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Vietnam's Cultural Spectacle: A Journey Through Hoi An Memories
Updated: 5 days ago
Hoi An Memories is a large-scale live performance that takes place at the Hoi An Impression Theme Park in Hoi An, Vietnam. It's a spectacular show that tells the story of Hoi An's history and culture through music, dance, and elaborate sets.
Have you ever dreamt of stepping back in time and witnessing the vibrant tapestry of a historical town unfold before you? In Hoi An, Vietnam, that dream becomes reality at the Hoi An Memories Theme Park. This unique cultural destination offers a multi-layered experience that goes beyond just watching a show.
Imagine yourself captivated by the world's largest outdoor performance, featuring over 500 performers who bring the story of Hoi An to life through a mesmerizing fusion of music, dramatic scenes, and electrifying dance. The Hoi An Memories show is just the beginning!
Prepare to be transported to Hoi An's golden age as you wander through the vibrantly themed sections of the park, each one a beautiful snapshot of the town's rich history and cultural exchange.
Read on for all you need to know about our evening at Hoi An Memories, with our highlights, more information about the park and show, ticket details, opening times, valuable tips, and our specially curated YouTube video. Plus how to get here from Da Nang or within Hoi An!
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What is Hoi An Memories Land About?
Hoi An Memories Land is a unique theme park offering a multi-faceted experience that goes beyond just watching its centerpiece Hoi An Memories show (which we will cover later).
The park itself focuses on telling the story of Hoi An's transformation from a small village to a thriving international port, and the cultural exchange that shaped the city. Hoi An Memories Land is a celebration of Vietnamese culture. Within the park are sections housing architectural replicas that reflect Hoi An's unique heritage, such as miniature Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese villages.
Throughout the park there are smaller themed performances, that occur at hourly intervals, with demonstrations of traditional crafts, and historical reenactments. This all leads up to the final nightly show, which focuses more on a unique love story that has been told through the generations.
Read on for our highlights, all you need to know before visiting including opening times, special ticket offers and information about how to get here.
Our Hoi An Memories Highlights
We were already on a high after spending a lovely couple of days in Da Nang and we were really excited to see wait Hoi An had to offer. We did not know all too much about its beautiful history, so Hoi An Memories was literally the perfect opportunity to do just that.
We were a little apprehensive at first, as we harboured a concern that it may be a little tacky, but honestly we had nothing to worry about. The park is put together extremely well, and the performances are the what it is all about. And they were great, before we even made it to the main show!
Each area of the park is zoned and as you walk through you are guided by staff who will keep you informed of the upcoming programs. It is all focused around the cultural history and journey of this old town, and it is as educational as it is fun and in some parts, pretty spectacular.
From ancient times, the story of bamboo houses and the influx of crafts and trade merchants is told. With so much influence from lands beyond, Hoi An evolved and grew with aplomb. In all of the sectors of the park the mini shows appear, from Geisha's to fighting tigers, wedding ceremonies to recruited soldiers. The areas are well decorated and free to browse around before and after the shows, although there is not much give in-between. Given the late opening of the park it did not leave a great deal of time to check things out, but perhaps just enough for some photos!
We have to say that it was all done really well, and we certainly felt the spirit of the place. We had been there for a good couple of hours before the grand show at the end, and we weren't all too sure what more there could be to show. But then at that point, we weren't prepared for the additional love story, which elevated everything to a whole new level! More on that in the next section.
The main objective of this park is to continue to keep the legend and history of Hoi An alive, and it delivers a great experience in that regard. We left with a far greater knowledge of Hoi An than we came in with, and that is all one can ask for!
Perhaps our only regret was not getting any food in the magnificent bamboo restaurant (below), but we had actually eaten prior to coming and were just not hungry! It did seem a tad pricey but if you do have time we would recommend trying it, as it did look pretty good from what we saw.
Read on for more information on how to get there, visiting times and our Hoi An Memories experience rating.
The Hoi An Memories Show
The Hoi An Memories Show features over 500 performers who bring to life Hoi An's transformation from a small fishing village to a thriving international trading port over the course of 400 years. The audience is taken on a journey through different eras, witnessing scenes of rural life, traditional crafts, and bustling trade with Chinese, Japanese, and Western merchants.
It is performed in a grand outdoor arena and includes lasers, music and special visual affects. There is a pond in the center which imitates the Thu Bon River, huge town building props and some truly excellent performances from its actors,.
The show begins with the humble beginnings of Hoi An as a small agricultural village, which sees the villagers going about their daily lives, fishing, farming, and weaving. Hoi An goes on to became a major trading port in Southeast Asia, attracting merchants from all over the world.
The show depicts the interaction between different cultures, with scenes of Chinese traders, Japanese tea ceremonies, and European influences. It celebrates the traditional crafts and customs of Vietnam, with scenes like silk weaving, lantern making, and other traditional Vietnamese crafts.
The show also explores the human stories of Hoi An's past, with scenes of love, loss, and resilience. The performers come together in a colorful display of music, dance, and fireworks at the end, with it totally living up to its 'memories' name as we are still reminiscing about it months later. This show will not leave you!
Hoi An Memories Opening Times & Ticket Prices
⪢ Opening Hours
⪢ The Hoi An Memories Theme Park is open from Wednesday to Monday, 3pm to 10pm. It is closed on Tuesdays.
⪢ The Hoi An Memories Show starts at 8 pm and lasts for an hour. We would suggest going into the stadium / seating area closer to 7pm as seats numbers are not allocated.
⪢ Ticket Prices
For entrance to the park itself, it is 25k VND (98 cents USD) for children and 50k VND ($1.97 USD) for adults.
Specific ticket prices for Hoi An Memories Show fluctuate depending on factors like season, seat selection, availability and ongoing promotions. For adults, prices can range from 600k to 1.4m VND, and for children there are tickets between 150k to 700k VND.
Given the cheapest adult ticket for just the show starts at almost $24 USD, we would highly recommend saving money and booking through Klook.
● Get combo tickets for the park, show and dinner
● Also combine with a show boat and lantern release on the river
● Other combo options include coconut basket boat rides and pottery classes
** Prices are correct at time of writing (December 2024). Please check the official website below for the most up-to-date information.
Things to Know Before Visiting Hoi An Memories
Here are a few important things that we think you should know to help you have a seamless experience in Hoi An:
⪢ Weather & Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Hoi An Memories Land is during the dry season, which runs from February to September. During this time, you can expect sunny skies and little rain. However, it can also be quite hot and humid, especially during the summer months (June to August).
⪢ Clothing & Respectful Attire
There is no strict dress code for Hoi An Memories Land, but it is recommended to dress modestly. Long pants or skirts and shirts with sleeves are ideal. This is respectful of Vietnamese culture and will also help you to be more comfortable in the hot and humid weather.
You'll also want to wear comfortable shoes as there will be some walking involved. Avoid wearing flip flops or sandals as you may end up taking them off for the show. An umbrella or hat can be useful for sun protection, especially if visiting during the hotter months.
⪢ Peak Times
Hoi An is a popular tourist destination, so expect larger crowds during peak season (December to April) and on weekends. If you want to avoid the crowds, try to visit during the shoulder seasons (May, June, September, and October).
⪢ Hoi An Memories Show
● Book tickets in advance: Especially during peak season, it's a good idea to book your tickets for the Hoi An Memories show online in advance. This will guarantee your spot and save you time waiting in line.
● Bring cash: While some vendors in the park may accept credit cards, it's always a good idea to bring cash with you. You can use it for snacks, drinks, souvenirs, or any other incidentals.
● Arrive early: If you want to get a good seat for the show, it's recommended to arrive early. The park opens around 5pm, and the show starts at 7:30pm. This will also give you some time to explore the park before the show.
⪢ Bonus Tip
Consider getting a Hoi An Ancient Town Entrance Ticket, which allows you to visit multiple attractions within the Ancient Town area. It's a cost-effective way to explore the city's historical sites and enjoy cultural activities.
How to Get to Hoi An Memories Land
There are a few transport options available to get to Hoi An Memories Land, depending on your location and budget. It is located about 5 kilometers from Hoi An Ancient Town and about 30 kilometers from Da Nang City. Note that traffic in Hoi An can be congested, especially during peak season. Be sure to factor in some extra time for your journey if you're taking a taxi or private car.
By Private Car
By Taxi
By Shuttle Bus
⪢ Contact Information for Hoi An Memories
● Address: Cồn Hến, rẽ trái, 200 Nguyễn Tri Phương, Cẩm Châu, Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam
● Email: booking@hoianmemoriesland.com
● Phone: (+84) 904 636 600
● Website: hoianmemoriesland.com
● Facebook: @memoriesland.hoian
⪢ Find Hotels in Hoi An and Beyond
Use our interactive map to easily locate the top hotels nearby, sourced from a variety of reputable platforms such as Booking, Vrbo, Expedia, Get Your Guide, and Hotels.com.
Our map offers a user-friendly interface that allows you to zoom in and out, providing a comprehensive view of the area and enabling you to identify the most convenient hotel options based on your current location or desired destination.
Getting to Hoi An from Da Nang
To get to Hoi An Night Market from Da Nang, there are a few transportation options you can choose from.
By Private Car or Taxi
By Shuttle Bus
By Motorbike
By Public Bus
Watch our First Impressions of Hoi An on YouTube
Join us on an unforgettable journey as we delve into the captivating city of Hoi An, Vietnam in 2023! Brace yourself for a whirlwind of emotions as we share our genuine first impressions and uncover the irresistible allure of this incredible destination.
If you enjoy our video and want to follow more of our adventures please do like and subscribe! Your support truly is invaluable to us and we will always strive to produce the best content we can from around the world!
Our Hoi An Memories Experience Rating
Hoi An Memories Theme Park and Show is worth every penny in our opinion! There is plenty to see in the park beforehand with 10 shows which are co-ordinated to give you enough time to reach each one. There are tons of photo opportunities, information boards in English to help you understand the meaning of the shows, and high-class standards from the performers.
Then of course we get to the main event itself, with in our opinion is nothing short of spectacular! So well done, excellently co-ordinated and definitely a memory that lives on for us. Even though the prices are a tad on the expensive side, it would be a total shame to come all the way to Hoi An and miss out on Memories!
As ever thank you for reading, and please feel free to share your experience, or ask any questions you may have, in the comments below. All feedback on the post is welcome too!
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Your FREE Interactive Map of Vietnam
Check out all of the places we visited in Vietnam courtesy of this interactive map from Wanderlog. Tap any of the numbers for more information including directions, our blog posts, links to reviews and much more.
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Explore Hoi An with Special Offers from Klook
Klook offers a wide variety of tours to help you experience the best of Hoi An. Whether you're looking for a coconut boat ride, spas, or even a lantern making class, Klook has something to offer.
All tours are led by experienced guides who can help you learn about the history and culture of Vietnam. Klook's tours are all-inclusive too, so you don't have to worry about anything but enjoying your experience!
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