Rowing a coracle in Bay Mau nipa palm forest and watching art shows at the My Son Sanctuary are among nine experiences in and around Hoi An.
Explore Tam Tien fish market
A fish market along the Tam Tien coast in Nui Thanh District, around 15 kilometers from Tam Ky Town, has been the main seafood distribution point for Quang Nam and neighboring localities for the last 15 years.
If tourists visit the market at 4-5 a.m., they can see hundreds of fishing boats gather along the coast with fish, shrimp, squid, and crab.
The market, one hour drive south of Hoi An, is at its busiest from 4-7 a.m.
But it is only open during the monsoon season between April and September.
Row coracles in Bay Mau nipa palm forest
Located 3 km from downtown Hoi An in Cam Thanh Commune is the Bay Mau nipa palm forest spread over 10 hectares.
In recent years sitting on a round bamboo boat and rowing through the forest has become a popular activity for foreign tourists.
A boat tour costs around VND200,000 (US$8.75), and visitors can watch crab fishing and fishers performing a unique dance in their coracles.
A tour around the forest takes 45 minutes.
Visit Tra Que vegetable village.
Tra Que village is more than 400 years old and has been recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage. Situated in Cam Ha Commune, 3 km from Hoi An, the village is famous for the organic vegetables, especially herbs, grown by 200 families.
Visitors can breathe the fresh air, try their hand at farming and enjoy local dishes.
Experience traditional crafts at Cam Phu village
Cam Phu village in Dien Phong Commune in Dien Ban Town, some 15 km from Hoi An, is home to unique cultural aspects and traditional crafts such as wood carving, silk weaving, and silkworm rearing.
Visitors can visit garden houses, the village communal house, and the Hai Da monument, watch anglers showing off their fishing skills on the Thu Bon River and try local foods.
Watch Cham dance show at My Son Sanctuary.
Quang Nam authorities recently launched an art and light show performed by the Cham people inside the My Son Sanctuary, a UNESCO heritage site. The sanctuary is a complex of abandoned and partially ruined Hindu temple towers constructed between the fourth and 14th centuries when the Champa Kingdom reigned.
The one-hour show highlights the unique beauty of the temple complex that has witnessed the ups and downs of history.
Phan Ho, director of its management board, said he expects the performance to charm foreign tourists.
The show is performed on the 16th of every lunar month.
Camp at Phu Ninh Lake
Phu Ninh Lake is seven kilometers from Tam Ky Town and has 32 islands. Its peaceful ambiance, majestic forests, and turquoise waters attract visitors.
They can windsurf, kayak, jet-ski, shimmy down a zip line, fish, camp, and bathe in mineral waters.
Phu Ninh Lake Eco Resort has ten rooms surrounded by greenery, making it an ideal vacation choice.
Watch ‘Hoi An Memories’ live-action show.
The ‘Hoi An Memories’ show is available on weekends at the Hoi An Impression Theme Park on Hen Islet.
With 500 actors and actresses, the 75-minute show recreates the 400-year history of Hoi An, from its early days as a small village to its golden era of global integration.
Tickets cost VND480,000 to 1.2 million.
It holds records as Vietnam’s ‘Largest outdoor stage’ and for having the ‘Most actors/actresses in a daily performance show.’
Watch Hoi An from above
Walking around the town and taking pictures in ancient houses with yellow walls are not new.
But now, visitors can also find coffee shops atop high-rise buildings to watch the town from above. They include Faifo, The Chef, and 92 Station, which have large open terraces for visitors to admire the breathtaking views of the town.
Take a bike tour
A five-hour bike tour, which costs $19.50 per person, enables visitors to see traditional crafts like weaving straw and making boats while pedaling around Duy Vinh Island, five kilometers from downtown.
They can book a tour at Heaven and Earth Bicycle Tours on Ngo Quyen Street.
The town has pioneered pedestrian-friendly streets since 2004, with most hotels, restaurants, and homestay facilities offering bike rental services.
Motorbikes and cars are banned from the town center for large parts of the day.
