7 Hidden Attractions in Hoi An that You might not know

1. Hoi An Handicraft Workshop
(Xưởng thủ công mỹ nghệ Hội An)

The Workshop gathers most of the traditional handicrafts of Hoi An and Quang Nam such as mat weaving, textile weaving, pottery, lacquer and so on. The workshop is inside a 200-year-old house, formerly for native products trading of Feiyan wholesale firm owned by a Chinese entrepreneur who was famous throughout Central.

When visiting the workshop, you will find a quiet and peaceful setting of Vietnam village you will be able to witness skillful hands and great skills of the artisans creating exquisite and unique handicraft products. Visitors can take a couple of steps in the manufacturing process of handicrafts and buy a few products as souvenirs.

Address: 09 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hoi An, Quang Nam.

2. Thanh Ha Pottery Village (Làng gốm Thanh Hà)

Originated from Thanh Hoa, Thanh Ha pottery village was formed from the late 15th century and thrived together with the port of Hoi An in the next century. Thanh Ha ceramic products are made of clay, main raw material, by the hands of skilled artisans and traditional techniques of the village.

Products are mainly utensils serving for daily use such as cups, bowls, jars, vases, bowls, shapes of breeds, which brought a variety of designs and colors. Especially, they are lighter than the same products of other provinces.

So far, Thanh Ha pottery village still exists and operates, manufacturing handicrafts with traditional techniques and facilities. Therefore, Thanh Ha pottery village becomes a living museum, a valuable resource for scientists to learn and study about ancient pottery of Vietnam in particular and the South-East Asia in general.

Address: Cam Ha, Hoi An, Quang Nam (about 2km from Hoi An Ancient Town to the west).

3. Tra Que Vegetable Village (Làng rau Trà Quế)

It is about 2km north-east from the center of Hoi An ancient town, located between De Vong River and Tra Que Swamp. This village has been famous for a long time with products of vegetable salads, fish lettuce, laksa, basil, cinnamon, onion, cilantro, etc. which are usually presented in the specialty dishes of Quang Nam such as Cao Lau, Quang noodle (My Quang), organic shrimp, pancake and so on.

Coming to this rural village, visitors will be guided on the land for cultivating the beds, fertilizing, seeding, planting vegetables and learning to make dishes from vegetable products of the village like true farmers.

Address: Cam Ha, Hoi An, Quang Nam.

4. Kim Bong Carpentry Village (Làng mộc Kim Bồng)

Kim Bong village is formerly known as Kim Bong Chau, now a large part of Cam Kim, Hoi An, Quang Nam. The village formed the famous craft named Kim Bong carpentry, located in the property bank of Thu Bon river downstream flowing through Hoi An before emptying into the sea.

Address: Nong Thon, Trung Ha, Cam Kim, Hoi An, Quang Nam.

5. Cua Dai Beach (Bãi tắm Cửa Đại)

The beach is located in Cua Dai, about 5km from Hoi An ancient town to the east. It has a length of about 3km, and it is one of the most beautiful and romantic beaches in Central Vietnam with clear blue water, gentle waves, and white sand shore running along cool green coconut forest.

The scenery is more captivating due to that behind the distant silver waves is green Cu Lao Cham Island appearing as a high and majestic screen. In the every early morning, activities of the coastal fishing village are very bustling. At night, especially on moonless nights, lights from fishing boats scattered are like falling stars. From the beach, your overlooking feels like a city of shimmering lanterns. Some nights, the silver moon vastly sparkles on sky, sea, and sand.

6. An Bang Beach (Biển An Bàng)

An Bang Beach is close to the ancient town of Hoi An approximately 3 km to the east, featuring wild beauty, stillness, and it gives visitors a sense of peace. The beach is an ideal place to rest for visitors who want to stay away from the daily noise and enjoy a day of quiet, full of private on beachfront. Not being dense with green coconut trees as Cua Dai Beach 10 km away, An Bang Beach is still naturally beautiful.

Having appeared on the list of 50 most beautiful beaches in the world by CNNGo poll in 2011, An Bang Beach becomes a famous destination in Hoi An.

Many foreign tourists have chosen this beach as a must-visit place when they are visiting Hoi An. According to the people living here, over 50% of visitors to An Bang are international tourists. "They are very glad because of light waves, blue water and sunny sky throughout the year", a local in An Bang said.

Address: Hai Ba Trung, Cam An, Hoi An, Quang Nam.

7. Cu Lao Cham (Cù Lao Chàm)

Cu Lao Cham is a cluster of islands, about 18 km from Cua Dai Beach to the east. Cham Island is an archipelago of eight small islands: Hòn Lao, Hòn Khô Mẹ, Hòn Khô Con, Hòn Tai, Hòn Dài, Hòn Mồ, Hòn Lá, Hòn Ông.Cu Lao Cham a pefect place for anyone who loves swimming, scuba-diving, parachute, and other fun beach activities.

Cham Islands are in a year-round cool climate with diverse fauna and flora, especially seafood and a valuable resource, birds nest. Coral reef in the waters of Cham Island is considered as one of the precious coral reefs of Vietnam and the region.

Nature has created many romantic and unique sceneries in Cu Lao Cham such as Suối Tình (Tinh Stream), Suối Ông (Ong Stream), Hòn Chồng, Hòn Khô, Hang Bà (Ba Cave) and many others. On the coast of the island are Bãi Ông, Bãi Bìm, Bãi Chồng, Bãi Bấc which are ideal beaches with the white sand and cool blue water.

In Hòn Lao, the largest island where residents are living, archaeological sites related to the residence of the locals 3000 years ago and the trading exchanges with Middle Eastern, India, China, Southeast Asia countries over 1,000 years ago have been found. Irrigation systems related to cultivation techniques of ancient people on the island were also detected.

More than 25 architectural and art monuments dating from the 18th century to early 20th century distributed along the western slope of Hon Lao, Bãi Làng, Bãi Hương  and they also contributed testament to history and culture of Cu Lao Cham.