Hoi An
Feb 4th, 2010, 03:13 PM
#1
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Hoi An
For those travelling to Hoi An, we were very disappointed in the Tran Family Temple. It should be called the Tran family business as one pays $10/2 people for a ticket good at all attractions in Hoi An. This attraction is a 3 star one as per a guidebook. There is an introduction and then you are taken to buy coins, teapots, jewelry, etc. If this is a 3 star site, we didn't need to see the other sites. After our experience and staying at the Victoria Hoi An, I would suggest that you consider this location as R & R if you are travelling through Vietnam. The Victoria Hoi An is a beautiful setting on the South China Sea with a beautiful pool. They certainly need to update their fitness facility and their food/beverages. With all of the fresh foods available daily, they should be able to have fresh fish, but they don't because they gear up only when the tour groups are there.
Feb 5th, 2010, 09:57 AM
#3
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Let me try to offer a defense of Hoi An.
The place was a port some centuries ago, with Japanese and Chinese traders in residence. Then its river silted up, the action moved elsewhere, and Hoi An was frozen in time. The old houses are preserved and there's some control on development, with no massive hotels nearby, and no cars in the old town.
In my opinion, the thing to do here is just relax and enjoy the place at a slow pace. There are any number of nice-looking family-run hotels within walking distance of the center that will provide a comfortable stay for about $35 a night. You amble about, look in the shops (and get clothes made, if that's your scene), visit whichever of the temples and historic houses on the tour ticket appeals to you (I recommend going out the back of the Chinese temple near the Japanese Bridge to see the bizarre statuary), and you eat. There is a vast number of excellent restaurants at all price points. Some of the most attractive are those with upper floor balconies overlooking the river (e.g., Cargo Club); it's also nice to have dinner outside at one of those on the other side of the river, from where you can look across at the lights and lanterns of those on the main drag.
Staying at the beach misses the point, in my view, unless you are primarily after a beach vacation: if you want to see Hoi An, stay at a hotel in Hoi An itself. The family-run places in the town don't have the star ratings of some of those at the beach, such as the Victoria, but are comfortable and welcoming and give you a different experience. I've stayed at the Metropole and Hilton Opera in Hanoi, the Park Hyatt in Saigon, the Sofitel in Dalat, and several other high-end and western hotels in Vietnam, and I found my stay at the Nhi Nhi in Hoi An to be at least as enjoyable as those, and I'm sure the same would be true for many other places in Hoi An, several of which are rated more highly on Tripadvisor.
The place was a port some centuries ago, with Japanese and Chinese traders in residence. Then its river silted up, the action moved elsewhere, and Hoi An was frozen in time. The old houses are preserved and there's some control on development, with no massive hotels nearby, and no cars in the old town.
In my opinion, the thing to do here is just relax and enjoy the place at a slow pace. There are any number of nice-looking family-run hotels within walking distance of the center that will provide a comfortable stay for about $35 a night. You amble about, look in the shops (and get clothes made, if that's your scene), visit whichever of the temples and historic houses on the tour ticket appeals to you (I recommend going out the back of the Chinese temple near the Japanese Bridge to see the bizarre statuary), and you eat. There is a vast number of excellent restaurants at all price points. Some of the most attractive are those with upper floor balconies overlooking the river (e.g., Cargo Club); it's also nice to have dinner outside at one of those on the other side of the river, from where you can look across at the lights and lanterns of those on the main drag.
Staying at the beach misses the point, in my view, unless you are primarily after a beach vacation: if you want to see Hoi An, stay at a hotel in Hoi An itself. The family-run places in the town don't have the star ratings of some of those at the beach, such as the Victoria, but are comfortable and welcoming and give you a different experience. I've stayed at the Metropole and Hilton Opera in Hanoi, the Park Hyatt in Saigon, the Sofitel in Dalat, and several other high-end and western hotels in Vietnam, and I found my stay at the Nhi Nhi in Hoi An to be at least as enjoyable as those, and I'm sure the same would be true for many other places in Hoi An, several of which are rated more highly on Tripadvisor.
Feb 5th, 2010, 12:06 PM
#4
Ha, I agree with both of you! Hoi An is hopelessly touristy, but if you're going to go there, why stay outside the town? Wandering around, visiting the market, maybe taking a boat ride, are all worthwhile. Actually, the thing I most enjoyed there was a trip (by car and driver NOT on a tour) to My Son.
Feb 7th, 2010, 08:58 PM
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I agree with thursdaysd - staying in town is a far better experience. I stay at inexpensive hotels in the $15. range and am perfectly satisfied (Nhi Trung Hotel and Dai Long Hotel). Once I stayed out on the Cua Dai Road and hated that location. Staying in town is really atmospheric at night - the whole place lit with the lanterns and reflections off the waterfront. When you want to see/swim at the beach you just go rent one of the cheap push bikes and go - the very best way to get around Hoi An.
