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See & Do – Hoi An’s Beaches

Nguyen Thanh Van — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 03:50:18 +0000

See & Do – Hoi An’s Beaches
Rubicon Tours.

Hoi An has something for everybody including sandy beaches. So you can enjoy the culture and shops of the Old Town, the calm beauty of the countryside, and relaxing white sand beaches packed with great bars and restaurants.

Vietnam may not be the first place many people think of when looking for white sandy tropical beaches. But it does have a stunning coastline. Hoi An’s beaches are technically one line of coast, split up into some distinct areas. Whether you’re looking for a thrill from parasailing, cocktails and a sun lounger, or to get away from the crowd, there is something for you.

An Bang Beach

An Bang is the most popular beach in Hoi An, and because of this is, it is also the busiest. Located right at the end of the main road out of Hoi An, Hai Ba Trung, it has a huge range of restaurants and bars all vying for your attention. The beach is frequented by both tourists and locals, and it gets particularly busy in the late afternoon, an experience in itself as it can be hard to move amongst the hordes of people cooling off after a day at school or work.

If you want to relax on the beach, then your best bet is to hire a lounger. As soon as you walk onto the beach, you will see them lined up in front of their respective bar or restaurant. Depending on where you go, prices for a lounger range from 10,000 to 50,000 VND (0.50 to 2 USD) or you can buy a drink or food in which case the lounger is usually complimentary. You can, of course, bring your own chair and towel and sit wherever you like, but the bonus of the loungers is that they also have an umbrella to stop you frying in the sun.

Umbrellas and sun loungers on An Bang beach in Hoi An. Photo: Hidden Hoi An
An Bang South

A five-minute walk South of the main entrance to An Bang beach is another, slightly quieter section of beach we call An Bang South. Separated from the main area by what is currently a building site and with a slightly narrower beach, An Bang South is more relaxed simply because fewer people make an effort to walk there. This makes it an easy escape from the crowds in An Bang, and there are still plenty of restaurants and bars and lots of sun loungers to use.

To get to An Bang South simply take a stroll down the beach to the right of the main entrance to An Bang. Once you have passed a section of empty beachfront, you are in An Bang South.

Hidden Beach

Hidden Beach is Hoi An’s worst kept secret. Located in between the crowded tourist hotspot of An Bang and the quieter but still busy Cua Dai. Hidden beach is a calmer, more relaxed place with fewer people. However, it is becoming more and more popular as an escape from the crowded main beaches. So can still get a little busy depending on the time of day. If you want a tranquil environment with as few people as possible, then come in the morning. You might even have the beach to yourself, bar the occasional fisherman in his traditional boat.

The spot was originally popularised by Hidden Beach Restaurant, which now also has a clothing shop and a day spa. They offer free parking and free sun loungers when you buy a drink or some food. They also have a toilet and a changing room which are free to use. There are one other beachside restaurant and bar and a couple of other restaurants further along the road. Meaning the food options are limited, but Hidden Beach Restaurant has a good range of Vietnamese and Western food.

The parking area at Hidden Beach, Hoi An’s worst hidden secret beach. Photo: Agnuush

To get to Hidden Beach, you can walk along the water’s edge. Either south from An Bang or north from Cua Dai, until you spot Hidden Beach Restaurant. The road can be quite hard to spot, and the Hidden Beach sign is incredibly faded, but it is there. If you have to ride over a small concrete lip at the entrance to the road, then you know you are in the right place.

Cua Dai Beach

Cua Dai Beach used to to the most popular beach in Hoi An. But coastal erosion has slowly made the beach narrower and narrower. The solution was to put sandbags along the water’s edge to stop further erosion. They are the same colour as the sand, so the beach now looks like it has a line of humps along it. Because of this a lot of business has shifted away from here and up to An Bang. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth going to. There is still plenty of space on the sand and more than a few restaurants and bars. If you want to escape the crowds of An Bang but still want the social vibe and choice of restaurants, then Cua Dai is the place.

Palm trees shade the remaining sand at Hoi An Cua Dai beach. Photo: Agnuush

The best patch of sand we found in Cua Dai is near the Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort and Spa. They maintain the area and the fine, golden sand is lined with palm trees, perfect for a hammock set up. Along this part of the beach, there are still plenty of beachside restaurants. Many of which offer local cuisine at very affordable prices. There are even a couple of great French restaurants and bakeries. Cua Dai has a much more local vibe to it and fewer travellers.

Source: hiddenhoian

See & Do – Hoi An’s Beaches
Nguyen Thanh Van

Islands, temples and caves: 7 great day trips from Hoi An

Nguyen Thanh Van — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 09:26:33 +0000

Islands, temples and caves: 7 great day trips from Hoi An
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You’ve explored the Unesco-heritage centre of Hoi An, spent some time on An Bang beach, seen plenty of arts and crafts, and the new clothes you ordered at one of the town’s many tailors will be ready any day. While you wait, though, there’s lots to see beyond the Old Town. Here are some great day trips to take from Hoi An.

The ancient centre of Hoi An, seen from the Thu Bon River © John S Lander / LightRocket via Getty Images

Explore the Citadel in Hue

Hue (pronounces ‘hway’), located on the Perfume River, was the capital of the Nguyen emperors from 1802 to 1945. Many of its fine buildings were destroyed during the American War, but the 19th-century Citadel and a lot of temples and tombs are still there to explore. Visit the Imperial Enclosure and Forbidden Purple City within the Citadel, although beware that some of it is still being reconstructed.

Getting there: Hue is nearly a three hour drive from Hoi An. Either hire a driver for a full day tour, or book on a group tour in Hoi An.

Dive or snorkel around the Cham Islands

The Cham Islands are around 15km offshore of Hoi An and make for a perfect day trip. The granite islands are a playground for divers, snorkellers and beach-goers. Visit between March and September when the ocean isn’t too rough. There’s good swimming on Bac Beach; the only other sight is a temple dedicated to whales, which are sadly seldom seen around the islands.

Getting there: The islands are reached by local ferry or high-speed boat. Alternatively go as part of a snorkelling or dive group with one of the local dive schools, such as Cham Island Diving.

Parts of My Son, Vietnam’s most extensive Cham ruins, not far from Hoi An © upslim / Shutterstock

Visit the temple ruins in the jungle at My Son

My Son (pronounced ‘me sun’) is the site of Vietnam’s most extensive Cham remains and traces its history back to the late 4th century. The Hindu temples, mostly in ruins, are set in lush jungle overlooked by Cat’s Tooth Mountain. The ruins were rediscovered in the 19th century and parts of the complex were restored, but during the American War, important monuments and structures were further destroyed, particularly the ‘Group A’ temples. The ruins can get very busy, so it’s worth going early to avoid both the crowds and the heat.

Getting there: My Son is 55km from Hoi An and well signposted. If you don’t have your own vehicle, hire a driver in Hoi An, or ask your accommodation to book you on a minibus tour.

Take the cable car to the Golden Bridge near Danang

The Golden Bridge in Ba Na Hills opened in June 2018 and was an instant Instagram hit. It’s part of Sun World amusement park (entrance fee: 750,000 VND), reached by a 5km-long cable car ride into the mountains. Views over the jungle down into the city of Danang are spectacular. Take another cable car from the bridge up into the French town that’s the centre of the theme park. From there, head down into Danang, which is approximately an hour’s drive; you can sample some local beers, or simply relax on the beach.

Getting there: Sun World is around 60km from Hoi An, and the drive takes about two hours. Guided tours are available, but are likely to be more expensive than hiring your own driver.

See the caves and shrines in the Marble Mountains

The Marble Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son) are made up of five marble outcrops, each one topped by a pagoda. The mountains are said to represent the elements and are named accordingly: Thuy Son (Water), Moc Son (Wood), Hoa Son (Fire), Kim Son (Metal or Gold) and Tho Son (Earth). The atmospheric network of caves through the mountains are worth exploring. In addition to chimney-like formations and stalactites, expect to see Hindhu and Buddhist altars, shrines and inscriptions carved on cave walls. Parts of the cave network were used by the VC as a field hospital during the American War. Stop by the villages at the foot of the mountains where artisans sell marble sculptures.

Getting there: Group tours depart Hoi An, or, if you have your own vehicle, look for the turning off the Danang Beach coastal road. It’s about a half-hour drive from Hoi An.

Visit the Co Tu in Bho Hoong

The Co Tu people are a small and traditional minority group in Vietnam. Villages are made up of stilt houses organised around a central community building, which is used for meetings, performances and rituals. The village of Bho Hoong, in the inland mountains, has a community tourism project that welcomes visitors to the settlement, providing overnight accommodation in modern, comfortable thatch bungalows.

Getting there: Various tour operators run trips from Hoi An, often including tours of the countryside all the way to the Laos border.

Keep it local with a short trip to Thanh Ha

The village of Thanh Ha is known for its pottery industry. For a small admission fee, you can visit the artisans, who are happy to show you their work (and usually much happier if you buy some of it). It’s unlikely that you’ll want to spend a full day here, but it’s certainly worth a trip.

Getting there: Thanh Ha is only 5km from Hoi An and can be reached by bike.

Get Interesting? Travel Hoi An with us!!!!

05D/04N Danang + Hue( Day trip) + Hoi An Ancient Town + Sunworld Bana Hills

Source: Lonely Planet

Islands, temples and caves: 7 great day trips from Hoi An
Nguyen Thanh Van