The area of Hoi An in Vietnam might currently be a tourist destination, but more than four hundred years ago, that was simply not the case. It was during that time; this impressive area of the country was a super busy port. In fact, it was the busiest port in all of Asia.
The Hoi An Impression Theme Park
The Hoi An Impression Theme Park pays homage to those days with its themed villages, magnificent pagodas, and expansive bridges. Add in all the performances and activities and you will have an excellent idea of how the locals’ lives were way back then!
The goal of the Hoi An Impression Theme Park is to utilize entertainment, and intricately detailed buildings and other architectural delights, to educate everyone who visits. There will not be one inch of the Hoi An Impression Theme Park that you go through that will not transport you back hundreds of years ago. You may even forget what year you are currently in throughout your visit!
Getting to Hoi An Impression Theme Park
You will quickly discover that the Hoi An Impression Theme Park is quite close to Hoi An Old Town and you will find it out on Cam Nam Island within the Thu Bon River. It is usually best to go through Old Town and cross over the bridge that leads to Cam Nam Island. While you can ride a bike or walk over to this island, you can also take a taxi over. Either way will take about the same amount of time, because you will be able to walk or bike through different areas and not get caught in the traffic like the taxi driver will.
If those options do not sound appealing, you can also board one of the boats that goes down the river to the Hoi An Impression Theme Park. There is no charge for the boat ride, and you will be dropped off directly in front of where the big show on the island takes place within the Hoi An Memories Show Venue.
This unique theme park is open every day of the week with the exception of Tuesdays and their hours are from five in the evening until half past nine at night. The cost of an entrance ticket to the Hoi An Impression Theme Park is 100,000 VND per person.
While the hours state a five o’clock opening, it is best to arrive at least fifteen minutes early, because the opening ceremony begins exactly at five at the main gate. This is a performance you will definitely not want to miss!
Things to Do and See at the Hoi An Impression Theme Park
There are signs throughout this theme park, so you will never question where you are or which direction you need to head to get to where you want to go. However, it can be helpful to pick up a map when you advance through the ticket booth area, so you can glance at where everything is within the park.
Part of your time within the Hoi An Impression Theme Park will be spent walking through a replica of the trading port and seeing a Vietnamese Pagoda, the Love Bridge, and a Japanese Village. As you are walking along, you will stumble upon many of the mini performances held almost everywhere in the park. These short performances are scheduled in ten- and fifteen-minute increments until the main show begins. There is a daily schedule, so you will want to check it out at the entry gate. This will ensure you do not miss anything during your visit.
A few of the mini performances include the Love Story of the Silkworm Goddess, Trai Ho Fighting the Tiger, Happy Forest, and the Champa Ritual Dedicated to the God of Water. There are plenty of street vendors within this theme park, so you can grab a bite to eat while watching any of these performances. However, if street food is not enough, there are a couple restaurants scattered about each unique village.
In between the short performances, or instead of them, you can turn yourself into a ninja at the Ninja School or work on a few different arts and crafts projects near the main entrance. However, pay close attention to the clock, because before you know it, it will be time for the main event.
The Hoi An Memories Show has a cast of five hundred actors and they cover the entire four hundred plus year history of Hoi An with such incredible imagery on a massive stage. Be prepared to sit on the edge of your seat, hoping the magic never ends.
The Hoi An Impression Theme Park is one of the must-see attractions within Hoi An and even the entire country. While you should have it on your list of things to do for one night of your Vietnam vacation, do not be surprised if you go back for an encore before you head home.