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Hoi An was so high on our bucket list. Streets filled with glowing lanterns, night-time boat rides, bright vibrant colors- what’s not to love? If you have your eyes set on exploring this special place in Vietnam, we have some things that you absolutely cannot miss. Our recommendations are a blend of cultural experiences, stunning views, and inexpensive activities, so we are sure there is something for everyone.

1. Make Your Own Lantern

Lantern culture is abundant in Hoi An. What better way to immerse yourself in that beautiful culture than to make your own?

For just $9 you will:

• Learn the history of lanterns in Hoi Am
• Learn the art of lantern making
• Build and decorate your own lantern
• Leave with your very own lantern to take home!

Let’s preface this by saying, we have absolutely no artistic abilities, but we still decided to give it a whirl. 

If you’re interested in our experience, here is a little more details on what to expect. 

We started our class by selecting our lantern shape, then we built our lantern base from scratch. This was the easy part. 

Next, we selected our fabric and started the artsy side of this activity. The staff were hilarious and referred to our lanterns as our “babies”. Although the experience is a group activity with people joining in at different times, we were never without instruction.

If you’re like us and are worried about how you will get these home- no worries! They actually fold up and easily fit into a carry-on, backpack, or duffle bag!

Book this activity here

2. Ride Through The Coconut Forrest in a Basked Boat

Is it “touristy”? Maybe. Was it was truly the highlight of our time in Hoi An? ABSOLUTELY.

Also, let’s be honest, who doesn’t love touristy things sometimes? 

The boat ride started down the river, floating through the water coconut valleys. As our float went on, you could hear loud music and this is where the party got started!

Have you seen those viral videos of men twirling about in the bowl shaped boats? Well, that happens here. You get to choose if you want to watch or go for a spin- literally. We opted just to watch, but also got a tiny spin from our guide. Anything more than that “tiny” spin is only for the brave, non-motion sickness prone. 

As we continued through our journey, we stopped to try our hand at catching crabs. You need to continuously be bobbing the rod and it is not as easy as it looks.

Lastly, we watched some demonstrations from the local fisherman. Although he wasn’t catching any real fish, it was a cool thing to see and a part of the culture. We did promise culture, didn’t we? 

Book this activity here

3. Hoi An River Boat Lantern Release

The time has come: Your Tangled lantern moment is here. 

While strolling along the river, just as the sun begins to set, this river really comes alive. The lanterns are lit, locals move to the river banks to sell their floating lanterns, eager tourists wait for their chance to float among the released wishes. 

To avoid the long cue we booked this activity ahead of time, but if this is a spontaneous activity for you, no worries. There are plenty of eager operators along the river hoping to make your lantern dreams come true. 

Book this activity here

4. Take A Vietnamese Coffee Class

Coffee in Vietnam is a way of life. It’s an entirely different culture than the Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts that we’re used to in America. 

There was so much about coffee culture that we were not aware of, so we went to school. 

In this class we:

• Learned the history of Vietnamese coffee
• Learned new brewing techniques 
• Created 5 unique Vietnamese coffee drinks

Honestly, this was an amazing opportunity to try FIVE different types of Vietnamese coffee styles. I mean, when else would you order 5 drinks just to try them? However, let’s just say, this is not for the faint of heart, literally. This coffee is strong. Whew. 

Book this activity here

5. Explore Hoi An Old Town

Situated right on the river, Old Town Hoi An is the most picturesque city. Full of lanterns, shops galore, and plenty to eat, you can easily fill an afternoon here. If you happen to be in the area in the evening, you will be able to catch the street market which starts around 5-6pm every evening.

If you’re interested in a guided tour, you can book that here.

Final Thoughts

We absolutely fell in love with Hoi An- it’s beautiful, full of character, affordable, and packed with memorable experiences. Suffice it to say, it was easily one of the best parts of our trip to Vietnam. If you add these must-do experiences to your itinerary, we feel fairly certain that you will fall in love with it too.

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