Getaway from Hong Kong: Hoi An in 2 days

📍 Hoi An, the tranquil gem of Vietnam

Hoi An is a small town located on the central coast of Vietnam, in Quảng Nam province. With about 120,000 inhabitants, it is known for its perfectly preserved old town—declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site—its colorful lanterns, tranquil canals, and the fusion of Japanese, Chinese, and French architecture. Despite its growing popularity, it maintains a calm pace that invites you to stroll leisurely, get lost in alleyways, and be amazed.

🌿 Sleeping in nature: our resort in Hoi An

On the recommendation of several friends who considered it their favorite city in Vietnam, we chose Hoi An as our destination for a quick getaway. We only had a weekend, but we didn’t need more: in two days we completely disconnected from the hectic pace of Hong Kong and recharged our energies. It was enough for it to become one of our favorite places so far.

The big surprise of the trip was undoubtedly the accommodation. We stayed at a small resort—much more intimate than others in the area—just 15 minutes from the center. The setting is spectacular, fully integrated into nature and surrounded by lakes that have been respected in the construction. It is a true haven of peace. The rooms are distributed in two-story houses, although you can also stay in boat-type bungalows that float over the central lake.

The resort offers a spa with massages, Vietnamese cooking classes, fishing, a pool, a gym, and peaceful walks throughout the grounds. They also have free bikes in case you want to get around. Here’s the name of the accommodation in case you want to take a look, although I’ll tell you that the photos don’t do it justice. From the very first moment everything was wonderful: the staff's treatment, the food, the surroundings, the silence... You woke up listening only to the sounds of nature.

📍 [View accommodation]

As for the price, we found it very affordable: €35 per night with breakfast included.

However, both the food and drinks or massages were somewhat more expensive than in the city center, although they remain very reasonable prices, as Vietnam in general is a very economical destination. Here are some examples of what we paid:

• Food for two (with beer and two dishes per person, including the iconic Vietnamese pho): 450,000 VND (€15)

• Beer: 39,000 VND (€1.30)

• Natural juice: 49,000 VND (€1.60)

• Massages (one hour): around 750,000 VND (€25)

🚤 Saturday in Hoi An: old town and boat ride

We arrived in Hoi An on Friday night, so we decided to start Saturday slowly and dedicate the morning to enjoying the resort and everything it offered. By the afternoon, we took advantage of the free transport service provided by the accommodation to get to the historic center, the well-known Old Town.

As soon as we arrived, two things caught our attention: the large number of people on the streets and the fact that almost all were tourists. You could hardly see locals, except those who worked in shops, restaurants, or street stalls. There was a lot of Asian tourism—especially from China—but also quite a presence of Europeans and Americans.

Despite the hustle and bustle, the city seemed beautiful to us. Its colorful lanterns, its low houses, and that special fusion of Chinese, Japanese, and colonial architecture give it a unique character. We walked through the alleyways of the center, visited the market—where the art of haggling is essential—and then headed to the river area.

Even though we knew it was one of the most touristy activities, we decided to get on one of the boats that navigate the Thu Bồn River for about 20 minutes. We paid 170,000 VND (about €5.80), which included two paper lanterns with candles to release into the water. The ride was pleasant and serene, and we passed under the famous Japanese bridge, one of the symbols of the city, although the area was crowded with people taking photos.

When we finished, we looked for a restaurant with a terrace on the second floor to have dinner with a view. The food was quite average and the place didn’t convince us much (later we saw that the reviews weren’t very good), although at least I got to try the Cao Lầu, a typical dish from Hoi An.

After dinner, we continued strolling, bought a banana pancake from a street stall—a true Southeast Asian classic—and ended the day with a cocktail at a riverside bar, with live music and a relaxed atmosphere. We liked it a lot, so I’ll leave the location here.

📍 [View location]

💰 Price of the cocktail: 180,000 VND (€6), but they had a 2-for-1 during happy hour.

🏖️ Sunday at the beach and relaxation

On Sunday, we got up early and decided to start the day at the beach. One of the resort's strong points is that even after check-out, they allow you to continue using all the facilities: pool, showers, restaurant... so we were able to take advantage of it until the last minute.

We took the free transport service offered by the accommodation to the beach (and also back), and spent the whole morning there. The beach was quite calm, although it’s hard to find a free spot to lay your towel because almost all the space is occupied by rental loungers. We paid 150,000 VND for both of us (about €5) for three hours in our hammocks.

The water was clear, the beach clean and well-maintained, and although we saw a jellyfish floating nearby, it was a very pleasant swim. It was hot but with a breeze, so it felt wonderful.

Upon returning to the resort, we had lunch there and spent the afternoon between the pool and the gardens, enjoying the tranquility of the surroundings until we had to take a taxi to the airport.

💡 Practical tips

• If you are flying from Hong Kong, you will need to arrive at Da Nang airport and from there take a taxi (about €11) to Hoi An.

• The flight takes 1h30 and the drive takes about an hour.

• We paid €120 round trip per person.

• Spaniards do not need a visa to enter Vietnam (for up to 45 days).

• Download the app Grab to get around in taxis with a fixed price, no haggling.

• Carries cash; the currency is the Vietnamese dong (VND).

• In May, the temperature was ideal: about 30 °C maximum and 26 °C minimum. It didn’t rain, but it’s never a bad idea to carry a small umbrella.

❤️ My personal opinion

Hoi An has been a breath of fresh air amidst the routine. It is likely that we will return, even to the same accommodation. It has that perfect balance of authenticity, beauty, and tranquility that is sometimes hard to find. If you need to pause and reconnect, this is a good place to do it.