Around Hoi An

Nhu Mai Fashion is located in Hoi An (Hoian) a beautiful small seaside town in Central Vietnam just 30 minutes south of Da Nang airport.

Forget all the hustle and bustle of big cities like Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) because Hoi An is a laid back town. All motor traffic is even banned from the old historic part of town so tourists can safely wander down the streets and look at all the temples, shops, houses and restaurants. It is especially beautiful in early evening when all the coloured lanterns are lit.

While Hoi An is noted for its tailors and cooking schools (some of the finest you will find in Vietnam) it has plenty of other attractions to keep you busy for a long time. Some people intending to stay for a few days found that they were still there weeks later. The town and its easy going people are so lovely.

You can wander around the Historic section of town and look at ancient homes and buildings and walk over the famous Red Bridge. Go for a stroll along the riverside down to the big Central Market passing by streets full of souvenir, jewellery and clothing shops. Check out the big fresh food market in the middle of town where all the cooking schools take you to gather fresh ingredients. Further along is the Central Market which are a mix of fresh fruit, vegetables and fish on the outside and truck loads of clothing, shoes and house-wares on the inside. You can get a handmade pair of leather shoes made for you in 24 hours.

You can take a ride in the little blue boats along the riverside which take you for a ride around the islands in the river.

Feeling hot or tired, sit down at one of the many riverside restaurants and have a cold drink and a plate of something wonderful to eat.

At night time the riverside looks like a wonderland lit up by multi-coloured lanterns hanging everywhere. After dinner you can take a stroll across the Hoi An bridge to the night markets on the other side. There you will find shops open along the wide street and the center of the street is full of little vendor stalls selling some of the most beautiful artwork and souveniers plus finger foods for those who are still hungry.

Just outside of town is the famous Cui Dai beach which is just the place to go and relax and spend time unwinding on the white sandy beach. While you are there you can enjoy fresh seafood meals and cold drinks from any of a number of little restaurants right on the edge of the beach. Try Man 5 Restaurant, they do very tasty fresh seafood. You can even pick which crabs, prawns or fish you want to eat from the tubs of live seafood there. Can’t get any fresher than that. Straight from sea to plate while you enjoy a cold drink.

It the countryside out of town you will find 2 very beautiful places to visit. The ruins of the Holy City of My Son and the beautiful Marble Mountain caves. Both places should be on everyone’s list of must see things to see. If you want to see more of the local countryside you can take one of the many different bike tours available and visit vegetable and fish farms and pottery and wood-making villages just outside town.

Hoi An is just a beautiful place to visit.