Hoian most wanted visiting merchant house.

The Thai Phien Old House, nestled at 104 Thai Phien Street just north of Hoi An's UNESCO-listed Old Town in Vietnam, stands as a remarkable free attraction that invites visitors to step back in time.

This 250-year-old wooden structure, meticulously preserved across nine generations, showcases exquisite traditional Vietnamese architecture with intricate carvings, a yin-yang tiled roof, antique Bat Trang brick flooring, and authentic decorations that blend cultural influences.

Still home to the family, it offers a glimpse into daily life through displays of handmade crafts like silver accessories, wooden sculptures, and silk lanterns, which guests can purchase to support preservation efforts. An ancient well near the entrance continues to provide fresh water, enhancing the site's charm. Open daily from 8 am to 5 pm, this hidden gem provides an intimate, cost-free experience of Hoi An's historical essence, distinct from the ticketed attractions in the area.

Madam Khanh - The Queen of Banh Mi:

When in Hoi An, seeking out the famed Madam Khanh is an absolute must for any food lover. She's earned the title of "The Queen of Banh Mi" for a reason. This isn't just a sandwich; it's a symphony of textures and flavors packed into a perfectly crisp and light baguette. What sets Madam Khanh's apart is the delightful mix of ingredients—a generous layering of various meats (like pork belly and cha lua), fresh herbs, crunchy vegetables, and her secret, signature sauce that ties everything together with a slightly spicy, rich, and unforgettable finish. Every bite is a testament to the simple, yet brilliant, artistry of Vietnamese street food. It's a truly authentic and essential Hoi An experience, proving that sometimes, the simplest things are the most extraordinary. Don't leave town without trying it!

Immerse yourself in the charming experience of learning to make traditional Vietnamese cakes, such as the beloved Bánh Ít Lá Gai, at a welcoming local home in Hoi An.

This hands-on activity delights tourists by offering a genuine peek into family recipes passed down through generations, where participants of all ages mix sticky rice flour, stuff the cakes with mung bean and coconut fillings, and wrap them in fresh banana leaves before steaming.

Perfectly suited for families with young children, the relaxed, interactive session encourages kids to get their hands dirty in a fun, educational way, fostering creativity and cultural appreciation without overwhelming structure.

As the aroma fills the air, share laughs and stories with your gracious hosts, then savor the warm, chewy treats paired with fragrant local tea, leaving everyone with heartwarming memories and a newfound love for Vietnamese heritage.

The oldest Catholic church associated with the founding of a parish in Vietnam is generally considered to be the Hoi An Catholic Church. Italian Jesuit priest Francesco Buzomi established the Hoi An parish and built a church there on January 18, 1616, during a period when Hoi An (then known as Faifo) was a bustling international trading port. While the current church building was reconstructed in 1965, the parish itself is the oldest in the country.

The arrival of Catholic missionaries in Hoi An during the early 17th century was also intrinsically linked to the creation of the modern Vietnamese script, known as chữ Quốc ngữ (National Language Script). The missionaries, eager to evangelize and communicate with the local population, needed a more accessible writing system than the complex Chinese characters (Hán Nôm) previously in use.

Jesuit priests, notably Francisco de Pina (a Portuguese missionary who arrived around 1617) and later Alexandre de Rhodes (a French Jesuit), were instrumental in this development. De Pina is often credited as the first to devise a Latin-based script for the Vietnamese language. He is said to have studied the language at a residence in the Hoi An/Thanh Chiêm area and begun the work of transliterating Vietnamese sounds into Latin letters by 1622.