Discovering Hoi An Ancient Town: Day 1 in Da Nang Exceeds National Geographic’s Praise

Arrived in Da Nang last night, and the weather has been absolutely fantastic starting today! I can’t help but feel a twinge of regret for not planning a trip to Ba Na Hills today. The previous weather was quite gloomy, so I scheduled the first two and a half days in Hoi An, with My Khe Beach planned for later.

Now, I’m second-guessing that decision…
But, oh my, Hoi An Ancient Town is breathtakingly beautiful with this perfect weather! If you’re as enchanted by it as I am, give this a like and follow for daily updates on my journey.

Accommodation: Oriental Boutique Hotel
1️⃣ Hotel breakfast (The breakfast here isn’t great, so I recommend booking without it. However, the hotel’s yellow house has a charming Vietnamese vibe.)
2️⃣ Renting a vehicle (It’s just a short distance from the hotel. If you don’t have an international driver’s license, renting an electric scooter 🛵 is a breeze.

No need to hold your passport; just a deposit is required, and it’s only a 7-minute ride to Hoi An Ancient Town.)
3️⃣ Currency exchange (Head to a gold shop for the best rates. The store name is in picture 3. Today’s exchange rate is 3350, which is pretty good.)
4️⃣ Mot Hoi An (After exchanging money, make a beeline for Lotus Tea.

It’s a popular spot, and their sweet and sour drinks are incredibly refreshing.)
5️⃣ Exploring the ancient town (The ancient town is vast, and the New Year atmosphere is in full swing. I absolutely adore it!)
6️⃣ Lunch at Pho Xua (The Vietnamese noodles are a must-try! 🤤 The broth is super fresh and sweet, the beef is tender, and the water spinach is fine and delicate.

Just one note: the white rose didn’t quite hit the mark for me.)
7️⃣ After lunch, we went for a hair wash because it was too hot to explore the ancient town at noon. It was quite relaxing, though a bit pricey, so no photos to share.
8️⃣ Coconut boat ride (We found a vendor on Xiaohongshu who gave us a discount, making it cheaper than Klook.

It’s a must-try! By the way, their DSLR photography skills are a bit lacking, so I suggest taking your own photos. We ended up buying 3 photos for 210,000 VND, but I’d recommend trying the spinning circle ⭕️—it’s a lot of fun!)
9️⃣ 92 Station Restaurant & Cafe (This place is a must-visit! You get a stunning view of the entire ancient town.

I suggest taking photos around 5 PM, as the sun is still strong at 4 PM. Find the right angle and take some snaps when no one is around. We tried their egg coffee, which has a subtle egg aroma. We stayed until dusk and were treated to a beautiful sunset—National Geographic was spot on!!)
1️⃣0️⃣ Dinner at Morning Glory (We finished every single dish!

It was incredibly delicious. I heard it’s a popular restaurant🍴 from a well-known catering group, located right by the river in the ancient town. Sitting outdoors is so comfortable.)
1️⃣1️⃣ Strolling by the ancient town river (After dinner, we took a leisurely stroll by the river. It was bustling with life, with bars lining the riverside.

The energy was reminiscent of the Chiang Mai weekend market I visited in 2015, with everyone enjoying the outdoors.)

I’m really torn about tomorrow’s plans… I’m tempted to spend another day in Hoi An Ancient Town…

I was initially excited about the idea of cruising to Ba Na Hills on an electric scooter tomorrow, but I didn’t realize it was so far from Hoi An. Now, I’m also a bit concerned that the weather might take a turn for the worse again. On the other hand, I’m considering heading to My Khe Beach in Da Nang. This unpredictable weather is really throwing me off and making it hard to decide!