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A Tailored fit in Old Town Hoi An
Published by Jared Dellinger, Writer
Country: Vietnam 
The Experience
Have you ever fallen in love? Not with a person, but a place for the feeling that you when you walk around it, agog in its unique beauty and fascinating people. How many times have you sat down to drink tea with a guy you met minutes earlier motorbiking down the street, who simply stopped to ask you where you were from? This is part of the fun and adventure of traveling in Hoi An, Vietnam. Once the bustling center for the silk and spice trade between the 15th and 19th century, the streets in the Old Town have remained preserved despite the wars that have forged on around them.
Hoi An is a captivating place that transports you back in history, as you roam through it's charming architecture in Old Town. Shops are tightly aligned one after the other, creating a never-ending labyrinth of tailors and silk shops, enough to drive even the modest shopper to splurge into a spending spree! At night the roads in Old Town are closed off to motor traffic, providing a chance to stroll this maze of rural charm and wares worry free. You can spend countless hours wandering from store to store in search of the perfect place to get your quintessential souvenir, a traditional piece of clothing made of the finest silk by time honoured tailors. The canal that cuts through Hoi An is characteristic of an ancient oriental waterway spiced with some modern flairs, pleasing even the most particular of people with its wares. Balconies adorned with bright red, white, and yellow Chinese Lanterns will set your shopping path aglow both from above and from their watery reflection below, offering the perfect mood lighting for a night of exploration.
It's hard to deny your appetite Hoi An. The food here is so simply delectable, that practically everywhere you look people are constantly snacking on something whether it be a bowl of Pho or a little baguette on the corner. Take a break from shopping and rest your feet as you enjoy a local Hoi An specialty dish called Lao Cau, a noodle dish mixed with pork, chicken, or beef, some fresh basil, oleander, raw onion, and an absolutely delicious sauce.
Hoi An is a timeless town that you can spend weeks in and feel like you just arrived yesterday. It’s not hard to understand why Old Town Hoi An achieved the status of UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999. The town oozes culture and it is the perfect place to find your personally tailored piece of the Vietnamese culture to bring home with you.
Hoi An is a captivating place that transports you back in history, as you roam through it's charming architecture in Old Town. Shops are tightly aligned one after the other, creating a never-ending labyrinth of tailors and silk shops, enough to drive even the modest shopper to splurge into a spending spree! At night the roads in Old Town are closed off to motor traffic, providing a chance to stroll this maze of rural charm and wares worry free. You can spend countless hours wandering from store to store in search of the perfect place to get your quintessential souvenir, a traditional piece of clothing made of the finest silk by time honoured tailors. The canal that cuts through Hoi An is characteristic of an ancient oriental waterway spiced with some modern flairs, pleasing even the most particular of people with its wares. Balconies adorned with bright red, white, and yellow Chinese Lanterns will set your shopping path aglow both from above and from their watery reflection below, offering the perfect mood lighting for a night of exploration.
It's hard to deny your appetite Hoi An. The food here is so simply delectable, that practically everywhere you look people are constantly snacking on something whether it be a bowl of Pho or a little baguette on the corner. Take a break from shopping and rest your feet as you enjoy a local Hoi An specialty dish called Lao Cau, a noodle dish mixed with pork, chicken, or beef, some fresh basil, oleander, raw onion, and an absolutely delicious sauce.
Hoi An is a timeless town that you can spend weeks in and feel like you just arrived yesterday. It’s not hard to understand why Old Town Hoi An achieved the status of UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999. The town oozes culture and it is the perfect place to find your personally tailored piece of the Vietnamese culture to bring home with you.
When to Go to Hoi An
Old Town Hoi An is a place you have to visit to fully understand and appreciate what Vietnam has to offer. If you are looking for a great place to relax and regain your sanity after a long demanding stretch at work, this is the place. Pampering yourself with a new suit or dress, while enjoying tasty food and cold beers amongst the charming architecture of Old Town, is the perfect way to recharge your batteries.
Wander the streets with giddy excitement as you try to narrow down the endless supply of restaurants for dinner or maybe grab a baguette from a street vendor for a snack, either way you will not be sorry. The local cuisine is absolutely amazing and very reasonably priced.
Beyond the preserved streets of Old Town Hoi An, you can venture out to the beach that stretches along the edge of town. Rent a bike or hop on the back of a motorbike and enjoy the 4km scenic ride lined with freshly planed rice fields. A day can easily be spent enjoying a cold drink on the beach and staring off into the distance at the islands nestled off the coast. The white sand seem to stretch on for miles. If you want a travel spot that has authentic small town charm, yet has the extras you desire, a visit to Hoi An is a must.
Wander the streets with giddy excitement as you try to narrow down the endless supply of restaurants for dinner or maybe grab a baguette from a street vendor for a snack, either way you will not be sorry. The local cuisine is absolutely amazing and very reasonably priced.
Beyond the preserved streets of Old Town Hoi An, you can venture out to the beach that stretches along the edge of town. Rent a bike or hop on the back of a motorbike and enjoy the 4km scenic ride lined with freshly planed rice fields. A day can easily be spent enjoying a cold drink on the beach and staring off into the distance at the islands nestled off the coast. The white sand seem to stretch on for miles. If you want a travel spot that has authentic small town charm, yet has the extras you desire, a visit to Hoi An is a must.
Odds n' Ends
Hoi An is located on the central coast of Vietnam just south of Danang. You can get to Hoi An via plane, there is a small airport nearby ferrying passengers from larger points north and south. The Bus is a cheaper option. It will mean taking a night bus from either Saigon or Hanoi, both being longer than 12 hours. There are regular buses to and from Hoi An on a daily basis.
There is no shortage of sleeping options ranging from the budget traveler to high end hotels. There has been a hotel boom in town during the last few years making it quite easy to find something to fit anyone's budget.
There are quite a few choices for tailors in Hoi An and it is advisable to do at least a little bit of research with regard to the type of stitching and materials you would be requiring. For example, real silk actually burns if you light it on fire. So if you can get a small sample, try it.
There is no shortage of sleeping options ranging from the budget traveler to high end hotels. There has been a hotel boom in town during the last few years making it quite easy to find something to fit anyone's budget.
There are quite a few choices for tailors in Hoi An and it is advisable to do at least a little bit of research with regard to the type of stitching and materials you would be requiring. For example, real silk actually burns if you light it on fire. So if you can get a small sample, try it.
Places to Stay Nearby
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Nhi Nhi Hotel is located in the Old Quarter and near all major tourist attractions in the area of Hoi An Ancient town. Situated in ... 0 miles away
$507648 VND+
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Books and DVDs
Elsewhere on the Web
- Hoi An Ancient Town - UNESCO.org
- Hoi An Ancient Town is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century
- Hoi An - Visit-mekong.com
- Hoi An Town is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. Its buildings and its street plan reflect the influences, both indigenous and foreign, that have combined to produce this unique heritage site.
- Hoi An Old Town – an ancient Beauty of Vietnam - Vietnam-beauty.com
- Located on the banks of the poetic Thu Bon River, in central Quang Nam province, 30 kilometers south of Da Nang, Hoi An ancient town is an Eastern oriental classic captivation.
Media References
- Cultural Crossroads In Vietnam - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
- ''YOU must go to Hoi An,'' everyone from Vietnam connoisseurs to one-time visitors to that country ordered us. It was the Venice of Vietnam, we heard, a magically preserved Sleepy Hollow of coexisting Asian cultures.
- Jacquetta Wheeler: Away from it all in south-east Asia - TheTelegraph.co.uk (newspaper)
- Seeking a dose of reality as well as a period of respite from her hectic life as a sought-after model, Jacquetta Wheeler left the designer clothes and expensive make-up behind to live a more basic existence during a three-month exploration of south-east Asia.
- Introduction to Hoi An - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
- Hoi An was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, and a visit to this old-world gem is a sure cultural highlight of any tour in Vietnam.
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