stacks of basket

ware, bowl-sharp lumps of unrefined

cane-suger, liniments, medicinal herbs

and every variety of rice.

Things do not miss

Cham Islands High Speed Boat www.yourlocalbooking.com

Hoi An After DarkFor the most part, Hoi An is a town that

sleeps early, but you can find a few

good nightspots

Tam Tam CaféAdd: 111 Nguyen Thai HocOne of the busiest night spots in Hoi An is the popular Tam Tam Café. This place combines class with fun – make sure you grab a balcony seat.

Tip: Try to get a table on the balcony or in front of the building and you can watch the passers-by from up there.

Hai Scout Cafe

Add: 98 Nguyen Thai HocHai Scout Cafe is a popular late-night hangout for travelers, offering standard bar drinks as well as cappuccino and

espresso and some great baked treats.Treats Bar & CaféAdd: 158 Tran PhuTreats Bar & Café in Hoi An creates a very comfor tab le env i ronment wi th a picturesque view of the river from the dining tables.

Hoi An Cargo Club and PatisserieAdd: 107- 109 Nguyen Thai HocCargo Club is a good place to reconnoitre if traveling in a group or to meet other travelers. Their Italian and local dishes are all first rate and the patisserie ensures excellent desserts. This has both street and river views.

River LoungeAdd: 35 Nguyen Phuc ChuThis restaurant offers a European cafe style atmosphere with an Asian menu. There is an actual lounge upstairs along with a manmade beach next to the main ground restaurant, giving guests a chance to experience all kinds of chill. You will have a perfect view over the old town.

Mango Rooms Mango Rooms is the town's most popular little bistro and gathering point for local expats and visiting literati. The Mango Room's effusive owner, Duc, knows how to throw a party. Duc's imagination has gone wilder with more local dishes being meshed with Mediterranean and Latino tastes. Signature dishes include the red snapper and squid rings

Before & Now Restaurant and BarAdd: 51 Le LoiBefore & Now is a lively place that 's suitable for all ages. If you want quite, there is an upstairs area for dining, otherwise soak up the music and mingle downstairs. They offer a meny of mostly international and Vietnamese dishes

February

Chinese New Year

On these days, Hoi An inhabitants are involved in many activities and organize traditional cultural festivals. Visitors can see performances of many traditional dances like the four noble-animal dance and the unicorn dance.

The Nguyen Tieu festival is celebrated

annually by the Chinese living in Hoi An on

the 16th of lunar January, at Guangdong

and Chaozhou Assembly Hall. On this

occasion, people organize formal offering

rituals at village pagodas and temples to

honour Emperor Shen Nong. You will

experience an exciting atmosphere with

many and interesting activities such as

Vietnamese poetry reading, lantern

festival, lottery games ...

March

Lady Thu Bon Worshipping Festival

This festival falls on the 12th day of

February of the lunar calendar. It is a

traditional festival of the ancient Cham Pa

people that was inherited and is still kept

nowadays. Apart from the ceremonies

and their legends, festival-goers can also

enjoy art performances, fashion shows, a

national beach volleyball tournament,

photo exhibitions on Quang Nam, and

seminars on culture preservation.

April

Lady Thien Hau Worshipping FestivalThe festival is held annually by the

Chinese living in Hoi An on the 23rd of the

3rd month of the lunar year, at the Fujian

and the Duong Thuong Assembly Halls.

Devotees come to this pagoda in order to

pray for happiness, prosperity and

fulfilment. The festival is organized in a

widely decorated environment, with

colourful flowers and lanterns.

Mark Your Calendar

Hoi An Private Airport Transfer Start from $20 USD www.yourlocalbooking.com

Mark Your CalendarMay

Labour day, also a public holiday.

Otherwise known as May Day or

International Worker Day

August

Long Chu festival

Long Chu festival is celebrated on the

15th of the lunar July, when the new

season is coming and the old one is

leaving, and the entire climate is

uncertain. It is held in the summer

months, when plagues and other types of

epidemics are most likely to break out in

the fishing villages. As a result, religious

ceremonies are carried out to fight the

diseases.

Vu Lan Day Hoi An

The Vu Lan Day in Hoi An is an event

associated with the annual wandering of

the souls of ancestors that has its

counterpart in almost all religions across

the world. On the occasion, lights are set

float on the river to guide the wandering

souls to nirvana. Also, on this night food is

spread out on an altar within the house to

appease their hunger; and false money is

offered as a burnt offering to honor them.

September

Mid-autumn festival

The festival, held annually on the 15th of

Lunar August in Hoi An, helps create the

most charming and picturesque night of

the year. It involves the customs of moon

contemplation, procession of stars & moon

using shaped lanterns, lion dance, as well

as parties with moon cakes and fruits

Japanese Covered bridgeThe Japanese Covered Bridge in Hoi An is a beautiful example of Japanese architecture of the period. It was

constructed in the 1590s by the Japanese community of Hoi An in order to link them with the Chinese quarters across the st ream. Over the centur ies the ornamentation of the bridge has remained relatively faithful to the original Japanese design. Tan Ki Ancient HouseTan Ky House is located at 101 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, and was constructed

almost two centuries ago as the house of a Vietnamese merchant. The owner of the house has preserved its interior design and old furniture, as well as many relics of the prospering trade and cultural exchanges among the Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese the late 17 century.

The architecture of the house has been kept almost intact. Only small repairs have been made.

The Diep Dong Nguyen House

Diep Dong Nguyen is an ancient house located at 82 Nguyen Thai Hoc street. This is considered the first private museum in the central part of Vietnam, which a lot of tourists and researchers consider as an invaluable antique museum. The house opens 8:00 - 12:00 and 14:00 - 16:30 daily. It was built for a Chinese merchant in the late 19th century. You don't need to purchase a ticket, there are no security guards....

Phung Hung Ancient House

The house is located at 4 Nguyen Thi

Minh Khan Street. It was built in 1780

when Hoi An was prospering. The

architecture of Phung Hung house

represents the combinat ion o f

Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese

styles. The house used to be a shop

trading in cinnamon, pepper, salt, silk,

chinaware and glassware. Now part of

the house is used as a workshop for

making commercial embroideries. .

Top attractions

Hoi An Shared Airport Transfer Start from $4USD www.yourlocalbooking.com

Top attractionsPhuc Kien Assembly HallPhuoc Kien Assembly Hall is located at 46 Tran Phu Street was founded in 1690

and served the largest Chinese ethnic group in Hoi An (the Fujian). It displays rich architectural and artistic features. You must visit this assembly hall to encounter an excellent work of architecture that is also considered as a heritage of historical significance.

The Hainan Assembly Hall

The house is located at 10 Tran Phu Street. It was built in 1851 by the overseas Chinese people. This Assembly hall is used to worship 108 Chinese merchants who were unjustly killed because they were mistaken for pirates. Later, they were vindicated and named “deities” by King Tu Duc who

granted money to build this assembly hall to worship the forever.

Sa Huynh Culture Museum

Located at 149 Tran Phu Street of the Hoi An heritage center. The museum supplies plenty of information about ancient people of Sa Huynh civilization who were the first owner of Hoi An trading port, having exchanging relationship with China, India, and South East Asia. Most of the articles on display in the Sa Huynh Culture Museum An date back to the 1st Millennium BC which is better known as the Iron Age.

The Museum of Trade CeramicsThe museum was opened in 1975 and located at 80 Tran Phu Street. There are a

total of about 430 ceramic artefacts that stand as a testimony of the ceramic trade network that date back to the 8th to 18th

centuries. The museum is a precious material treasure, which helps confirm the important role of Hoi An Trade Port in trading transactions.

Thanh Ha Pottery Village

The Thanh Ha Pottery Village is located by

the Thu Bon river, 3 Km to the West of the

ancient quarter. The products made by the

villagers mainly serve the daily lives in

domestic markets and are lighter than the

same products in other places. Thanh Ha

Pottery craftsmen had been invited by the

Court of Nguyen Dynasty in Hue to create

special products for various activities of

the imperial palace.

Kim Bong Carpenter Village

The carpentry village of Kim Bong

belongs to the Cam Kim commune, just

on the other side of Hoi An river. There

were many Kim Bong carpenters were

organized by the King of the Nguyen

dynasty in order to build Hue capital. Kim

Bong villagers are doing the same work

in the same way that their forefathers did

in the past. Besides that, Kim Bong

carpenters had built big trade ships

helping to exchange easily transport

goods everywhere.

A typical feature of Hoi An architecture is

“eyes” which means to ward away bad

luck. The eyes are often carved with the

yin-yang symbol in the centre,

surrounded by eight trigrams in Chinese

geomancy. The yin and yang symbol

became fashionable in the nineteenth

century and is the most commonly used

image on houses, sometimes set in a

chrysanthemum flower, such as the Tan

Ki House, or as the octagonal talisman

representing eight charms

Unravelling the architecture

features of Hoi An

Top attractions

Hoi An Hotels Instant Booking Confirmation www.yourlocalbooking.com

Around Hoi AnCycle to Cam Nam Village and the

craft villages

Even closer at hand, you can take a bike either Cam Nam or An Hoi bridge and cycle round Cam Nam Island. Sandy tracks lead off in all directions between smallholdings and private house, but the first lane right over Cam Nam bridge brings you to a great viewpoint with Hoi An across the other side of the river. You can then work your way round to the south side of the island (or simply follow the metalled road from Cam Nam bridge) and you will reach a row of waterside restaurants serving Banh Dap (a sandwich of crispy and clams). Even if you aren't tempted, it's a nice breezy place for a drink.

Cham Island

These exquisitely preserved islands comprise of eight islets altogether.

Brimming with marine life and corals from 5 am to 30m below the water, the islands could be described as a diver's paradise. The main Cham island has a small, friendly community and harbours some beautiful beaches and jungle

Thuan Tinh Ecological Tourism ZoneThuan Tinh is a typical ecological tourism zone in Hoi An town. You will enjoy the poetic natural landscapes. Under the green willow forests howling in the wind, you can row a boat on river or take part in the folk games, go fishing, watch water puppet performance or contemplating handicrafts and fine arts displayed in the ancient house with typical Vietnamese countryside style.

Cua Dai Beach

White sandy beach, deep blue sea, pristine water, bright sunshine, cool sea breeze, and sloping sea floor - that is the perfect description of Hoi An beaches. This beach

is the closest to Hoi An (5 km away from centre), very beautiful and well worth a visit to cool off when the heats starts to get to you. The beach is well known for its seafood because their tastes seem to be more delicious than any other places.

ith the influx of tourists, Hoi An is Wbecoming a centre for the arts. A delightful hour- long medley of traditional music and dance is performed most evening in a cramped rather grandly know as Traditional Art Theatre, 75 Nguyen Thai Hoc ( Mon-Sat 9pm, 45 000VDN) Folk musicians also play short concerts at the Hoi An Handicraft Workshop, 9 Nguyen Thai Hoc )Mon-Sat 10,15 am& 3.15 pm; included in ticket scheme.

Tourism has also led to revival in local

crafts, though there are plenty of second-

rate souvenirs on sale as well. Dedicated

browsers can occupy several hours in the

shops and galleries along Tran Phu,

Nguyen Thai Hoc, and Le Loi, while just

over the the Japanese bridge cluster of old

houses double as showrooms

Scattered here and there are workshops

where you can see a range of local crafts,

from embroidery, wood-carving and

pottery to silk being made by traditional

methods; visit are free, though afterwards

you'll be directed to the souvenir shop-

cum-showroom, not that there's any

obligation to buy. The most interesting are

the Hoi An Handicraft Workshop at 9

Nguyen Thai Hoc, where they also give

folk concerts, and the House of

Traditional Handicraft at 108 Nguyen

Thai Hoc, and look out too for a tiny stall

at 49 Le Loi where the same family has

been making silk lanterns for generations

Hoi An is now well known for its silk and

tailoring, with prices generally cheaper

than Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh. You' ll find

shops all over the town but the original

outlet was the market, where even now

rows of tailors sit at sewing machines

next to rainbow coloured stacks, and for a

few dollars will make up beautiful

garments in the matter of hours. It's worth

shopping around- ask to see some

finished articles before placing an order.

If you have time, it's a good idea to have

one item made first to check the quality

and fit. A few places with a reputation for

reliable include Bi Bi Silk 13 Phan Chau

Trinh, with a good range of linen, wool

and silk. And the more upmarket Yaly at

47 Nguyen Thai Hoc

Arts, handicraft and shopping

Cham Islands High Speed Boat www.yourlocalbooking.com

A Day in Hoi AnDay 1 in Hoi An

1. Have breakfast at any restaurant, try Cao Lau noodle, Vietnamese Coffee and watch life go by for a while.

2. Buy the open ticket to visit Hoi An Ancient Town. Don't miss Japanese Covered bridge, Tan Ki Ancient House, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, Sa Huynh Culture Museum, The Museum of Trade Ceramics

3. Hire a bicycle, cycle up to Cua Dai Beach, have lunch on the way back at Son restaurant (near river bank), have a coconut and enjoy the beautiful of nature.

4. Visit House of Hoi An Traditional Handicraft at 41 Le Loi Street. In reality, it is a silk shop, but they give you a free tour where you get to see the silk worms and the whole process of producing silk.

5. Park yourself on the other side of the

river, have a few cold draught beers and

watch the foot traffic on the other side.

Day 2 in Hoi An

1. Before doing anything, go to Hoi An fish market hall. It is a unique experience to visit the Hoi An fish market at early morning while the whole town sleeps. The fishermen are bringing their night's catch to shore. Conical hats are everywhere. If you are brave enough, go there and buy something by yourself!

2. Go back and have breakfast at any

restaurant near Hoi An Fish Market, try

Vietnamese Coffee. Sit watching locals

in their market absorbing smells and

daily life

3. Have a walk around Hoi An and organize some custom made cloth. Bring your photo and make a copy.

4. Hire a bicycle and cycle to Cam Nam

Village. There is much to be seen: a

shipyard, local people who are making

baskets, rice paper, cooking fish, carving

wood, making shoes and more! You will get

a good impression of the local workshops

and the traditional and daily life of the

people on Cam Nam Island.

5. Roaming the streets, speaking to locals, enjoying the rustic French influence, traversing up laneways for some great photos.

Day 3 in Hoi An

1. Join tour “Become a farmer at Tra Que Vegetable”

2. Buy your souvenir

3. Try White Rose - a type of shrimp dumpling made from translucent white dough bunched up to look like a rose at 533 Hai Ba Trung.

4. Have a dinner at Moon restaurant & lounge, 321 Nguyen Duy Hieu. You can trust the cocktails since it's made of genuine brand spirits.

Day 4 in Hoi An

1. Join My Son Tour2. Hire a boat glide along Thu Bon river. You can find many local people along the Bach Dang riverside, or near Japanese Covered Bridge offer this service. 3. Have dinner at Hoi An Cargo Club and Patisserie. Add: 107- 109 Nguyen Thai Hoc. Their Italian and local dishes are all first rate and the patisserie ensures excellent desserts.4. Spend night at Before & Now Bar (51 Le Loi)

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luxury. We will be there when you get

there. You'll never roam alone. Our Local

Customer Support team will always be

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advice and assistance to make your

holiday even more enjoyable.

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