Rough Guide to Vietnam - Jan Dodd [186]
Vinh Hung I 143 Tran Phu 0510/386 1621, quanghuy.ha@dng.vnn.vn. Apart from an unbeatable location and excellent service, the highlights of this lovely old Chinese shophouse are the two superbly restored rooms upstairs complete with balcony, wood panelling, antique furniture and four-poster beds as well as tiny bathrooms; they’re in great demand, so book ahead. The other rooms, in a modern extension at the back, are decorated in traditional style but are dark and rather expensive for what you get. US$51–75
Vinh Hung II Ba Trieu 0510/386 3717, quanghuy.ha@dng.vnn.vn. This addition to the Vinh Hung empire maintains similarly high standards of service and continues the traditional Chinese theme in its more expensive rooms, while the cheaper rooms are adequate if unexciting. Facilities include a small courtyard pool, restaurant, gym and internet access. US$31–50
The central provinces | Hoi An and around | Accommodation |
Cua Dai Beach
Hai Yen 22a Cua Dai 0510/386 2445, kshaiyen@dng.vnn.vn. Once past the saccharine-pink staircase, this quiet hotel is a good choice on the road to the beach. Decent-sized, comfortable rooms come with a bathtub, and other facilities include a restaurant, internet access, bike rental and all the usual tours and ticketing services. It also has a small tropical garden and pool. US$51–75
Hoi An Beach Resort Cua Dai Beach 0510/392 7011, www.hoiantourist.com. Separated from the beach by a quiet road, this is slightly cheaper than nearby resorts. Rooms are elegant in cool, sand colours and bathrooms are generously proportioned; it’s worth paying the extra for a river-view room. Other attractions include two pools, a private beach and a restaurant recommended for its well-priced local dishes. Free shuttle bus to Hoi An. US$51–75
Palm Garden Resort Cua Dai 0510/392 7927, palmgardenresort.com.vn. This resort takes its name from the four hundred-odd trees dotting the complex; some at beachside have hammocks for lazing or cocktail-sipping. The rooms are spacious and well up to standard, while the seafood in the on-site restaurants is superb. US$151 and over
Swiss–Belhotel Golden Sand Resort Cua Dai 0510/392 7555, www.swiss-belhotel.com/hoian Aiming for a contemporary-traditional fusion, and largely getting the balance right, this resort has some of the best rooms on the strip, and by far the largest pool; little touches such as wafts of frangipani in the gardens make most stays special, though customer service is not always five-star. US$151 and over
Victoria Hoi An Resort Cua Dai Beach 0510/392 7040, www.victoriahotels-asia.com. Hoi An’s ritziest hotel, with the top-rated bungalows opening right onto a lovely stretch of beach, while the cheapest rooms occupy two-storey villas. The Victoria has all the amenities you’d expect of an international-class resort, including a restaurant serving good but expensive meals, a free shuttle bus to Hoi An and a whole range of activities (for which you pay extra). US$151 and over
The central provinces | Hoi An and around |
The Town
The historic core of Hoi An consists of just three short streets running parallel to the river. Tran Phu is the oldest and is still the principal commercial street, running from Hoi An’s most famous monument, the Japanese Covered Bridge, in the west, to the market in the east. One block south is Nguyen Thai Hoc, with a fine array of wooden townhouses, traditional pharmacists and an overspill of galleries, tailors and antique shops. Finally comes riverfront Bach Dang, site of the ferry station and a line of attractive, waterside café-restaurants. Just north of this central core is a scattering of sights, including two of the less visited merchants’ houses, that shouldn’t be overlooked.
The central provinces | Hoi An and around | The Town |
Japanese Covered Bridge
The western extremity