Interesting Attractions along Hoai River in Hoi An

Bach Dang Street

This street stretches 600 meters along the left bank of the Hoai River, from the Japanese Covered Bridge to the Hoi An Central Market. Its nothern side is the Hoi An Ancient Town world heritage area which is famous for houses with yellow walls, brown tile roof and colorful bougainvillea flowers. It’s named after ‘Bach Dang River’ where Vietnamese people defeated Chinese and Mongolian invaders many times (so it represents the history of Vietnamese people).

Within the Hoi An heritage area, Bach Dang street becomes a walking street from 9 to 11:30 AM, and 3 PM onwards everyday (see all Hoi An’s walking streets). The most peaceful time to visit and photograph is in the morning. In the afternoon and evening, it’s busy with lots of tourists, bicycles, rickshaws, vendors, and boats. In the pedestrian hours, we advise walking on the pavement, especially when going with kids (make sure that the kids won’t walk too close to the water). The reason is that rickshaws move slightly fast on Bach Dang street.

This road is a perfect place to watch the sunset and the brilliant night scene of Hoi An after that (see full list of the best sunset-seeing spots in Hoi An). For a seat, there are many restaurants, café, and bars set along the street. Many of them have a balcony opening to the Hoai River, giving such fantastic views and photo opportunities. No doubt, they can be the most romantic places to go for couples.

Along Bach Dang street, there are some tourist attractions to visit, such as the Japanese Bridge (town’s emblem), Tan Ky House (its back door), Hoi An Traditional Art Performance House (for daily shows), Museum of Folklore, the Hoi An Central Market (the oldest and biggest market in Hoi An).

An Hoi Sculpture Park

This park is by the southern side of the Hoai River, and bounded by two streets: Nguyen Phuc Chu street vs Cao Hong Lanh street. It has lots of trees, contemporary art stone sculptures, and different kinds of decorations. This public promenade is the host of festivals and events of Hoi An city, such as the Hoi An International Food Festival. See more information & details

Song Hoai Square

This 1-hectares square is by the northern side of the Hoai River, just opposite to the An Hoi Sculpture Garden & Promenade. Its name, Song Hoai means ‘Hoai River’ in Vietnamese language. It is bordered by three roads: Nguyen Du street, Cong Nu Ngoc Hoa street, and Cao Hong Lanh street.

During the day, it’s used as a parking lot for tourist cars and buses as well as taxi. At night, there are some games for children and street food vendors here. As a city square, Song Hoai Square is the hosting place for important festivals and events of Hoi An, such as Hoi An Hot Air Balloon Festival. See more information & details

Bai Choi Stage

Bai Choi is the folk game and singing of Vietnamese people living in the central coastal area of Vietnam. It’s declared to be an intangible cultural heritage of humanity by Unesco in 2017. This happens in the village and during new year/spring festivals. See more information & details

To introduce Bai Choi, the city uses the square by the Hoai River (near An Hoi Bridge) for performing or practicing it. Visitors can see some bamboo huts there, where players sit, watch and listen to singgings from artists. It’s also possible to have a seat on the ground and play with locals (by the place the artists perform).

Hoi An Central Market

This oldest and largest traditional market of Hoi An is by the confluence between the Hoai River and Thu Bon River. In the history, it was a bustling trading place and fair between locals and foreign merchants.

Today, at the Hoi An Market (Hoi An Central Market), visitors can see fresh vegetables, fishes, meats,…as well as cooked food (rice, noodles, cakes, soup, rolls, fries, sandwiches,…). In the front, on Tran Phu street, there is a well where local people can use its fresh water for drinkking, cooking & washing (still in use).

Hoi An Central Market is an awesome place to see, photograph, and even eat. You can see more information and details in https://hoiandaytrip.com/hoi-an-central-market

Hoi An Lune Center for Performing Arts

Within the Dong Hiep Park, in the western tip of the An Hoi Island, Hoi An Lune Center for Performing Arts is designed to be a full moon. It’s created totally by bamboo, so it looks impressive from outside.

On all days of the week, except Monday and Friday, ‘bamboo circus’ or Teh Dar Show is performed here at 6 PM. It received international rewards once it arrived in Hoi An city. Its theme is about the culture and life of ethnicities living in Vietnam’s central highlands (so different from any other shows in town). It’s definitely worth watching, especially when traveling with children. See more information and details

Nguyen Phuc Chu Promenade

This promenade stretches from An Hoi Bridge to Dong Hiep Park (at the end of Nguyen Phuc Chu street). It has wide walking paths, many chairs under coconut trees, and provides a perfect view to the Hoai River and the Hoi An Ancient Town. Besides coming to take a rest, visitors can hunt beautiful pictures about Hoi An, either daytime or nighttime.

During the day, Hoi An looks so stunning when visitors stand at Nguyen Phuc Chu promenade. The view is such beautiful and colorful, including yellow-wall houses with tile roofs, flowers, jade green river, wooden boats, blue sky, and lanterns. In the sunset, the town becomes picturesque, and in the evening, it’s lightful and brilliant.

Hoi An Traditional Art Performance House

This place is at 66 Bach Dang street. Visitors who buy ‘Hoi An Ancient Town entry ticket’ can use it to watch a minishow with some traditional performances here. It’s available a few times a day (closed in the evening). See more information and details

Japanese Covered Bridge

This symbolic bridge of Hoi An spans a small canal which quickly joins the Hoai River. It was built by Japanese people in the 17th century, and then restored by Chinese people. Today, besides the Japanese Bridge, local people call it ‘Pagoda Bridge’ because there is a Taoist temple behind the bridge. See more information and details

An Hoi Bridge

This small bridge spans the Hoai River, to connect the Hoi An Ancient Town world heritage area (on the left bank) with the An Hoi Island (on the right bank). It’s named after the island.

Like riverside walks, this bridge is a great spot to watch and photograph in the sunset. After the darkness, it’s great again to admire the spectacular beauty of Hoi An when it’s full of colorful lantern lights, and to see boats and lanterns floating on Hoai River. This is the reason why its nickname is ‘the bridge of lights’. An Hoi Bridge is also decorated by lanterns, making it look so lovely when seen from river banks.

In the evening, An Hoi Bridge is very busy because it’s the only way to go from the Ancient Town to the nightlife area in An Hoi Island (and vice versa). Therefore, visitors will struggle a little bit to walk on it, or find places for pictures without people. Be aware of pickpockets while going through crowds. We advise coming to An Hoi Bridge in the sunset or after 9 PM to have more spaces to photograph.

Museum of Folklore

Next to the Hoi An Traditional Art Performance House, this museum is at 62 Bach Dang street (or 33 Nguyen Thai Hoc street). It’s opened since 2005, and now, is home to nearly 500 artifacts showing visitors traditional culture of people in Hoi An. Everyday (except 20th day of the month), its opening hours are from 7 AM to 9 PM. See more information and details

Tan Ky Old House

The back door of Tan Ky Old House opens to the Hoai River (on Bach Dang street). It’s closed many hours of the day, therefore visitors should go to the main entrance to visit this heritage house (address: 110 Nguyen Thai Hoc street). In history, the owners bought it because of its location that supported a good business and conveniences (between a main road & the quay). See more information and details

The yellow wall in the back of Tan Ky Old House (by the river) is a popular photo spot. Here, female travelers and locals often wear a Vietnamese traditional long dress and a conical hat for solo pictures or with their lovers. Couples who are going to marry also come for their wedding photos. From the other side of the river, in Nguyen Phuc Chu promenade, photograph lovers can catch the moment when locals ride the bicycle across the wall (all reflected on the jade green river).

It’s needed to walk across the road in the afternoon/evening when many rickshaws move.