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No Wonder Hoi An is So Loved

02/28/2014 by Kristin 22 Comments

Hoi An is one of those towns in Southeast Asia that I constantly heard about before arriving.  I’d been told it was pretty, quaint, and a great place to get anything I could want custom made.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hoi An has a reputation for being a favorite place to eat amazing food, dance all night, admire the beauty, and get amazing custom dresses, suits, and shoes. Some people even get their wedding dresses made there!

As if that wasn’t enough, it’s also located on the beach, which always draws me in.

Could this be a new home for me for a while? I’m thinking it’s highly possible I’ll return and stay.  This is why:

Hoi An is Beautiful!

hoi an custom boots
One of the walking streets

A town of just the right size, easily bikeable from one end to the other, it’s quaint without being too small.

The charm of this city can be seen just about anywhere, from the small and narrow streets to the canal that runs through it.

hoi an custom boots
Such a stunning sunset

Beyond that, the surrounding area is wonderful to motorbike through.

I still hold the opinion that the prettiest part of Vietnam must be the middle. But I’m biased. I fell pretty hard in love with this part of the country.

Wats galore!

hoi an custom boots
Free to visit during Tet!

There are Chinese-style temples all over the city, easy to access with a bicycle or by foot.

Each one has its own unique style and beauty.  Spending a couple hours checking these out and admiring the intricate designs while watching in calm silence as devout followers hold onto sticks of incense was a great way to appreciate Hoi An’s offerings.

It was particularly special because I was there over lunar new year, so the temples were free to visit and buzzing with activity.

hoi an custom boots
A very cool fountain at one of the temples
hoi an custom boots
Lovely during the sunset
hoi an custom boots
Spirals of incense along the ceiling

Cheap customs

Most people get a suit or dress made when in Hoi An, but I had something entirely different in mind.  I wanted high quality leather custom boots. I realized around Tet (lunar new year) this would not be easy, so I searched high and low before selecting a very small shop with an adorable owner whose husband made the shoes.

I selected everything about the shoes from the color to the style, laces, extra buckle on the back, added zipper, height, and heel (or lack thereof, I’m already tall enough in this part of the world!).

In order to get the best product made, I suggest checking out TripAdvisor reviews and shopping around at different places.  Check the craftsmanship and the soles of the shoes.  Pick an owner you feel good about working with rather than someone who is pushing a sale on you and making you uncomfortable. There are plenty of fish in the Hoi An sea!

I was able to get mine made in just one day for $50, right around the new year.  I was pretty proud of that! (I’m hesitant to recommend my shop because I’m still testing the shoes out – if they stand the test of time, I’ll be happy to share the shop name.)

Hoi An is a special place, indeed. I very much look forward to going back one day.

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I'm Kristin, and my vision of a better world is one where more women are empowered and living out their dreams. Solo traveling is the best method I've found to become the best, bravest version of me. This site is all about how YOU can have the adventure of a lifetime in an easy, fun, approachable way, so that you can feel empowered, too. Want to learn more about me?

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Comments

  1. Steph (@ 20 Years Hence) says

    02/28/2014 at 7:33 pm

    I think that there’s a mistake with the latter half of this post: Everything from Getting There and on seems to actually be about Tiger Leaping Gorge or something in China, rather than Hoi An!

    I actually have to say that Hoi An was not my favorite place in Vietnam, despite all the love it gets from travelers. I found it overly crowded (in Vietnam that is saying something!) and very touristy, like something manufactured for foreigners who can’t really handle the rest of Vietnam.It had charming bits, certainly, but to me it seems like the city revolves around simply trying to get people to buy bespoke clothing and shoes. Certainly there are worse fates for a vacation, but I much preferred Hue a few hours to the north.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      03/01/2014 at 1:01 am

      OMG. Fail. I didn’t love Hue but I was there at the apex of Tet and everything was closed. Can’t make much of a judgement.

      Reply
  2. Jenny says

    03/01/2014 at 12:40 am

    That sunset photo is stunning! I am headed to Vietnam in a few weeks and am looking forward to seeing both Hoi An and Hue so that I can weigh in. Love the dilemma of having two cities close together that people love to choose between. I have to admit I have been having some trouble replacing some of my clothes that i’ve worn out from constant wearings in SE Asia. Many times when I stop to look at a pair of shorts or something that I like the owner of the shop will hurry over to let me know (loudly) that I am too big for any of the clothes in her shop. Looking forward to getting something tailor-made in Hoi An.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      03/01/2014 at 1:00 am

      Thanks! It’s my favorite one I’ve taken so far this year. Unfortunately things like dresses and pants aren’t THAT cheap but still nice if you can’t find stuff that fits right in Asia (I usually can’t either! Shoes are too small and pants are too short!)

      Reply
  3. Ruth says

    03/01/2014 at 12:43 pm

    No wonder you love this place. It looks stunning. I knew the town was famous because of its tailors but I didn’t know they were in the shoe business too. Good to know.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      03/02/2014 at 3:04 am

      I’m a shoe girl so I had to find out!

      Reply
  4. Helen says

    03/03/2014 at 1:36 pm

    I looooooved Hoi An. Such a lovely place.

    Your photos are so lovely too. Really capture the beauty of the place!

    Keep having fun lovely!

    x

    Reply
  5. Go Find Yourself Travel says

    03/11/2014 at 2:28 pm

    Love your photos! The HDR effect really adds so much depth to the photo!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      03/11/2014 at 9:54 pm

      Thanks so much! That’s actually not HDR, though 🙂

      Reply
  6. Daphnee says

    04/21/2014 at 6:53 am

    Love your blog! It’s been a great guide for our trip in Southeast Asia. Heading to Hoi An in a couple days and were wondering how your shoes were holding on. If you still like them, can you please share the name and location? Thanks for all your help, it’s been a pleasure to read you! -daphnee

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      05/05/2014 at 1:23 am

      The leather isn’t very good quality. I love everything else about them but I’ll be searching for different materials when I go back.

      Reply
  7. Liza says

    05/30/2014 at 5:29 pm

    I agree, I really enjoyed my time in Hoi An. I was there around the summer solstice and they had an amazing food festival as well. Well done on the shoe choice, I got a dress for around $15 but it soon tattered away after the many handwashing loads it endured while I was backpacking. Hoi An and Vietnam in general was one of my favorite places despite the mixed reviews. Great blog, inspired me to get back on my own blog when I am backpacking again!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      05/31/2014 at 3:04 am

      I loved Vietnam despite the mixed reviews as well. It’s the mixed reviews places I usually love the most, actually!

      Reply
  8. Tania says

    06/30/2014 at 7:34 pm

    I love your photos! You mentioned that they aren’t HDR, do you edit them? Or is that just the quality of your camera? 🙂

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      07/01/2014 at 2:54 am

      Thank you! I do edit them. I wrote about how I take my photos here: https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/how-to-take-travel-photos/ 🙂

      Reply
  9. Kahleel says

    10/17/2014 at 7:50 am

    I love that photo! I’ll be in Vietnam in December and really wanted to go to Hoi An but was afraid that the weather would be bad because of the time of the year. Too bad bc I’ve heard it’t beautiful.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      10/18/2014 at 3:46 pm

      December is the best time of year in Southeast Asia. What weather were you worried about?

      Reply
  10. Melissa says

    02/19/2015 at 4:31 am

    I LOVE hoi an!! It was my favourite part of my trip to Da Nang, and I actually blogged about it too! (https://gutsyadventures.wordpress.com/2014/11/22/the-ancient-town-left-untouched/)

    I love the streets at night and even with all the tourists, it was like entering another world from the normal streets. ^^

    Reply
  11. Serendipity Tess says

    02/20/2015 at 9:45 am

    HOI AN. I’ve just spent only a few days there. OMG. I’m in love. One of my most favourite places I have ever been to. And I didn’t know you could get shoes done – should I ever settle down (because I live in Flip Flops…it’s all I wear), I would come back to have a pair of boots done for myself. 🙂

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      02/20/2015 at 9:46 am

      I was excited about getting shoes made! I like clothes but I LOVE SHOES.

      Reply
  12. Rachel says

    03/12/2019 at 11:06 am

    Hi! I’m going to hoi an next month and would LOVE custom made shoes done, do you mind sharing the name of the shop?

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      03/13/2019 at 11:44 am

      I can’t remember anymore however there are tons of them! Pick the one that has a style and material you like.

      Reply

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