6 Unique Adventures to Experience in Hoi An
Last Updated: April 7, 2024
One of the most charming, beautiful cities in Vietnam is Hoi An. Specifically, Hoi An is known for its historical Old Town, with many hanging lanterns and lovely old architecture. At night, the Thu Bon River, running through Hoi An, is lit up with many rowboats and floating lanterns, creating a completely magical experience in Hoi An, Vietnam.
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6 Unique Adventures to Experience in Hoi An: Table of Contents
1. Reaching Out Tea House
Visiting Reaching Out Tea House in Hoi An is a novel experience, one that you likely don’t have in your hometown. When exploring a new country, I’m always delighted by a truly unique experience, and Reaching Out Tea House is precisely such an experience.
Founded over 20 years ago, Reaching Out Tea House is run by employees of the deaf community. For this reason, it is a “silent” experience. You must speak in soft voices and you get to order using blocks and notepads. If you’re looking for tranquility in a charming environment while partaking in the art of drinking Vietnamese tea, you’ll love it.
Reaching Out Tea House offers a range of traditional teas and cookies, and once you’re finished you also get the chance to explore their artisan products, all made by members of the differently abled community. Reaching Out Tea House was one of our favorite experiences in Hoi An, and we highly recommend it.
2. Bike Ride through Rural Hoi An
Another unique experience in Hoi An that we loved was exploring the surrounding rural community on a bike. You can rent your own bike (likely at your hotel or at various shops around Old Town), or you can opt to do a tour. If you want to get really off the beaten path, booking a bike tour in Hoi An is the best way to ensure you stay safe while still admiring the rural culture.
What will you see on a rural Hoi An bike tour?
Green rice fields, water buffalos, and local communities. On our bike tour, we also got to visit some local artisans, including woodworkers and weavers. We even got a little hands-on weaving lesson, learning how to make a bamboo mat. The tour also stopped at a little river inlet where we got to ride bamboo basket boats and wear a traditional Vietnamese hat.
In total, we biked about 9 miles, so this tour is definitely best for folks who are comfortable with being on a bike for awhile. But biking around rural Hoi An was a highlight of our time in Vietnam, and we definitely recommend it for people who like unique experiences off the beaten path!
3. Tailored Clothes at Blue Eye Tailor
Next, you’ll quickly see that getting tailored clothes is one of the most popular experiences in Hoi An. But it can be difficult to know which tailor to choose, because there are tailor shops on seemingly every street corner.
Which tailor should you try in Hoi An?
The Blue Eye Tailor has most recently won Tripadvisor’s travelers’ choice award in 2023. We couldn’t agree more, it’s our top pick as well. We experienced excellent service, attention to detail, and a quick turnaround on our clothes.
What should you expect when visiting a tailor in Hoi An, Vietnam?
As soon as you walk in, you’ll get assigned a tailor who will hand you a cold water bottle as you explore different clothing designs in their catalogs. You can pick from dresses, blouses, suits, rompers, and more. They’re also very welcoming of any other ideas you may find on Instagram or store websites. Basically, the tailors are excellent at mimicking. So if Beyonce or Taylor Swift has an outfit you’ve always wanted, this is your chance to ask.
Once you choose your design you’ll get to choose your fabric and color. Definitely take your time during this process. There will be a lot going on, but remember there’s no rush to designing your new favorite outfit.
Lastly, your tailor will take your measurements, you’ll pay, and return within around 24 hours for a fitting. And yes, they are THAT fast. Depending on the style, they tend to have everything made in 1-3 days.
For reference, I had a linen romper and a cotton blouse made for under $100. Do note, the prices vary depending on the material you choose. Cotton is obviously much cheaper than linen.
4. Hoi An Pottery Village
Yet another unique Hoi An experience is the Pottery Village. Enter a small land of all things terracotta. This traditional village has been around for over 500 years and is home to many villagers who are proud to showcase their pottery designs and even give you a quick pottery lesson.
How do you get tickets to the Hoi An Pottery Village?
The ticket system was a bit confusing at first, but the way it works is you buy an entry ticket to the village, which entitles you to take one small pottery souvenir (e.g. a small animal figurine). To take a pottery class, you can stop by one of the many shops (the shop owners will likely flag you down in the street), and you have to agree to buy something in exchange for a 10-minute pottery class. Many small pieces of pottery are available for 150,000-400,000 Vietnamese dong (around 6-15 US dollars).
Don’t forget to visit the Pottery Village Museum and learn more about the art, and the way of life in the village.
How far is the Pottery Village from Old Town Hoi An?
The Pottery Village is just a 10-minute taxi ride outside of Hoi An Old Town, easy enough to do in 1-3 hours. Overall, the pottery village is a quick, fun experience that is worth a stop in Hoi An.
5. The Marble Mountains
Standing at nearly 350 ft above sea level, the limestone hills of the Marble Mountains in Da Nang are well worth a visit. If you’re staying in Hoi An, the Marble Mountains are just a short and affordable taxi or Grab ride away, or you can book a tour from Hoi An Old Town, which will include all your transportation and give you more detailed information about all the sites.
Plan ahead and wear comfortable walking shoes, as visiting the Marble Mountains requires lots of walking and many steps. Even if you choose to take the elevator to ascend to the top (you must purchase a ticket to ride the elevator), there are still many stairs in the park at the top to see the various pagodas. As you’ll see with the many beautiful historical temples, the Marble Mountains have been a site of great significance to both Hindus and Buddhists for thousands of years.
How much time do you need at the Marble Mountains in Hoi An?
Set aside at least 2-3 hours to explore the Marble Mountains. The attraction has beautiful temples, caves, and breathtaking views to take in.
6. Surf at An Bang Beach
Lastly, a surprising experience that people don’t always expect near Hoi An is surfing! The coast between Da Nang and Hoi An is being built up into a beach vacation spot, and that includes surfing!
When you visit An Bang beach (which is a short 15-minute taxi ride from Old Town), you’ll see several shops and stalls where you can rent a surfboard to catch some waves. There are also plenty of restaurants and bars along An Bang beach to relax and enjoy some good food after surfing.
Even if surfing is not your thing, you should definitely check out An Bang beach. It’s beautiful, with views of Da Nang’s skyline off in the distance, and the many restaurants give it a fun vibe.
Overall, Hoi An is a charming, fascinating city to visit in Vietnam, with the historical architecture and surrounding natural beauty of the Marble Mountains and the ocean. Hoi An is a great place to spend a few days or even hang out for several weeks. We can’t wait to go back!
