Hoi An Central Market, Hoi An, Bezoekersgids & wat te doen in de buurt

Hoi An Central Market is the town's main covered market, on Trần Phú street close to the Thu Bon River in the Ancient Town area of Hoi An, Vietnam. It is where locals buy fresh produce, fish, spices and dried goods, and where visitors come to eat regional dishes and watch everyday life. It is one of the liveliest places in town and the easiest way to see Hoi An as a working trading town.

The story behind it

Hoi An grew rich as a trading port on the Thu Bon River, and for centuries merchants from Vietnam, China, Japan and beyond did business along its waterfront. The market carries on that tradition of trade. Produce, seafood and household goods still change hands a short walk from the old merchant houses. The Ancient Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the market is the part of it where you see the town working rather than preserved.

The area around the market is also tied to the region's food. Dishes such as cao lầu noodles and mì Quảng are part of local eating here, and the market's food stalls are a good place to meet them.

What to look for

• The produce stalls, where vendors arrange herbs, greens, fruit and vegetables, many of which you will meet again in the dishes on local menus.
• The food hall area, where cooks serve regional noodle dishes and other local plates from their own stalls.
• The fabric and dried goods sections, a reminder that Hoi An is also known for its tailors and for traded goods.
• The river end of the market, where the pace changes and you can see how close the trading district sits to the water.

Tips for your visit

• Go in the morning if you want to see the produce and fish at their busiest, and allow about 45 minutes to an hour to wander without hurrying.
• Walking in costs nothing. You only pay for what you eat or buy, so bring small change and be ready to ask about the price before ordering or buying.
• Wear comfortable shoes, as the floors can be wet and the aisles are narrow and crowded.
• Combine it with the Ancient Town, the riverfront and the nearby streets of old shophouses, all within easy walking distance. Check current opening hours before you go.

See it on a quest

Hội An Legends: The Spirit Lantern is a good way to see the market and the streets around it. You walk to the market as one stop on a longer route through the area, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot, so you look at the stalls and lanes more closely than you would on a quick pass. There is no guide to book and no group to join, and you can start whenever you like. One ticket covers the whole group.