Hoi An, Vietnam: travel guide
Lantern-lit canals, tailors and a beautifully kept ancient town
Located on the central coast, Hoi An is renowned for its remarkably preserved ancient town. Laced with canals and lit by colorful lanterns, it is famous for its tailor shops, historic merchant houses, and diverse cuisine.
About Hoi An
Hoi An is a small trading town on Vietnam's central coast whose old centre has survived with its timber merchant houses, assembly halls and yellow-washed lanes largely intact. By night, silk lanterns glow over the Thu Bon River and the town takes on a gentle, theatrical charm.
Things to do in Hoi An include walking past the Japanese Covered Bridge, stepping inside the Fujian Assembly Hall, browsing the night market and having clothes made by the town's many tailors. Cooking classes and bowls of cao lau make the food as memorable as the architecture, and An Bang Beach is a short ride away. My Son Sanctuary, a Cham temple complex, lies inland.
It suits couples, food lovers and slow travellers. The best time to visit Hoi An is generally the drier spring months.
- Country
- Vietnam
- Currency
- VND
- Time zone
- Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh
- Nearest airport
- DAD
- Typical trip
- 2-3 days
Last updated
Top places to visit in Hoi An
Hoi An Ancient Town
historic town · 4.9 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999 — a remarkably intact 15th–19th century trading port where Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese merchant houses coexist on lantern-lit streets. An Old Town pass (200,000 VND) grants entry to five…
Japanese Covered Bridge (Chùa Cầu)
bridge · 4.7 rating · about 0.3 h · entry 120,000 ₫ (≈ ₹440)
Built by the Japanese community ~1593 — a small ornate bridge-temple that is the symbol of Hoi An. Decorated with carved monkeys on one end and dogs on the other. The interior shrine is dedicated to the weather deity.
An Bang Beach
local beach · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
Regularly voted one of Asia's top beaches — 3 km of pristine white sand with turquoise water, 5 km from the Ancient Town. Beach bar seafood BBQ at sundown is a Hoi An institution.
My Son Sanctuary
unesco · 4.5 rating · about 2.5 h · entry 150,000 ₫ (≈ ₹550)
UNESCO-listed cluster of 4th-13th-century Cham Hindu brick temple towers in a jungle valley.
Hoi An Night Market
night-market · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Lantern-lit riverside market on An Hoi islet selling silk lanterns, crafts and street food.
An Hoi Bridge & Riverside
waterfront · 4.5 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Pedestrian bridge over the Thu Bon River, the heart of the lantern-lit evening scene.
Tan Ky Old House
old-house · 4.4 rating · about 0.5 h · entry 120,000 ₫ (≈ ₹440)
200-year-old merchant house blending Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese design, open to visitors.
Hoi An Memories Show
performance · 4.4 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate
Large-scale outdoor song-and-dance spectacular on Hoi An's history on An Hoi islet.
Precious Heritage Art Gallery (Réhahn)
art · 4.7 rating · about 0.8 h · free entry
Photographer Réhahn's free gallery of portraits and costumes of Vietnam's ethnic groups.
Tra Que Vegetable Village
village · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · entry 35,000 ₫ (≈ ₹130)
Organic herb village where visitors farm with locals between the river and the lagoon.
Hoi An Silk Village
craft-village · 4.2 rating · about 1.3 h · entry 50,000 ₫ (≈ ₹180)
Working silk farm and museum tracing mulberry-to-loom production with weaving demos.
Phung Hung Old House
old-house · 4.3 rating · about 0.4 h · entry 120,000 ₫ (≈ ₹440)
Two-century-old trading house with a Japanese-style roof and balcony over the street.
Things to do
- Hoi An Ancient Town Lantern Walking Tour by Night Cultural · 2.5 h · from VND 193,000 per person
- Vietnamese Cooking Class in Hoi An Food · 4 h · from VND 441,000 per person
- My Son Sanctuary Half-Day Tour Cultural · 5 h · from VND 496,000 per person
- Hoi An Night Boat & Lantern Release Sightseeing · 0.8 h · from VND 138,000 per person
- Basket Boat & Coconut Village Tour Adventure · 3 h · from VND 331,000 per person
- Tra Que Village Cooking & Farming Food · 4 h · from VND 551,000 per person
- Hoi An Bicycle Countryside Tour Adventure · 4 h · from VND 413,000 per person
- Hoi An Tailoring Experience Cultural · 2 h · from VND 221,000 per person
Day trips and tours
- My Son Cham Ruins Half-Day Tour from Hoi An 5 h · from VND 331,000
- Hoi An Countryside Cycling & Village Life Tour 4 h · from VND 248,000
Where to stay in Hoi An
- Ancient Town Core about VND 1,800 per night
Stay inside the UNESCO-protected area for magical golden-lantern evenings. Walking distance to the Japanese Covered Bridge, Assembly Halls and the river promenade. Most atmospheric but can be crowded; book early.
- An Bang Beach Area about VND 1,400 per night
Stay 5 km from town but front-row on one of Asia's best unspoiled beaches. A cluster of laid-back beach bungalows, yoga retreats and seafood shacks. Quieter and more natural than the overcrowded town centre.
Hotels
- Anantara Hoi An Resort 5-star · VND 5,000,000 to VND 20,000,000 per night
- La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa 5-star · VND 3,000,000 to VND 5,500,000 per night
- Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai 5-star · VND 18,000,000 to VND 45,000,000 per night
- The Life Heritage Resort Hoi An 4-star · VND 2,500,000 to VND 8,000,000 per night
- Allegro Hoi An 4-star · VND 2,500,000 to VND 4,500,000 per night
- Little Riverside Hoi An 5-star · VND 2,800,000 to VND 5,000,000 per night
Where to eat
- Morning Glory Original Cooking School Vietnamese · about VND 280,000 per person
- White Rose Restaurant (Thanh Hai) Vietnamese · about VND 150,000 per person
- Cao Lau Thanh Vietnamese · about VND 60,000 per person
- Banh Mi Phuong Vietnamese · about VND 35,000 per person
- Madam Khanh - The Banh Mi Queen Vietnamese · about VND 35,000 per person
- Com Ga Ba Buoi Vietnamese · about VND 60,000 per person
- Cao Lau Khong Gian Xanh Vietnamese · about VND 60,000 per person
- Morning Glory Original Vietnamese · about VND 200,000 per person
Getting to Hoi An
Nearest airport: Da Nang (DAD), about 23 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.
How visitors arrive in Hoi An
- Fly into Da Nang (DAD), then road By air from Da Nang · most visitors
Most visitors land at Da Nang International Airport and continue by road to Hoi An. Source: vietnamtourism.com
- Train to Da Nang, then road By train from Da Nang · common
Trains stop at Da Nang Railway Station; onward by Grab or motorbike taxi. Source: vietnamtourism.com
- Bus or car from Hue By road from Hue · possible
Visitors also come overland from Hue by bus or private car. Source: vietnamtourism.com
From the airport to the centre
- Grab car from Da Nang airport
Ride-hail car is the default; larger SUV for heavy luggage. Taxi (Mai Linh, Vinasun) and hotel transfers also work. Source: vietnamtourism.com
- Public bus Route 1
Stops at Hoi An Bus Station rather than the Ancient Town, so a short taxi or walk follows. Source: vietnamtourism.com
Getting around
- Bicycle useful for some trips
Bicycles can be rented quickly and easily in Hoi An, and are handy if you stay outside the Old Town since they make the trip to the beach simple.
- Taxi useful for some trips
Taxis are plentiful in Hoi An, and Grab and motorbike taxis are alternatives, particularly if you are travelling on your own.
- Walking
Safety and scams to avoid
Inflated Tailoring Advance Deposits
Ancient Town tailor shops
Some tailors take a large deposit for custom clothing, then produce poor-quality garments or require additional "extra fees" for pickup.
How to avoid it: Pay no more than 30% deposit. Research reputable tailors (Yaly, A Dong, Bebe) on TripAdvisor. Inspect garment before paying balance.
Ancient Town Ticket Touts
Entry points to Ancient Town
Unofficial vendors sell fake or overpriced Ancient Town entry tickets near the gates.
How to avoid it: Buy the official 5-attraction combined ticket only at the Hoi An Tourism Office (counters at all main entry gates). Official price is ~120,000 VND.
Best time to visit Hoi An
- Jan 24°C
- Feb 25°C
- Mar 28°C
- Apr 30°C
- May 31°C
- Jun 32°C
- Jul 32°C
- Aug 32°C
- Sep 32°C
- Oct 30°C
- Nov 27°C
- Dec 25°C
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Frequently asked questions about Hoi An
- How many days do you need in Hoi An?
- A typical trip to Hoi An is 2-3 days.
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Hoi An?
- The highest-rated places in our Hoi An guide are Hoi An Ancient Town, Japanese Covered Bridge (Chùa Cầu), An Bang Beach, Precious Heritage Art Gallery (Réhahn), My Son Sanctuary.
- Where should I stay in Hoi An?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Hoi An: Ancient Town Core, An Bang Beach Area.
- How do I get around Hoi An?
- Ways to get around Hoi An covered in our guide: Bicycle, Taxi, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Hoi An?
- Scams reported to us for Hoi An include Inflated Tailoring Advance Deposits; Ancient Town Ticket Touts. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- What is the weather like in Hoi An?
- Average daytime highs in Hoi An run from 24°C in Jan to 32°C in Jun.
- Which airport is nearest to Hoi An?
- The nearest airport to Hoi An has the code DAD.