Hoi An Vietnam 🇻🇳 Enchanting Beauty and Culture | ULTIMATE TRAVEL GUIDE (2024)

Ep.93 At the suggestion of our viewers, we traveled back to Vietnam to explore Hoi An. It's one of the most beautiful places we've visited, but there is more to it than what meets the eye. We take you to into some hidden alleyways, historical shops, provide tips on the best areas to stay, introduce you to amazing foods, and help you to see all facets of this city of lanterns.
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Chapters:
00:00 - Start
00:45 - Tip: Give Yourself Time to Explore
01:09 - First Impressions of Hoi An
03:39 - Why should anyone visit Hoi An?
06:09 - Where to stay in Hoi An
07:45 - Things to do in Hoi An
10:49 - Seek out the hidden alleyways
12:56 - Explore the Beaches & Rice Paddies
15:53 - Are you a night owl? Check out the Hoi An Night Life
19:23 - The food selection in Hoi An is fantastic!
28:22 - What we paid in Hoi An
31:43 - Our thoughts about Hoi An
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#findingGinaMarie #worldtraveler #worldtravel #livingthedream #slowtravel #digitalnomad #digitalnomadlife #europetravel #retireearly#retireearlyandtravel

[@FindingGinaMarie]

: 🔗 Hoi An Historical walking tour with snacks: seeyouinvietnam.com/tour-item/hoi-an-walking-tour (Let them know we sent them your way!) 👇👇👇 We have used See You In Vietnam tours in Hoi An and Saigon and have had excellent experiences on every occasion. If you're in either Saigon or Hoi An, we encourage you to use them. We make no money from recommending them, but they are passionate, knowledgeable guides who have put together truly outstanding tours. They'd love your support, and we'd love this small, local business to succeed! ♥-Judy & Kevin

[@seeyouinvietnam]

Thanks for bringing a more cultural side of Hoi An to the world. I think the town deserves more than just an 'Instagrammable town.' That's great that you were able to do slow travel here, explore some famous attractions but also have time to explore the alleys, the beach, and the rice paddies. It's kinda a one-stop-shop destination, right? You have nature, history, culture, seeing the local lifestyle and the very good food all in one place.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

You are absolutely right about this, Nguyen! And it's also a great home base to some other cities like Hue (and even Da Nang). It was such an affordable place, too. And honestly, we could have spent even more time there because there still was a lot we didn't get to. Someone here had commented about a small but interesting Portrait Museum. Thanks for everything; you truly made our trip special! -Judy

[@seeyouinvietnam]

​@@FindingGinaMarie The museum is also a very interesting private museum that focuses on the custom outfits and cultures of various ethnic minority groups in Vietnam, which is something unique. Cham's outfit is one of the displays at the museum. Interestingly, the museum is owned by a French photographer who has explored more of Vietnam's minority groups even than any local Vietnamese. I think learning about ethnic minority groups of each country is also a very niche travel approach; there are more chances to see these cultures in the mountains of North Vietnam. I have been learning some cultures, like the Mong people, Thai people which share similarities with Northern Thailand (Chiang Mai,..) Laos and Burma and Southern China. Nguyen.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

How fascinating! I agree with what you are saying about exploring ethnic minority groups. There's so much additional culture that could someday be lost if we don't learn about it and share it. Thanks for this additional insight, Nguyen. -Judy

[@nomadjim]

Great video! Hoi An is truly a beautiful town. I spent a week there last year and loved it. I will be spending a month in Da Nang later this year and plan to make another visit to Hoi An to enjoy it again. You're right about the hidden alleyways. I found some great restaurants that were quiet and peaceful with delicious food. Thanks for sharing! Safe travels!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much, Jim, for taking the time to add your comment again! Having to re-upload is so frustrating, so thank you for making it feel a little less painful! We were disappointed not to spend time in the nearby cities, but that's the perfect reason to come back again! -Judy

[@qdbodisava9210]

what a beautiful town! very nice video capturing the rich culture, cuisine and history of such a charming town! Bravo!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much! We really enjoyed Hoi An. You can see our other, more local episode away from the crowds linked below. We had an incredible three weeks there. -Judy 🎥 Hoi An Off-the-Beaten Path: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5Wmh5uOdryZbas

[@sonder007]

I grew up in Hoi An over 40 years there. It's interesting to listen to tourists perspective of my hometown.. 😂. I didn't think it was that great of a place and boring. My parents has a coffee shop just on the outskirt. We like to hang out in da nang or Nha Trang when I was younger

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thanks so much for watching. I think your perspective is like most young people. Where you've lived is either a place you love or hate. We were very eager to leave behind our hometown for greener pastures when we became adults. Of course we never took a tour to learn the deep history of where we were from or investigated the cultural significance of some places, either. We finally did this when we moved to San Francisco ten years ago and it helped our city to come alive to us. We would have loved to have made it to Da Nang and Hue (we'll put Nha Trang on our list), but that's the perk of being a full-time traveler-we can easily return without having to wait for a vacation! Here's the rest of our Vietnam series linked below (although we have one more episode coming from Hoi An this Saturday. -Judy 🎥 Vietnam video series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF0w1OZR1ZwgqGRPRMKXZaNB

[@owlscoffeecats]

Finally just got to watch your video! Fantastic as always with the culture, the scenery you show. My husband was laughing when Kevin said about the chicken "where have you been all my life?" 😆 The hidden gem coffee shop & the history you shared about the sesame dessert was so interesting. The well & water almost sounds like the start to a great book! Every video you both do just raises the bar on information & how you film it. Love all the prices you add in. Thank you for all your hard work! We both look forward to your next video! 😊

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Kevin didn't really hold back about that chicken, did he?! We had such a great and interesting time and are so glad to hear that our curiosity and insights resonate with you, too. Half the fun of travel has always been sharing it with others. Thanks so much for watching, Carolann! -Judy

[@razynh3190]

I love Vietnam. Friendliest people and tasty food, can't wait to come back this August.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

We had mixed feelings about Saigon, but overall, Vietnam has intrigued us enough to want to visit more places. Everywhere is so different, so it's hard to say you know it when there is just so much to see and explore. We hope you have an incredible time. We are looking forward to sharing our second episode from Hoi An of less touristy things to do this Saturday. Here's a link to the rest of our Vietnam series if you haven't seen it yet. -Judy 🎥 Vietnam video series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF0w1OZR1ZwgqGRPRMKXZaNB

[@N0ctjS]

Love your vids, always so relaxing

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much for watching, Kleo! We so appreciate hearing this. We have a second episode coming from Hoi A this Saturday as well. Have you seen the rest of our series from Saigon and Hanoi? It's linked if you're interested. -Judy 🎥 Vietnam video series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF0w1OZR1ZwgqGRPRMKXZaNB

[@davidj7516]

Thank you for your time and posting.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thanks so much for watching, David! -Judy

[@FG-yl3oj]

Thoroughly enjoyed this video. Beautiful scenery, nice music, great narration. 🤩 P.S. I'm getting New Orleans vibes at 3:55 mark.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much for watching! And you're right about the New Orleans vibe. There actually is a lot of French influence in Hoi An. -Judy

[@hellomynameisnancy]

Thanks for the great video! I'm visiting soon and this was super informative 😁 especially appreciated the detailed price breakdown

[@FindingGinaMarie]

So glad to know this video was helpful for you, Nancy! Have you seen our other episode from Hoi An as well? -Judy 🎥 Top 8 Amazing Things to do in Hoi An: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5Wmh5uOdryZbas And this episode just came out on Saturday: 🎥 Beyond the Postcard: Comparing Cambodia, Vietnam & Thailand: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqS0aZuui6eLoMk

[@Property2030sg]

I always have very fond memories of my trips to Vietnam, and it is really interesting to appreciate the differences between North, South and Central Vietnam. Very helpful of you to include a link to your Hoi An AirBnB, and i then read a detailed review there that you posted of your stay 😊 Do you always do reviews of AirBnB stays -- very nice of you to do that :) Are you moving on to Malaysia next ? i think Malaysia is less colourful than Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia, but it has its own gentle charms

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thanks so much for watching, Mike! We agree that there are many interesting differences between the various parts of Vietnam. We are very disappointed that we missed experiencing the Mekong Delta, and although our time in Saigon wasn't our favorite, we were encouraged enough by our time in other places that there is a lot worth exploring in Vietnam. We still want to see Da Nang, Delat, Hue, and more. Even if we don't remember to share our Airbnb, you can ask us at any time and we're always happy to share where we've stayed. We do try to leave reviews for all our hosts, although there have been a very few times that haven't been great. We try to leave notes for the host if we think there are things that they can improve, but which aren't deal breakers (e.g., replace pans where the Teflon coating is peeling, providing hand towels, etc. We try to strike the right balance in what we comment about publicly versus privately. We moved on to Taiwan and then we're headed to Busan, South Korea for the last of our time in Southeast Asia. Thank you as always for your insightful comment. We talked through the idea of Malaysia, but it did seem a little less colorful. We will be back in Southeast Asia again, so we're planning to include it in our next time in this part of the world. From our time in Japan to when we wrap in South Korea, we'll have been in various parts of Asia for seven months. -Judy

[@GlobetrotterGranny]

Absolutely beautiful!!! Looks like an amazing part of the country. Much more to my liking than the huge cities where you get lost in a sea of people. This would be an ideal spot for us to visit when we finally get to Vietnam. HAPPY EASTER!!!!!!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Yes, especially if you give yourself some time here, Rebecca. Definitely there are parts that are touristy, but there are a lot of great locals and experiences when you leave behind the people trying to sell something to you. We think you'll love our video next week! Happy Easter! -Judy

[@adsalvo]

Very informative thank you

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much for watching! We enjoyed our time in Hoi An tremendously. You might enjoy our video of the less touristy side of Hoi An as well as our other videos from Vietnam, which are linked below. -Judy 🎥 Hoi An, Vietnam Off-the-Beaten Path: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5Wmh5uOdryZbas 🎥 Vietnam video series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF0w1OZR1ZwgqGRPRMKXZaNB

[@onetexan1058]

Just watched this - LOVE your video & other videos as well! Thank u for sharing your amazing slow travel! 🤩🙌Stay safe & keep up with your vids!🙏

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much for watching! You have no idea how much it means to have you watching and encouraging us with your comment! Our latest episode from Hoi A just released if you haven't seen it. Here's a link: 🎥 Top 8 Amazing Things To Do in Hoi An 🇻🇳 Vietnam: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5Wmh5uOdryZbas And our entire series from Vietnam is here: 🎥 Vietnam video series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF0w1OZR1ZwgqGRPRMKXZaNB

[@388_days]

So glad you were able to visit Hoi An. We really enjoyed our time there, but we were only there for a couple of days. Looking forward to seeing the other areas you explored. - Chris

[@FindingGinaMarie]

We're looking forward to sharing them, Chris & Steph. We had heard everyone hype Hoi An, and we can certainly see why. But it was especially the case when we moved outside the touristy areas. Thanks for watching! -Judy

[@sroche2552]

Great and informative video again! I think the only way to really enjoy and indulge in any new places, is to spend ample time to discover, and very importantly mix and mingle with the locals. Happy that you guys are taking it easy and enjoying early retirement life how it should be! Appreciate the advices on where to stay and the budget break down. Thank you and looking forward to see and hear more:-))))

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much for watching, and you are absolutely right! Our video next week will have a lot of our interactions with locals. It's been critical for us to travel slowly, but we did a lot while we were in Hoi An and we are slow to get started here in Taiwan! Some downtime/boring times are critical for us as full-time travelers! Your comment and support mean so much to us! -Judy

[@jameswhitewater6127]

Nice low key video, you did well, perhaps next time visit Central and Ba Le markets that are lively and colorful .Enjoy Vietnam, lived here and in SE Asia about 22 years. Cheers.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thanks so much for watching, James. We do visit Tra Que organic herb gardens and then a the local village market as part of our cooking class with Red Bridge Cooking School, which we'll cover in next week's video. We also take an early morning tour that we'll share and we visit My Son Sanctuary. We hope you'll watch! How lucky you are to have lived in various parts of Southeast Asia! If you have recommendations for another trip (not in 2024, unfortunately), we'd love to know! -Judy

[@danielnormand8156]

Thank you for doing more than only showing hoi an but explaining as well.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you, Daniel, for watching and also for this nice compliment. We have a few other videos from Vietnam if you're interested in them (focusing on Saigon and Hanoi). Next week we'll be bringing you along on some local experiences we encountered on the outskirts of Hoi An. -Judy 🎥 Vietnam video series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF0w1OZR1ZwgqGRPRMKXZaNB

[@omahgroup4080]

Informative, entertaining and lovely video. Thank you so much for sharing. ❤Zeljka

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much for watching, Zeljka! Hoi An was one of the most beautiful places we've visited. And we barely scratched the surface of things to do there. We're excited to bring you part 2 next week! -Judy

[@erinaustin9968]

Beautiful! I’m taking detailed notes!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

It was a very beautiful place, and there is so much to do! -Judy

[@wizardofoz4284]

Excellent video. I loved the list in terms of how much things cost. Ciao.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

😉 Thank you so much for watching and for your kind comment! -Judy

[@passager01]

You're back in Vietnam ? interesting . Hoi An looks nice , anyway I prefer Dalat ( I have been in Dalat and especially appreciated watching the endless pinewoods in the haze ) .

[@FindingGinaMarie]

We were trying hard to keep an open mind about Vietnam after a less ideal time in Saigon, and so many viewers suggested we experience Central Vietnam that we rejiggered our plans and headed back after a month in Cambodia and 37 days in Chiang Mai. We've heard good things about Dalat as well, but we are glad that we saw Hoi An. It has such a fascinating history. We would have liked to explore more, but it gave us the incentive we needed to keep coming back to Vietnam. Thanks for watching! -Judy

[@passager01]

@@FindingGinaMarie Dalat was built in the colonial era by the french as a rest and recovery town . Located on highlands it has a mild chilly climate , some french houses and a french high school can be found .

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thanks for this additional info; we do have Dalat on our list for next time! -Judy

[@ucthonguyen685]

HELO..CHÀO TO VIỆT NAM 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 LOVE ❤❤❤❤❤

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much for watching! We are looking forward to bringing you with us next week on a few local experiences! You might want to watch our episodes from Saigon and Hanoi in the meantime! -Judy 🎥 Vietnam video series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF0w1OZR1ZwgqGRPRMKXZaNB

[@nonadeguzman8555]

Wonderful place for the money!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

You are absolutely right, Nona Deguzman! We had such a great time, and we think you'll love some of the things we did on our episode coming out next Saturday-three local experience tours that were fabulous and also affordable! Thank you so much for watching. Here's the rest of our series from Vietnam so far if you missed it. 🎥 Vietnam video series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF0w1OZR1ZwgqGRPRMKXZaNB

[@thanhthuyang9697]

❤❤❤ fr Việt Nam!!!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much for your lovely comment! You might enjoy the other two episodes from our time in Saigon and Hanoi, which are linked below. Stay tuned for our episode from Hoi An that covers three very special tours we took with locals. -Judy 🎥 Vietnam video series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF0w1OZR1ZwgqGRPRMKXZaNB

[@riverflows-vg6qq]

Hi where do you find the Xi Ma Black Sesame stall? I couldnt find it back in March. Thanks!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

We didn't go to the stall itself but to the home/restaurant. The stall is in a small corner the corner of Nguyen Trung To Street. The restaurant is at 45/17 Tran Hung Dao Street in Hoi An. It's just around the corner from Hoi A Museum of History & Culture. Have you seen our local experiences video from Hoi An? We hope you love it. -Judy 🎥 Top Amazing Local Things to do in Hoi An : kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5Wmh5uOdryZbas

[@riverflows-vg6qq]

@@FindingGinaMarie Will check it check again when i go back this later in April. Many thanks!

[@user-mv2hn6jf7i]

They paid 13 quid for 2 people for food as l see in this video like that in London restaurant is 52 quid for 2 people

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Yes, Tram. You can do a lot of cheap eating and even the fancy restaurants are pretty cheap for everything you get. We love London, but we acknowledge that it's a very expensive place. We have a video from my birthday trip to London last year if you are interested in watching! -Judy 3 Days in London, Baby! -kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIvJkIhphLqZe9U

[@ParisianThinker]

Is it ok to travel as a single retired woman?

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Hoi An is very, very safe. There are people everywhere trying to sell you something, but they are harmless. Hoi An is very clean, there's a vibrant night life, so you shouldn't have to worry about being on a dark street alone (and you'll be safe even then). "While incidents of pickpocketing, bag snatching, and scams can occur, they are not frequent." It's a great place to visit. And if you decide to spread out your travels in Vietnam, here are our insights about Saigon and Hanoi (we preferred Hanoi over Saigon). -Judy 🎥 Vietnam video series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF0w1OZR1ZwgqGRPRMKXZaNB

[@fastkillmmmm]

Beautiful vlog and very informative ! A Dong silk is my partner's favourite to get her clothes made (no affiliation whatsoever). The hustling by the vendors along the river is a big deter for me. Many thanks for sharing.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much for watching! The vendors along the river are a hassle for us, too, but the Ancient Town was so beautiful that it was worth the payoff most days. We also liked the A Bang Beach area, and although the restaurants would probably be a bit higher priced, it did have a much more chill atmosphere. What we liked best is that there is a variety of places to stay and ways to spend time that you can create your own adventure. We're excited to bring you next week's video where we have some local experiences. What a small world to encounter A Dong Silk somewhere else in the world! They really did have beautiful clothes, and I can appreciate that it's a very cool experience to basically design all your favorite features into custom-fitted garments. -Judy