If you have come to Hoi An but haven't visited the morning market, it's as if you haven't fully experienced the old town. When the sky is still dark, Hoi An market by the Hoai River is bustling with the sounds of boats arriving at the dock, the voices of vendors setting up their goods, and the boiling water for noodle pots. This is a local market that has been around for hundreds of years, dating back to the prosperous trading port of Faifo, and it remains a place for buying, selling, eating, and sightseeing for both locals and tourists.

The market stretches along Nguyen Thai Hoc and Bach Dang streets, divided into three distinct areas: the fresh seafood area right by the river, the dry goods and spices area with jars of fish sauce from Cu Lao Cham, shrimp paste from Man Thai, turmeric, and pepper from Tien Phuoc; and the food area – where you can sit on a green plastic chair, order a bowl of cao lau, a cup of corn pudding from Cam Nam, and listen to the women chatting.

The specialties at the market are not just food. Fresh Tra Que vegetables still dripping with dew, Hoi An green bean cakes wrapped in banana leaves, sticky rice cakes with gai leaves, ginger soaked in molasses, and eucalyptus oil from Hue – all displayed in bamboo baskets. Just ask for prices in English, and the vendors will happily use handheld calculators to communicate, with their characteristic gentle smiles from Quang.

Tip: going from 5:30 AM to 7 AM is when the market is most beautiful, with buyers and sellers interspersed with the early morning sunlight shining through the moss-covered rooftops. Don't hesitate to try dishes priced at 10,000 – 30,000 VND like Aunt Sau's vegetarian Quang noodles, Ms. Hoa's coconut leaf cakes, or salt coffee near the end of the market. Bring small change and a cloth bag to carry your items. After eating your fill, take a few steps to An Hoi Bridge to look back at the market across the river; you'll understand why Hoi An moves slowly yet remains a heritage site – because every morning, the old town wakes up to a market filled with the scent of the sea and kitchen smoke.

Content generated by AI. Illustrative image: iVIVU.com. Reference information: Hoi An Cultural Heritage Management Center and reputable domestic travel websites.