Hoi An Food Adventure
Hoi An, Vietnam
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Get ready, because Hoi An is about to charm the pants off you. Its secret weapon? Food. Unlock the flavours of the Old Town bite by bite, digging in everywhere you look and discovering unforgettable tastes at every turn. Vietnamese food faves at a family-run restaurant. Let’s go!
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Highlights
- Eat your way through Hoi An, local style
- Discover hidden local food spots off the tourist trail
- Venture into the Old Town’s maze of alleys and bustling markets in search of tasty treats
- Explore Hoi An’s unique food culture through its best dishes
- Enjoy the spectacular night view of the Japanese covered bridge while enjoying a local drink at a riverfront cafe
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Schedule details
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Meeting point:
Hoian Urban Adventure Office, 24 Nguyen Hue street, Hoian Old Town (Opposite Hoian Museum of History and Culture)
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 5.00 PM
- Ending point:
Local Café – Japanese Covered Bridge, Old Town
Language: English
Discover the Old Town of Hoi An after the sun has gone down – not only is it the best way to escape the midday heat, it’s also the perfect excuse to dig in to its tasty street food scene!
Our Hoi An food tour starts around sunset, and will walk you through local cafes, food stalls, markets, and restaurants, giving you a filling food adventure for the memory books.
First up – a local bakery that has been making the tastiest banh mi in town for over twenty years. They use the freshest local ingredients and are famous for their banh mi, a scrumptious sandwich that will fire up your taste buds and get them ready for the flavours ahead!
From one local fave to another, next we’ll join locals at a small eatery, taking a seat on the ubiquitous small plastic chairs and sampling hot and crunchy banh can crackers. Served with quail eggs, pork, and a tasty salad, this dish is one of the highlights of the local food scene and an absolute must-devour.
Our food tour of Hoi An continues into the atmospheric heart of the city as we head straight for the central market. What awaits us there are hundreds of street hawkers and food stalls selling a staggering array of local produce, including fresh noodles, sweet jelly, seasonal fruits, and live seafood. Your knowledgeable local guide will walk you through the colourful array of ingredients, filling you in on the most popular dishes in Hoi An and the significance of these foods to the traditional culture of central Vietnam.
From here, we’ll dig even deeper into the local food scene, passing through a maze of tiny alleys to emerge at one of our fave (secret) restaurants in Hoi An, where we’ll sample two of Hoi An’s specialties: deep fried wonton and white rose dumplings.
Believe it or not, there’s more food to come, so we’ll take a little break to visit a thousand-year-old well that supplies locals with clean, plentiful water all year round. It’s considered by locals to be the best water with which to make cao lau, a noodle dish that originated in Hoi An.
But enough of that – time for more food! Our Hoi An food tour continues at a vegetarian restaurant, where a buffet of fresh food awaits. Be sure to save space, though, as we still have mussel salad waiting for us at another local spot, followed by a real treat: it cake for dessert in a local’s home. Sweet, non?!
We’ll finish our Hoi An food adventure at a local café near the iconic Japanese covered bridge, which is the perfect spot to conclude our culinary escapades. Top off the tour with a Vietnamese coffee or beer, take in the gentle pace of our beloved Hoi An, and reflect on your fave dishes of the evening (if you can pick!).
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Additional information
Child Policy: Children must be 6 years of age to 11 years inclusively. Children below the age of 6 are not permitted on this tour.
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Local contact
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