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Offering a delightful collision of flavors, Hoi An has everything from classic Vietnamese restaurants and noodle shacks to gourmet delis and charitable cafés. There's no shortage of eateries in the Old Town, where menus lean heavily on Vietnamese fusion with reasonable prices, considering the location. Cross over Thu Bon River to experience Hoi An Peninsula where an outcrop of trendy restaurants and bars add life to Nguyen Phuc Chu Street. Bordering the Old Town is the central market, packed with vendors selling everything from fish and noodles to flowers and produce. This is the best place to try local dishes like cao lau (rice noodles topped with pork and herbs) and banh bao vac (rose-shape steamed dumplings). For a more in-depth look at Hoi An's cuisine, try a cooking course or culinary tour.
The most social spot on the beach, Soul Kitchen attracts a year-round mix of expats and local visitors, with frequent live music and open mike events. During the day the shady grass frontage, pool table, and board games keep kids entertained, leaving parents free to relax in raised cabanas with a Vietnamese-French menu, wine list, and cold draft beer. Friday through Sunday, rain or shine, Soul Kitchen hosts live music events.
A spinoff of the original Mango Rooms in Old Town, this Vietnamese fusion restaurant is located along the river directly across from the Japanese Covered Bridge. Owner-chef Duc Tran has created an innovative menu of modern-Asian-meets-the-world, inspired from his 20-plus years of travels abroad. Mango Mango's signature cocktails and mouth-watering delicacies look like works of art.
