Hoi An Green Travel Guide — your go-to for exploring this charming coastal city sustainably!
Hoi An is a little town that depends heavily on tourism. Since we’re lucky enough to call this place home, we’ve been thinking about what small actions we can take to help keep it green. With more travelers worrying about their carbon footprint, this guide highlights how to experience this amazing spot while making eco-friendly choices.
Local Initiatives Supporting Eco Living in Hoi An
Refillables Hoi An.
I’ve got to give a shout-out to Refillables Hoi An.
Address: Refillables Hoi An, Thanh Dong, Hamlet 5, Quảng Nam
Hours: 9AM – 4.30PM (Everyday except Sunday)
Refillables Hoi An is the first refillable store in Central Vietnam, created to tackle the problem of excessive single-use plastics and to provide affordable eco-friendly home and personal care products for everyone.
With no proper recycling system set up in Vietnam yet, it’s crucial that we make use of the containers we already have to lighten the load on overflowing landfills. By choosing refills with eco-friendly products, we can reduce the harmful chemicals often found in mass-produced items from entering our ecosystem and affecting our health.
We know there are tons of digital nomads who have chosen Hoi An as their home. Refillables can be your weekly stop for pantry and household essentials, they offer great prices and a fantastic variety: from grains to spices to natural cleaning products… They’re doing great things for promoting sustainability and making it so easy for the community.
***TIPS
- Their spiced dried mangoes are absolutely delicious! 😋
- Sunday is their DAY-OFF!
- On the second floor of Refillable, there’s a charity/secondhand store named The Carousel. It’s a spot where folks can donate gently used, high-quality items—like clothes, toys, and household goods—which will then be sold to raise money for awesome charities in Hoi An. The Carousel not only sells cool stuff for a good cause but also works to cut down on textile waste that usually ends up in landfills, especially with all this “fast fashion” trend happening.
See you all there, refillers!
Hoi An Eco Hub
Hoi An Eco Hub serves as a center for information and education focused on environmental sustainability in Hoi An. They facilitate solutions that merge hands-on and academic learning experiences for local residents and travelers, both from within the country and abroad.
Address: 182 Nguyễn Phúc Tần, Phường Cẩm Phổ, Hội An, Quảng Nam
Hours: 8AM – 5PM (Monday-Friday)
They offers various low-impact living workshops such as composting, turning recycled cooking oil into soap, creating tooth powder, upcycling clothing, and producing enzymes… They also have more workshops planned for the future.
Support Local Artisans and Sustainable Crafts in Hoi An
Reaching Out Arts & Crafts
Reaching Out (Hòa Nhập) was founded in 2000 with the goal of offering learning opportunities and meaningful job prospects to individuals with disabilities, enabling them to fully participate in their communities and live independently and satisfyingly.
They have a diverse group of dedicated customers, including both visitors and locals, who appreciate genuine Vietnamese products and experiences and choose to support a fair-trade business that is locally owned and sustainable. There are lots of lovely little keepsakes made by local artists, such as pottery, jewelry, patchwork quilts, and candle holders…for you to choose from.
Wood Carving Workshop by Woodart Vietnam
Woodart Vietnam has a purpose. That purpose is to showcase Vietnamese traditional wood craftsmanship globally. If you’re looking for a fun experience in Hoi An, check their Wood Carving Workshop.
Hoi An Clean-up Programs
Trash Hero Hoi An
Trash Hero is a global volunteer movement, currently extends to 13 countries around the world. Their mission is to create sustainable, community-based projects help to remove existing waste, and reduce future waste by inspiring long-term behavior change.
River Clean-Up Hoi An
River Clean-Up is organized on Saturday every week by Hoi An Kayak Tours. It’s purpose is making inspiration and encouraging for both local people and tourists, cleaning up the Thu Bon River together, keeping the river healthy and advancing their awareness of the environment.
Exploring Hoi An by Bike: A Sustainable Travel Option
Getting a bike in Hoi An is easy and budget-friendly, with many hotels and homestays even providing them for free. There are plenty of rental shops around the area, and you can find a range of options, from regular bikes to mountain bikes, as well as electric bikes for those who like some extra help while cycling.
Consider biking through Cam Thanh Coconut Village, Tra Que, and Cam Kim Village. While you ride through the countryside, notice the shifting scenery around you. The gentle hills, expansive rice paddies, and tranquil country life make for a beautiful setting during your adventure. There are many lovely trails that lead to hidden gems.
Hoi An Cycling Tour
Visit our Hoi An Cycling Tour Website for information on routes, experiences, and essential tips for your countryside biking journey.
You can check out the routes we’ve put together for ideas and exploring on your own, or you can ride along with us. We’ve got some awesome tours you might like, such as biking around Cam Kim Island, taking a beautiful 40km ride through the villages near Hoi An, checking out the conquering the Hai Van Pass, or going on longer trips from Hoi An to Hue…
A complete guide to thrift shopping in Hoi An
Ease your way into living a life of minimal waste. Shopping for second-hand clothes is a greener choice, plus you can find some unique gems for your closet that you wouldn’t see in typical stores anymore. You get to be fashionable while helping the planet by reducing textile waste. It’s a total win-win!
(second floor of Refillable Hoi An)
Address: Refillables Hoi An, Thanh Dong, Hamlet 5, Quảng Nam
Hours: 9AM – 4.30PM (Everyday except Sunday)
Bee Hoi An Vintage 2hand
Address: 275 Cửa Đại, Cẩm Châu, Hội An, Quảng Nam
Hours: 8AM-7PM
GO2HAND
Address: 68 Hùng Vương, Phường Cẩm Phổ, Hội An, Quảng Nam
Hours: 8AM-10PM
There are several little thrift shops grouped together around Dinh Tien Hoang, Cam Pho, Hoi An. Each store offers a different range of items, so take your time to stroll down the street and explore; it feels like an exciting treasure hunt!
***If you’re looking for suggestions on vegan restaurants during your trip, be sure to take a look at our article about “Top Vegan Restaurants in Hoi An”.
Making a Positive Impact While Visiting Hoi An
By adopting sustainable habits, travelers can enhance the local environment and community while experiencing all that this charming town has to offer. Every choice—whether it’s selecting eco-friendly lodging, opting for greener transport, or supporting local craftspeople and dining options—makes a difference.
Working together, both tourists and locals can help Hoi An flourish as a hub of culture and sustainability. In the end, focusing on sustainability enables travelers to build genuine relationships with the communities and locations they visit, leading to memorable experiences that linger well beyond their trip.
******Xin chao! We’re a crew of locals who are lucky enough to call Hoi An home sweet home, and we’re on a mission to dish out the freshest, hand-selected, and tested reviews of the coolest spots to visit and new adventures to have! Make sure to keep an eye on our blog if you’re thinking about visiting Hoi An, even better, packing your bags and moving here!
Leave a Reply