Out and about

Hoi An’s flat terrain makes it ideal for hiring a bicycle to explore the surrounding countryside. Bikes can be rented from as little as $1 a day. An Bang Beach, a palm-fringed expanse of golden sand with laidback beach bars, is a 30-minute bike ride from town through verdant rice paddies. On the way to the beach, look out for water buffalo, tended by farmers in conical straw hats, still a common sight in the emerald green fields.

Cam Kim Island is also easily reached by bike and it has a totally different feel to the city. On this slowpaced, rural island you’ll find Kim Bong Carpentry Village where wood carvers continue the centuries-old traditions of their forebears who honed their skills on the merchants’ houses and assembly halls of Hoi An.

Heading east from the city on quiet backroads brings you to Thanh Ha Pottery Village where successive generations of potters have been