S1 E49 | Journey from Da Nang to Hoi An, Vietnam and First Impressions of Hoi An Old Town

Leaving Da Nang behind, we set out on the next leg of our Vietnam journey—towards the historic town of Hoi An. Our bus was scheduled to pick us up from the Cham Museum, just a couple of kilometers away. Instead of paying for a quick ride, we decided to walk, hoping to grab a banh mi on the way. The weather was perfect—cool and breezy, a refreshing contrast to the gray drizzle of the day before.

Although there’s a public bus route between Da Nang and Hoi An, it was still suspended due to Covid regulations. That left us with slightly more expensive options, but after searching around, we found a bus for about USD 6 per person. A taxi would have cost nearly double, so this felt like the right balance between budget and comfort.

The ride took less than an hour, dropping us off near our hotel. As we walked through the streets, we were instantly greeted by rows of food stalls, cafés, and colorful signboards—a lively introduction to Hoi An. Hungry from the journey, we laughed about Shish eyeing all the snacks like a “hungry gremlin” before we finally checked in.

Our hotel room turned out to be surprisingly fancy for the price we paid—around INR 800 per night. It had a comfy bed, stylish décor, and even a partial city view. Most importantly, it was the perfect place for us to catch up on overdue video edits, a little breather after weeks of constant travel.

But food always comes first. We headed out again, this time to a small Greek restaurant tucked away in the back lanes of Hoi An’s old town. The vegetarian pita rolls stuffed with feta cheese, vegetables, and fries were so delicious that we ended up ordering seconds. With coffee and lemon juice to go along, it was exactly the meal we needed to feel settled in this new city.

Later, we wandered into a traditional Vietnamese house and marveled at its simple yet elegant architecture—tiled roofs, koi ponds, small courtyards, and connecting rooms that reflected centuries of history. It gave us our first real glimpse of why Hoi An is considered such a special destination.

Our first impressions? Hoi An felt charming, cozy, and steeped in culture. After the rush of big cities like Ho Chi Minh and Da Nang, the slower pace here promised exactly the kind of atmosphere we had been craving.