During your Hoi An travel journey, besides visiting some well-known tourist landmarks and releasing paper lanterns on the romantic Hoai River, wandering around Hoi An Market should be one of the top activities on your vacation itinerary. Here, you can savor the delicious local cuisine, admire the charming French architecture of the market, and gain a better insight into the daily life of the locals.
1. About Hoi An Market - a well-known destination for tourists
- Location: No. 19, Tran Phu Street, Cam Chau Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province
- Opening hours: 6.00 am - 9.00 pm
1.1. History
During the 16th - 19th centuries, Hoi An was one of the most bustling trading centers for Chinese, Japanese, and Western merchants in Southeast Asia. Until the early 18th century, Hoi An Market was a distribution hub of foreign products. At first, the market was built near Ong Voi communal house before being moved to the area near Bach Dang River, where it is expanded as it is now.
1.2. Architecture
Being built during the French colonial period in Vietnam, Hoi An Market, similar to other constructions in Hoi An Ancient Town, takes on the impressive elements of French architecture with yellow painted walls, arched entrances and windows, and ornate columns. The market is divided into different areas for fresh seafood, vegetables and fruits, and souvenirs so that visitors can easily find what they want when visiting the market.
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2. What to eat at Hoi An Market to fill up your stomach?
Being widely regarded as a culinary paradise in Hoi An, Hoi An Market attracts thousands of tourists annually thanks to numerous delectable dishes that this market offers. Here are 7 must-try dishes that you should enjoy when visiting the market:
2.1. Stir-fried baby clams with sesame rice crackers
Stir-fried baby clams with sesame rice crackers, which originated in Central Vietnam, is an authentic dish best enjoyed with beer. The special combination between delicate baby clams and crispy Vietnamese sesame rice crackers is the highlight of the dish. Baby clams are stirred with a handful of dry onions, garlic cloves, lemongrass, ginger, chili pepper, and Vietnamese coriander.
2.2. White rose dumplings
Hoi An dumplings are lovingly referred to as "white rose dumplings" by diners because of their delicate and rose-like shape. Each white rose dumpling is meticulously prepared, with the outside covered with a rice wrapper and the inside filled with rustic Vietnamese delicacies, such as shrimp, pork, and wood ear.
2.3. Cao lau
Cao lau is a signature dish of Hoi An that consists of yellow noodles, thinly sliced roasted pork (char siu), shrimp, greens, bean sprouts, croutons, and an aromatic broth. Cao Lau noodles are meticulously made from the local sticky rice and sliced before being cooked three times using firewood. The pork of this special dish is marinated with star anise and cassia bark before being stir-fried. In order to enhance the flavor of cao lau, you should enjoy it with lots of herbs and vegetables.
2.4. Quang noodles
Quang noodles, a delectable Vietnamese staple, are made of flat and yellow noodles that are served with savory beef broth and fresh vegetables and herbs, such as banana blossoms, lettuce, cilantro, scallions, and Vietnamese coriander. The toppings are pork belly, chicken, shrimp, fish, boiled eggs, roasted peanuts, and fish crackers.
2.5. Pancakes
Vietnamese pancake (banh xeo in Vietnamese) is a popular stuffed rice pancake in Central Vietnam. The outer layer of banh xeo is made of rice flour, water, and turmeric powder while the fillings are pork, shrimp, mung beans, onions, and bean sprouts. You can enjoy Vietnamese pancakes by wrapping them in veggies before dipping them in a flavourful sauce.
2.6. Steamed rice rolls with grilled pork
Steamed rice rolls with grilled pork (banh cuon in Vietnamese) is a popular dish for breakfast in the central region of Vietnam. The rice used for banh cuon must be of the best quality. The pork is lightly seasoned before being grilled. This dish is served with fish sauce and fresh herbs such as lettuce, fresh mint, and bean sprouts.
2.7. Dap cakes
Dap cake can be considered the simplest dish of Hoi An's cuisine. It is made up of two pieces of rice paper folded together like a sandwich. To enjoy this dish, you should dip it into a sauce made of fish sauce, dry onions, and chili.
>>> Read more: 13 irresistible Hoi An street foods that will awaken your taste buds
3. Notes the best tips for your excursion to Hoi An Market
- There are numerous stalls offering special and meticulously made souvenirs in Hoi An Market
- Don’t forget to take pictures
- Check the prices carefully
- Mind your personal belongings
- Bring some medicines in case of food allergies
- Check the weather forecast beforehand
- Wear sneakers or sandals for the most convenience
Besides Hoi An Market, tourists should also visit Hoi An night market and many other markets in Hoi An such as Thanh Ha Fish Market, Nguyen Hoang Night Market, etc.
As the ancient town is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Vietnam, there is a wide range of Hoi An hotels and resorts for you to choose from. It is recommended that you stay at Vinpearl Resort & Spa Hoi An and Vinpearl Resort & Golf Nam Hoi An to enjoy high-quality services and luxury facilities!
- Vinpearl Resort & Spa Hoi An is located on the gorgeous Cua Dai Beach, which is only a 10-minute-ride away from the ancient town. This resort offers visitors fancy hotel rooms and villas designed in charming Mediterranean architecture, along with a multitude of high-end services, such as spa, tennis court, and swimming pool.
- You can also spend your holiday at Vinpearl Resort & Golf Nam Hoi An, which is in the shape of a giant sail facing the 1.3-kilometer-long pristine Binh Minh Beach. This is a masterpiece that harmonizes a contemporary architectural style and the beauty of nature.
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Hoi An Market, one of the most beautiful and bustling markets in Hoi An, is a paradise for food lovers and shopaholics thanks to the wide variety of exquisite dishes and appealing products. If you are planning to visit Hoi An on your next holiday, don’t forget to include this attraction in your itinerary!
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