Why Hoi An is Vietnam’s Most Beloved Town
Hoi An is consistently voted one of the best cities in Asia — and it’s easy to see why. This small UNESCO World Heritage town on Vietnam’s central coast has managed to preserve its 15th–19th century trading port character almost entirely intact. Walking the lantern-lit streets of the Ancient Town at dusk remains one of Southeast Asia’s most magical experiences.
Unlike most heritage sites that feel like museums, Hoi An is very much alive — thousands of people live and work inside the Ancient Town, tailors run their shops, boats drift down the Thu Bon River, and the smell of Cao Lau noodles drifts out of open-air restaurants. It’s authentic and touristy at the same time, and somehow it works.
Hoi An is also a base for Central Vietnam: Da Nang is 30 minutes away (great nightlife, airport), My Son Sanctuary 1.5 hours, and Hue Imperial City 3 hours. Most international visitors stay in Hoi An and make day trips to other sites.
🏮 Hoi An Ancient Town — UNESCO World Heritage
Entry: 120,000 VND (~$5) — includes 5 attraction tickets | Best time: Early morning or after 5 PM
The Ancient Town covers about 30 hectares along the Thu Bon River and contains over 1,000 historic buildings. Your entry ticket gets you into 5 of the following attractions — choose based on your interests.
Key Sites in the Ancient Town
Japanese Covered Bridge (Chùa Cầu): The symbol of Hoi An — a 400-year-old covered bridge with a small temple inside, originally built by the Japanese trading community. The most photographed spot in Hoi An.
Tan Ky Ancient House: A 200-year-old merchant’s house with stunning architecture blending Japanese, Chinese, and Vietnamese styles. The family who built it still lives here and gives guided tours.
Phuc Kien Assembly Hall: Built by the Fujian Chinese community in 1697, this stunning blue-and-green temple dedicated to Thien Hau (Goddess of the Sea) is the most spectacular assembly hall in Hoi An.
Quan Cong Temple: Dedicated to the Chinese general Quan Cong, this atmospheric temple dates to 1653 and is filled with incense and colorful decorations.
Museum of Trading Ceramics: Showcases Hoi An’s history as a major trading port with an excellent collection of ceramics from Asia and beyond.
Full Moon Lantern Festival
On the 14th of every lunar month (roughly monthly), the Ancient Town switches off all electric lights. The streets are lit only by hundreds of colorful silk lanterns, and the Thu Bon River fills with floating candle lanterns. This is Hoi An at its most magical — arrive the evening before to get accommodation. See our detailed lantern festival guide for full tips.
Tips for Visiting the Ancient Town
- Best time to visit: 6–8 AM when streets are quiet and photography is spectacular, or 5–9 PM when lanterns are lit
- Avoid midday (11 AM–2 PM) — extremely hot and crowded in peak season
- Hire a bicycle: 50,000–80,000 VND/day — the best way to get around Hoi An
- Ancient Town is pedestrian-friendly: No motorbikes allowed on the main streets from 7 AM–9 PM on weekdays, all day Saturday/Sunday
- Street food tip: Avoid restaurants right on the main tourist streets — walk one block back for authentic local prices
🎯 Top Things To Do in Hoi An
Cooking Classes
Hoi An cooking classes are among the best in Vietnam. Most start with a morning market tour, then you cook 4–5 traditional dishes and eat them for lunch. Morning Rose Cooking School and Red Bridge Cooking School are the top choices. Cost: $30–60 per person for a half-day class.
Get Custom Clothes Made
Hoi An has over 400 tailors — getting clothes custom-made here is a rite of passage for visitors. Budget 2–3 days for fittings if you want quality garments. A custom suit costs $80–200, a dress $30–80. See our tailors section below for recommendations.
Thu Bon River Boat Trip
Take a wooden sampan down the Thu Bon River at sunset — one of Hoi An’s most romantic experiences. Women balance with oil lamps at each end, and you can release a wish lantern onto the water. Cost: ~50,000–100,000 VND per person.
Bicycle to the Countryside
Rent a bicycle and ride out into the rice paddies and vegetable gardens surrounding Hoi An. The roads 10–20 minutes from the center are almost entirely free of tourists and show true rural Central Vietnam. Ride to Tra Que Vegetable Village (4 km) to see organic farming and join a herb-planting activity.
My Son Sanctuary Day Trip
A UNESCO World Heritage Hindu temple complex of the ancient Cham civilization, 40 km from Hoi An. The jungle-surrounded red brick towers date from the 4th–14th century. Best to visit early morning (8 AM) before tour buses arrive. Combined with a Hoi An afternoon, makes a full day itinerary.
Marble Mountains + Da Nang Day Trip
Combine Marble Mountains (8 km south of Da Nang) with a half-day in Da Nang city — see the Dragon Bridge, eat seafood, then return to Hoi An in the evening. Easily done by hiring a private car for the day (~$40–60). → See our complete Da Nang guide →
🍜 Hoi An Food Guide
Hoi An has its own distinct cuisine — some of Vietnam’s most unique dishes originated here. The food scene ranges from street-food stalls at 20,000 VND per plate to upscale river-view restaurants.
Must-Try Hoi An Dishes
- Cao Lầu (Hoi An’s Signature Dish): Thick noodles with pork, greens, and crispy rice crackers in a minimal broth. Traditionally, the noodles are made using water from a specific well in the Ancient Town — you can only eat the real version here in Hoi An.
- White Rose Dumplings (Bánh Bao Vac): Delicate shrimp-filled rice paper dumplings shaped like white roses, served with crispy shallots. Only one family in Hoi An makes the wrappers and supplies all the restaurants.
- Bánh Mì Phượng: Anthony Bourdain famously called this the best bánh mì (Vietnamese sandwich) in the world. The queue at Phuong’s bakery on Phan Chau Trinh Street stretches around the block all day. Worth every minute — around 30,000 VND ($1.20).
- Cơm Gà Hội An (Hoi An Chicken Rice): Simple but exceptional — poached chicken on turmeric-infused rice, with chicken broth and herbs. The best version is at Ba Buoi chicken rice shop.
- Bánh Xèo (Sizzling Crêpe): Crispy rice flour crêpe stuffed with pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts. Eat by wrapping in rice paper with fresh herbs and dipping in fish sauce.
Where to Eat
Morning Market (Chợ Hội An): The best breakfast experience — sit at tiny plastic tables while local women serve pho, cao lau, and banh mi. Arrive by 7 AM before the market gets busy. Prices are local (20,000–40,000 VND per dish).
Nguyen Thai Hoc Street: The main restaurant street in the Ancient Town with everything from upscale Vietnamese cuisine to Western food and Vietnamese cooking classes.
Hoi An Night Market: Across the river from the Ancient Town on Nguyen Hoang St — packed food stalls, fresh juice bars, and local snacks every evening from 5 PM.
✂️ Tailors & Shopping in Hoi An
Getting clothes custom-made is one of Hoi An’s biggest draws. With 400+ tailors, quality varies enormously. The key is giving enough time for fittings — never less than 2 days, ideally 3–4.
How to Get the Best Results
- Bring reference photos on your phone — show exactly what you want
- Budget time for 2 fittings: First fitting, alterations, final pickup
- Don’t rush: The biggest mistake tourists make is ordering the night before they leave
- Check fabric quality: Touch and test drape before agreeing to a price
- Mid-range tailors ($50–150/suit) often beat luxury ones — the most famous shops on tourist streets charge a premium for name recognition
What to Buy in Hoi An
- Custom suits, dresses, ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress)
- Handmade silk lanterns (quintessential Hoi An souvenir, from 80,000 VND)
- Hand-embroidered artwork and paintings
- Ceramic and pottery from Thanh Ha village (3 km out of town)
- Local woven baskets and bamboo crafts
🏖️ Hoi An Beaches
Hoi An is only 4–5 km from stunning beaches — a 15-minute bicycle ride or short taxi trip away.
An Bang Beach — The Best Beach Near Hoi An
An Bang Beach is the more laid-back, boutique option — a stretch of sand lined with colorful beach bars, good restaurants, and far fewer tourists than Da Nang’s main beaches. Ideal for a full beach day with a good book. Several excellent beach clubs with sunbeds, cocktails, and seafood line the shore.
Cua Dai Beach
Historically the most popular beach near Hoi An, Cua Dai has been heavily affected by coastal erosion and is narrower than it used to be. Still, several good beach clubs operate here and it’s convenient from the Ancient Town. Best for quick beach access rather than extended beach days.
🏨 Where To Stay in Hoi An
Ancient Town Area (Most Atmospheric)
Staying inside or immediately around the Ancient Town means you can walk everywhere, enjoy the lantern atmosphere in the evenings, and easily access the best restaurants and tailors. Downside: No motorbikes allowed in the center, traffic can be confusing.
An Bang Beach Area (Best for Beach + Relaxation)
Staying near An Bang Beach gives you a quiet beach holiday feel with easy access to the Ancient Town by bicycle (20 minutes) or taxi (10 minutes). Several charming boutique hotels and bungalows in this area, typically mid-range priced.
Cam Thanh (Eco / Nature)
The water coconut forest area southeast of Hoi An — eco-lodges and homestays surrounded by rice paddies. Very quiet, local experience, and only 15 minutes to the Ancient Town. Great for those wanting to escape the tourist crowds.
Price Ranges
- Budget: $15–40/night — guesthouses and hostels mostly outside the Ancient Town
- Mid-range: $50–120/night — boutique hotels with pools, many with lovely garden settings
- Luxury: $150–600+/night — The Nam Hai, Anantara Hoi An, Four Seasons (Thu Bon River)
✈️ Getting To Hoi An
By Air — Fly to Da Nang (DAD)
There is no airport in Hoi An — the nearest airport is Da Nang International Airport (DAD), 30 km away. Direct international flights land daily from Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Chinese cities. Domestic connections from Hanoi (1h) and Ho Chi Minh City (1h20m) are frequent. From Da Nang Airport to Hoi An: taxi (~300,000–400,000 VND, 45 min), Grab (~200,000–280,000 VND), or airport shuttle bus (~100,000 VND).
From Da Nang City
The most common transfer. Options: grab/taxi (~150,000–200,000 VND, 30–40 min), local bus line 1 (~9,000 VND, 45–60 min), or bicycle ride along the coastal road (~1.5 hours, scenic). Many tourists do this route daily for day trips. → See our Da Nang guide for accommodation near the airport →
By Train to Da Nang, then Taxi
Vietnam’s Reunification Express stops at Da Nang train station. The Hue–Da Nang scenic coastal leg is highly recommended (2.5h, passes the stunning Hai Van Pass overlooking the sea). From Da Nang station to Hoi An is then ~35 minutes by taxi.
Direct Sleeper Bus
Some sleeper bus companies run routes that go directly to Hoi An town (stopping at a hotel or central point), without needing to transfer at Da Nang. Check The Sinh Tourist and Phuong Trang (FUTA) for current routes.
🌤️ Best Time To Visit Hoi An
February – April (Best Overall ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)
Dry season, warm (25–30°C), low humidity, calm seas. February features Tết celebrations with spectacular temple decorations and flower markets. April is perfect for combining beaches and Ancient Town exploration. Avoid Chinese New Year week (mid-Jan to mid-Feb) if you dislike crowds.
May – August (Hot & Busy)
Peak tourist season — hotter (33–35°C), but very lively. Beaches at their best in June–July. Book accommodation 1–2 months ahead. Afternoon showers are common from July onwards but usually brief.
September – November (Rainy Season ⚠️)
Hoi An floods every year during this period — the Ancient Town typically floods 2–5 times from October–November, with the Thu Bon River overflowing onto the streets. Some years flooding is minor (ankle-deep), other years significant. Not recommended unless you want the authentic “flooding Hoi An” experience (which many do!). Prices are lowest of the year.
December – January
Cooler (20–25°C), some rain in December but often clear by January. The water is still warm enough to swim. A good shoulder-season option with fewer tourists and lower prices than peak.
Lantern Festival timing: The Full Moon Lantern Festival falls on the 14th of each lunar month — plan your visit to coincide with this date for the most magical Hoi An experience.
📅 Sample Hoi An Itineraries
1 Day in Hoi An (Day Trip from Da Nang)
Morning: Ancient Town early walk (6–8 AM), breakfast at the morning market → Japanese Bridge → Tan Ky House
Afternoon: Cooking class or bicycle ride to countryside → lunch at Phuong Banh Mi
Evening: Ancient Town at golden hour → lanterns, riverside dinner, Thu Bon river lantern release
2 Days in Hoi An
Day 1: Ancient Town in depth — all 5 ticket sites, explore tailors, cooking class
Day 2: An Bang Beach morning → My Son Sanctuary afternoon → Night market evening
3 Days: The Central Vietnam Combo
Day 1: Full day Hoi An Ancient Town + food + lanterns
Day 2: Day trip to Da Nang — Golden Bridge Ba Na Hills
Day 3: An Bang Beach + cooking class + tailor pickup
5 Days: Central Vietnam Complete
Hoi An (2 nights) → Da Nang (1 night) → Hue (1 night) → train or fly back
This covers all three major Central Vietnam destinations. Da Nang guide | Hue guide
