Joanna James
The lovely heritage town of Hoi An is a perfect destination for couples. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hoi An is one of the most picturesque places in southeast Asia and is home to vintage stone bridges and streets lit with colourful lanterns. Here are 5 incredibly romantic things to do here.
A stroll around the pretty Old Town area of Hoi An is a very charming experience and one to savour with the one you love. Wander around hand in hand along the water's edge and explore the streets lined with vintage buildings. Stop at the wayside restaurants when the enticing aromas of cooking pique your interest. And hang around till evening when colourful lanterns are lit in front of almost every building in the heritage town. An iconic attraction in the Old Town is the vintage Japanese Bridge. The covered bridge built in the 18th century is a UNESCO Heritage Site. Also, worth exploring are Quan Cong Temple and the Bu Ma Temple Gates. Choose a Hoi An hotel within easy reach of the best things to do in Hoi An for easy strolls to the Old Town area. Some resorts such as Anantara Hoi An Resort, while offering easy access to the best attractions in Hoi An, face the historic Thu Bon River, which makes it a tranquil oasis, perfect for a holiday.
A five-minute bicycle ride from the Hoi An Town centre will take you to the countryside. There you will be surrounded by lush green paddy fields of rice. The perfect excuse to escape urban surroundings, the pretty rural environs of Hoi An promise to soothe mind, body, and soul. Check with your resort in Hoi An about renting bicycles and enjoy a romantic cycling tour along rustic country roads. Pass by charming villages and enjoy a glimpse into the lifestyles of Vietnam's villagers.
The Old Town of Hoi An is famous for its collection of eateries. And at these restaurants, you can order traditional dishes not served anywhere else in Vietnam. So, go ahead and make plans to wander around the waterfront and find the most charming restaurant at which you can sit down and enjoy the company of the one you love whilst savouring delicious food. A few must-try dishes include cao lau, which is a noodle and pork dish. And com ga hoi an, which is rice with shredded chicken. But start off your foodie journey with an appetiser called White Rose; this is a dumpling stuffed with shrimp.
Join a Hoi An cooking class and have loads of fun together! There are lots of cookery classes available in the town where you can learn a thing or two about local ingredients and dishes. Amongst popular cookery classes are Spice Spoons where you can learn to cook local, French, and Chinese influenced dishes. The step-by-step classes are ideal to learn the art of traditional cookery. These offer skills that you can take back home to continue enjoying all your local favourites.
Staying at a Hoi An Resort facing the Thu Bon River makes planning this enchanting activity easy. You can book your tour via your resort there or even head on down to the water's edge and hire any one of the local operators there to take you on a boat ride of the river – a romantic and enchanting way to spend an evening.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
