Vietnam conjures many images, but get ready to throw any preconceived notions out the window and step into a kaleidoscope of color: narrow streets lined with silk lanterns overhead, market stalls overflowing with fresh produce and a river seemingly alive with boats painted every shade of the rainbow. Welcome to Hoi An, Vietnam’s UNESCO treasure, and one of the most enchanting cruise destinations in Southeast Asia.
Cruise tourism to Vietnam is on the rise. Between the nearby ports of Hue and Da Nang, nearly 200,000 cruise passengers are expected in 2025 alone. While independent travelers have long made their way to Vietnam, exploring the country by cruise ship offers a unique introduction to a region that’s largely untouched by western influence.
Many shore excursions from Da Nang or Chan May (Hue) include Hoi An, located about an hour’s drive inland. The journey itself is part of the experience. What first seems chaotic quickly transforms into the fabric of life in Vietnam — friendly honk-honks fill the air as you drift along the journey.
Once in Hoi An, the first stop is usually the Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its winding streets pay homage to the city’s history as a bustling Southeast Asian trading port from the 15th through 19th centuries. Market stalls are brimming with silks, lanterns, fresh herbs and handmade crafts. Locals greet you with warm smiles, curious and welcoming.
A highlight for many visitors — and the centerpiece of my own trip — is a cooking school experience. My own tour took me to Vy’s Market Restaurant. After browsing the street market for fresh ingredients, groups make their way across the Thu Bon River, where they start the cooking class and demonstration.
Inside the school, Ms. Vy and her team welcome students and lead them through a journey of easy-to-follow instruction. The session begins with tasting some of the raw ingredients — pungent lemongrass, subtle chili, lime and familiar herbs — and learning how their flavors blend into perfectly harmonized Vietnamese cuisine. Under careful guidance, first by demonstration by Ms Vy herself, participants follow along step-by-step and prepare their own three courses: a crisp vegetable spring roll, a fresh salad complete with homemade dressing spiced participants’ liking and savory chicken satay skewers.
The experience is as much performance as it is education. You leave the class not just with a full stomach but with the confidence of a chef. Small details and a carefully crafted experience make the afternoon unforgettable. Before leaving, guests have the option of purchasing Ms. Vy’s signed cookbook, a keepsake that helps transform the day’s memories into something tangible.
After the cooking class, visitors often enjoy free time to continue exploring. Cafés along the riverfront provide the perfect vantage point to watch the bustle of life flow by, latte in hand for less than a dollar. Shopping for souvenirs and trinkets or intricately cut paper cards, or exploring some of Hoi An’s historic Temples and Pagodas. There is no wrong way to spend your remaining time before shuttling back to your ship.
What makes Hoi An remarkable isn’t just the sights — the overhead lanterns, the bustling markets or the historic architecture — it’s the imprint the city leaves on visitors. Vietnam may carry complex historical associations for some, but a day in Hoi An reveals a country that is forward-looking, vibrant and deeply welcoming.
For cruise travelers, Hoi An offers the perfect sampling of Vietnam in a single day. For those planning a longer journey, it’s a great location to make your homebase and explore nearby Hue and De Nang as well as to wander and immerse yourself in every little detail of Hoi An itself. Either way, it’s a destination that stays with you long after you’ve left — proof that travel is about more than just the places we see. It’s about the people we meet, the meals we share and the connections that make the world feel both bigger and smaller at the same time.
Cole Sjoholm
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