Travel guide: Best Things To Know Before Visiting Hoi An

If you're planning a visit to Vietnam, here are some helpful notes for exploring Hoi An Ancient Town.

Regarding Vietnamese currency

Regarding Vietnamese currency, currently, there are nine denominations: 1000VND, 2000VND, 5000VND, 10.000VND, 20.000VND, 50.000VND, 100,000VND, 200.000VND, and 500.000VND.

The denominations of 1,000, 2,000, and 5,000 are made of paper material, while the remaining denominations are made of polymer material.

When using them, please pay attention to the following issues. In low-light conditions, the denominations of 10,000 and 200.000VND / 20.000VNDand 500.000VND / 100.000 and 500.000VND may appear similar.

Additionally, according to cultural beliefs, we have another type of currency called "Vietnamese spirit money - Tiền Âm Phủ." It is used for special occasions and can closely resemble real currency if not observed carefully. It has no value to buy any things. Normally, we burn it after worship.

When exchanging currency in public places with a large crowd, it is important not to rush and to pay attention to the size of the banknotes, the number, color, and the material. Vietnamese banknotes are made of polymer, and the size is proportional to the denomination of the currency.

Approaching People

When you come to Hoi An, you will encounter various types of people approaching you for different purposes, either good or not good.

Friendly People:

This is a common type of person who approaches you, engaging in casual conversation due to their friendly and hospitable nature. Sometimes, it could be because you have an impressive height, healthy skin, or a beautiful nose or eyes. It could even be because of your adorable children

Naturally, when we see someone beautiful, we often express admiration and compliments. Usually, they will come up to you, look at you, and praise you... perhaps in Vietnamese, as many people may not speak English. In such cases, they will try to use body language, seek help from someone who knows English for translation, or use Google Translate or language translation apps to make you understand what they are trying to convey.

People Who Want to Improve Their English/Other Languages:

The fastest way to become proficient in a foreign language is to practice communication with native speakers. So if you happen to meet these people, just be friendly. Even Janny, at one point, spent time strolling around the Old Town, seeking opportunities to practice English. Haha.

There's nothing more wonderful than someone from another country loving and making an effort to learn our language, right? For Janny, it's a great joy when international friends can speak Vietnamese.

People Needing Your Support:

These could be KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders), photographers, journalists, marketers, and others who approach you for interviews, filming, photography, or quick tests. I don't think this will be too difficult for you, right?

People Approaching You for Help:

When you travel in Vietnam and unfortunately encounter issues with your transportation, if you're lucky enough to meet good people, they will not hesitate to help you without any reason.

People Seeking Prey:

You will encounter some individuals who initially approach you in a friendly and enthusiastic manner, recommending places where you can find good tailors, and then they will lead you to the recommended shops. However, sometimes you will come across shops of good quality, and sometimes not... and you often end up paying a higher price than usual, covering the cost of their guidance.

If, unfortunately, you encounter a low-quality shop, there will be no one taking responsibility or assisting you.

You can proactively find reputable tailors through recommendations from friends or reliable travel websites before coming to Hoi An. Alternatively, you can seek support from receptionists, customer service staff, or sales personnel at your accommodation. This will help you avoid unpleasant experiences that could negatively impact your trip and your family.

Nightlife

If you love bars and are a party person, here are some things to avoid.

Avoid excessive stimulants, strong alcohol, beer, etc. at night bars. Make sure you can control your behavior and avoid regrettable situations.

Do not carry too many valuable items, jewelry, etc. when going to bars at night.

Only use reputable taxi services to return to your hotel if you leave the bar late at night.

To ensure a safe and healthy trip, you should limit late-night entertainment after 10 pm. It is safer to enjoy drinks at your accommodation at night.

Read more:  Where to drink in Hoi An

Sounds

When traveling in Vietnam, some strange sounds may bother you. Janny shares this and hopes that international readers can understand and be more understanding of the geographical and cultural differences in Vietnam.

It may be a bit inconvenient, but it is the real Vietnam that has not been greatly influenced by the overall development of the world.

Sounds of roosters crowing, birds, music, and local loudspeakers:

In rural areas, people raise livestock and poultry for their livelihood and economic support. People start working in the fields early, sometimes as early as 4 am. The sound of roosters and the sound from the local loudspeakers in the early morning is like an alarm clock. Working in the garden while listening to current news on the radio is a common habit of farmers in rural areas.

Sounds of morning or nighttime vendors:

These are street vendors whose main products are breakfast food, snacks, or late-night food. Similar to ice cream trucks in your country. However, perhaps due to operating during very early or late hours of the day, this somewhat affects the sleep of tourists.

Karaoke, Weddings, Funerals...

Karaoke:

In Vietnam, the hobby of singing karaoke is an essential cultural aspect. People can sing at any time of the day, any time of the year, whether they are sad or happy. As long as they feel like it, they will sing. For an average person's energy level, they can sing for about 2 to 3 hours.

If it's a gathering with friends or family, and the number of participants increases, the time will also extend. It can last for 5 to 6 hours. Occasionally, there are exceptional cases where people sing from morning to evening. If they sing while intoxicated, their voices may be slightly less pleasant to listen to.

However, if locals encounter you at that moment, they will invite you to join without hesitation. During Janny's time working in the tourism industry, I have experienced many interesting situations.

Once, while Janny was accompanying three Australian guests on a local tour, they happened to pass by a nearby house where people were singing karaoke loudly and terribly. Through their singing, I and my companions could gauge how intoxicated they were. Haha. The guests asked Janny what was happening, and what were they doing.

Janny explained, and then we passed by the house where people were singing karaoke. Janny asked why they were singing karaoke so passionately today. It turned out that the homeowner's daughter had just passed her university entrance exam, and the family was celebrating. So, the father invited all four of us to join in, singing together, enjoying delicious food, and celebrating with the family, even though we only chatted for a few minutes. That's when you truly realize how friendly and hospitable Vietnamese people are.

Special occasions:

Weddings:

In Vietnam, weddings also feature live music. The time can be from noon, starting at 10 am until 1 pm, or from 4:30 pm to 9 pm. Another story that Janny is about to share is when I was with two German female friends. We happened to pass by a wedding where the bride and groom were greeting guests at the entrance.

They noticed us standing and watching, taking pictures and videos. The bride saw and came over to ask what we were doing. Janny shared that I was explaining Vietnamese wedding culture to my friends. The bride then kindly invited all three of us to attend her wedding without needing any formal invitation. She said that to truly understand the culture, you have to experience it firsthand. We were very happy afterward.

Even though the two German friends didn't understand Vietnamese, and most of the guests didn't understand English, they tried to perform a song in English to congratulate the couple. The song they chose was "Happy Birthday." You might wonder why they chose a birthday song for a wedding party. The reason is that everyone in the world may not understand English, but they will feel familiar with and understand the happy birthday song, right?

In Vietnamese wedding culture, guests who are invited are expected to bring wedding gifts. These gifts can be money or valuable jewelry. If you are fortunate enough to be invited by a Vietnamese bride and groom, don't forget to bring some lucky money. For today, in Hoi An, a suitable amount for a guest who is a friend is 500,000 VND.

The amount of the gift may vary depending on the location of the reception, the level of familiarity, and the region.

Funerals:

In funerals, the activities vary depending on the cultural practices of each region. In Hoi An, specifically, funerals usually take place over a period of approximately three days. The majority of the sound comes from Buddhist chants and drums, following specific time intervals throughout the day, alternating between ceremonial rituals and rest periods.

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Author: Janny - Thank you for your watching