Things to Know Before Visiting Hoi An: Travel Tips for First-Time Visitors
Hoi An is one of Vietnam’s most visited destinations, and for good reason. It’s easy to explore, easy to fall in love with, and easy to get wrong if you don’t know what you’re walking into. These Hoi An travel tips for first-time visitors come from spending nine days in the town, well beyond the […]
Hoi An River Boat Ride: 2026 Prices, Times & Complete Guide
The Thu Bon River is the heart of Hoi An after dark. Colorful wooden boats drift past lantern-lined banks, and for most visitors, taking a Hoi An river boat ride becomes one of the defining memories of their stay. But is it actually worth the money, or just a well-photographed tourist ritual? This guide covers […]
Best Day Trip From Hoi An: Khe Tan Reservoir (2026 Guide)
Most visitors spend all their time in Hoi An’s Ancient Town. Lanterns, the river, the Japanese Covered Bridge, and not much beyond that. If you’re staying more than a couple of days, one of the best day trip from Hoi An is waiting just past the town limits. Khe Tan Reservoir was one of my […]
Hidden Places in Hoi An: 5 Spots Beyond the Old Town
Most visitors to Hoi An spend one or two days walking the Ancient Town, taking photos of the lanterns, and moving on to the next city on their route. I stayed nine days. And somewhere around day four, I started riding out past the edge of the Old Town to see what was actually out […]
Hoi An Travel Guide for Slow Travelers 2026: Beyond the Lanterns
Most people spend one or two days in Hoi An before moving on to their next destination. I stayed for nine. That extra time completely changed how I experienced the city. Beyond the lantern-lit streets and popular attractions, I found quiet mornings, rice fields on the edge of town, a reservoir nobody talks about, and […]
Vietnam Sleeper Bus Tips 2026: Things I Wish I Knew Before My First Ride
During my 50 days traveling across Vietnam, I used sleeper buses for almost every single long-distance journey. Hanoi to Sapa. Sapa back to Hanoi. Ninh Binh to Hue. Hue to Hoi An. Hoi An to Da Lat. Da Lat to Ho Chi Minh City. These Vietnam sleeper bus tips aren’t pulled from a generic travel […]
How to Get from Da Nang Airport to Hoi An (2026 Prices & Tips)
Hoi An doesn’t have an airport. The nearest one is Da Nang International Airport, about 30 kilometers away. Getting from Da Nang Airport to Hoi An is one of the most common transfer questions in central Vietnam. And the good news is it’s one of the easiest. The route is short, well-served, and affordable regardless […]
Hue Travel Guide for Slow Travel: 5 Days Beyond the Imperial City
Most travel guides for Hue spend 80 percent of their time on the Imperial City. This one won’t. Not because the Imperial City isn’t worth seeing, it is, but because that section of every Hue travel guide already exists in abundance. What doesn’t exist is a guide for the version of Hue that opens up […]
Ninh Binh During Tet (2026): What to Expect During Vietnam’s Biggest Holiday
Visiting Ninh Binh during Tet changed my trip in ways I never expected. I planned to stay 4 or 5 days. I ended up staying 11. Not by choice. But because Tet shut down transport, closed most restaurants, and turned the entire region into something completely different from what I’d planned for. Was it frustrating? […]
How to Spend One Day in Tam Coc, Vietnam (2026): A Relaxed Travel Itinerary
Wondering how to spend one day in Tam Coc? You’re not alone. Most guides pack your day with every tourist attraction. Rush you from one spot to the next. And leave no time to actually experience the place. I spent a full day exploring Tam Coc during my 11-day stay in Ninh Binh. No schedule. […]