the blog
It’s the perfect little city for vacation goers or travelers. You’ve got the beach (which was way nicer than I expected), surrounding mountains, neighboring city – Danang, and the adorable old town of Hoi An.
After much research, Nate and I knew we had little interest in the south of Vietnam. Our “must visits” were Sapa, Hanoi, Cat Ba Island, Hoi An, and Danang. But we needed to choose one location to stay for an extended period of time. And I am so grateful we chose Hoi An.
We’d heard from others that it was smaller and quainter than Danang and that it had a garden feel to it. We LOVED it.
Straight out the gate, we stayed at the Orchid Garden Villas and I would highly recommend it to anyone. The staff were amazing, and it is a bit outside of the old town, away from the hustle and bustle. Although I would probably opt to stay closer to old town if you’re only in Hoi An for a few days.
Wake up – 8am, be to Rosie’s Cafe right when it opens (9am at the time).
Order avo toast, a latte and a fresh juice mixture (their juices are to die for – not overly sweet, very fresh).
The second photo shows our baristas; and a photo they took of Nate and I on our second to last day in Hoi An, upon their request. It will forever be one of my favorite photos.
Villa, work and workout.
After breakfast, we normally went back to the villa to catch some rays by the pool from 10-12. I would work by the pool, then we’d head to Cong Manh Fitness Gym to get a workout in, and head to lunch at the Dingo Cafe.
Dingo was definitely more expensive than other places but it had air conditioning and amazing wifi. So that was worth it. And it was about 100 yards from our Villa.
If we didn’t go to the Dingo, we’d hit up Phi Banh Mi or the Banh Mi Queen. Both had amazing banh mi sandwiches.
Dinner at Xuo Pho.
We ate here almost every day. I still stand by Hanoi for having the best Pho we tasted in Vietnam. But Pho Xua in old town is definitely the best pho in Hoi An. We’d get two large bowls and two Tiger Beers, then head home for the night.
While in Hoi An we frequented Danang and went on several road trips. There is so much to do around the city – which made it great for a longer stay.
If you come to Hoi An, definitely visit Old town, head over to Danang, stop by Marble Mountain, and hit up the beach.
You could see everything in these photos in one day alone, or spread it out over weeks. Either way, Hoi An is a must visit if you’re venturing to Vietnam. It is truly like nowhere else in the country. A quaint, Chinatown-esque city with plenty to do and see.
Want to visit Hoi An, Vietnam? Pin this post for later!
Join my mailing list for weekly blog and podcast updates. You may or may not get VIP discounts as well. Just saying. Join the fam.
I'm an adventurous introvert from Vancouver, Washington who lives on sleep + "me time." I'm a lover of lifting weights, dinosaurs, real talk and traveling with my husband. I am here to help you move better, lift more, bust the myths of the fitness industry, and inspire you to love the process.
You love my style, trust my reviews, and want more Annie Miller Concepts vibes in your life? Shop my favorite brands. You get awesome products and yours truly gets a little kick-back.