Da Nang and Hoi An Travelogue: Staying at the Royal Hoi An Hotel and the Charm of the Old Town
As part of my plan for a mini-migration after turning 70, I went on a nine-day trip to Da Nang and Hoi An, Vietnam, in June. I stayed at the Royal Hoi An Hotel, which I had been particularly interested in, and once again enjoyed the vibrancy and food culture of the Old Town. I will introduce the details of that trip here.
I checked into the Royal Hoi An Hotel as the third hotel of this trip. Although I finished checking in early, I was told the room wouldn't be ready until after 2:00 PM, so I went out for lunch first.
Vietnamese Restaurant: BOI COM
The restaurant 'Boi Com' that I visited after checking into the hotel has a name that implies serving rice in a bowl, and the interior is stylish. It was a cozy, local-feeling place filled with local women and families. The food was delicious, and I was particularly satisfied with the wide selection of drinks.
Hotel: Royal Hoi An Hotel
Introduction to the hotel room
Room 516, where I stayed, was a simple twin-bed setup, fully equipped with a bathroom including a bathtub, a shower, and a toilet. There was also a luggage storage area, and the space was calm overall. The hotel is located in a convenient spot near the center of Hoi An, just at the limit of where cars can enter.
A moment at the hotel bar
I visited the bar on the 8th floor of the hotel, drawn by the happy hour starting at 6:00 PM. With a great view and a quiet atmosphere, I relaxed with a drink and soothed the fatigue of my travels. The entrance to the bar was a bit hard to find, looking like an emergency exit, but it was a fresh experience even on my second visit.
Japanese Restaurant: Wakaku Restaurant
The izakaya with a female chef I visited previously served authentic Japanese food, but the Japanese restaurant 'WAKAKU' inside the hotel that I visited this time, while having a nice atmosphere, was more of a 'pseudo-Japanese' place. Even so, the selection of drinks was not bad, and they served hot tea, so I was able to enjoy the Japanese atmosphere.
Restaurant: LEMONGRASS RESTAURANT HỘI AN
For lunch the next day, I visited 'Lemongrass Restaurant,' which is highly rated in the Hoi An Old Town, for the first time. It has a high rating of 4.7 on Google, so I chose it with high expectations. Because of the heat, I refrained from alcohol and toasted with a cola. I ordered the banana flower salad and a beef dish, and everything was delicious.
Restaurant: Grandma Kitchen
In the evening, we headed to Grandma Kitchen, also known as the "Grandma's restaurant." While the Ancient Town is hot and quiet during the day, the temperature drops after sunset, and it becomes bustling with many tourists and locals. Since the area is closed to cars, we walked from the parking lot to the center of the Ancient Town.
The Charm of Hoi An Ancient Town at Night and the Japanese Covered Bridge
Around 7:00 PM, the number of people in the Ancient Town, which had been deserted during the day, surged. In particular, the Japanese Covered Bridge, which had just finished repairs, was reopened after more than a year of restoration work and was visited by many tourists. Previously, there were many water hyacinths floating in the river, but they were not visible on this day, and lanterns were floating in the quiet night view.
Enjoying a night boat trip
After dinner, we took a boat ride on the river for the first time in a while. Feeling the gentle night breeze, we leisurely enjoyed the night view of Hoi An. The fare was about 170,000 VND, and it is recommended as a reasonable nighttime activity.
A drink near the hotel and a pizza oven experience
On the way back to the hotel, thinking it was too early to sleep, we had a gin and tonic at a nearby bar. The pizza oven we saw there was a commercial one powered by gas, and we were able to enjoy watching the pizza being baked up close. Finding such small discoveries at the end of a trip is one of the real pleasures of traveling.
Summary
June in Da Nang and Hoi An marks the beginning of the dry season, a time when there is little rain and you can fully enjoy the tropical weather. In particular, the vibrancy of the Hoi An Ancient Town remains unchanged, showing different expressions during the day and night. On this trip, we stayed at Hotel Royal Hoi An and fully enjoyed the local food culture, evening strolls, and river cruises. It was a trip that made me realize once again that I like Hoi An more than Da Nang.
For those considering moving to or staying long-term in Da Nang or Hoi An, I hope you will experience the charm of this area. I will continue to collect information on hotels and restaurants in Da Nang and Hoi An, so I hope it will be useful for your relocation plans or travels.