Travel guide · Vietnam
Hoi An travel guide
Lantern-lit merchant streets, tailors and rice-field cycling near the coast
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote . Feel free to use any of my images, but plea, CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
Hoi An was a busy trading port from the 15th to the 19th centuries, when Japanese, Chinese and European merchants traded here on the Thu Bon River. Its compact Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, keeps more than a thousand timber-fronted shophouses, assembly halls and temples, including the Japanese Covered Bridge. By day visitors explore the old houses, have clothes made by tailors and cycle through rice fields to An Bang Beach; at night silk lanterns light the streets and candles float on the river. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are February–May.
Key facts
- Country
- Vietnam
- Best time to visit
- February–May
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- DAD
- Mid-range daily budget
- $60–$130 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Lanterns, Japanese Covered Bridge, Tailor-made clothes and Cao lầu noodles
Why visit Hoi An
- The Ancient Town's merchant houses, Chinese assembly halls and Japanese Covered Bridge sit within a few car-free streets.
- After dark, hundreds of silk lanterns light the old streets and riverbanks, and small boats float paper candles on the water.
- Cao lầu, white rose dumplings and Hoi An chicken rice are found almost nowhere else.
- Rice fields, vegetable villages and An Bang Beach are a short bicycle ride from the old town.
- My Son's Cham temples, the Cham Islands and Da Nang are all within about an hour.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 16 things to do.
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Landmark · Ancient Town
Japanese Covered Bridge (Chùa Cầu)
Built by the Japanese trading community around the end of the 16th century, this small covered wooden bridge links the old Japanese and Chinese quarters and has a tiny temple on its north side, with statues of dogs and monkeys at either end.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Neighbourhood · Ancient Town
Ancient Town streets and lanterns
Tran Phu, Nguyen Thai Hoc and Bach Dang streets are lined with ochre-walled shophouses that once served as merchants' homes and warehouses.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- After dark
- Couples
- Photo spot
- History
Experience · Ancient Town
Lantern boat ride on the Thu Bon
After dark, small wooden boats rowed by local women take visitors along the river in front of the old town, where you can float a paper candle lantern for luck.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- After dark
- Kids
- Iconic
Historic site · Ancient Town
Tan Ky Old House
A merchant's house built in the late 18th century and lived in by the same family for generations, combining Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese styles with dark wooden beams, carved panels and mother-of-pearl inlay.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Religious site · Ancient Town
Fujian Assembly Hall (Phúc Kiến)
Built by merchants from Fujian province as a meeting hall and temple, it is dedicated to Thien Hau, goddess of the sea, and decorated with a bright gateway, dragon fountains, carved altars and coils of hanging incense.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- Art
- Photo spot
Religious site · Ancient Town
Quan Cong Temple
Founded in the mid-17th century opposite the central market, this temple honours Quan Cong, a revered Chinese general, whose large statue stands between two attendants and life-size horses.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
Where to stay
Ancient Town is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, culture and shopping
Ancient Town
Car-free heritage streets of shophouses, lanterns and assembly halls
$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife and families
An Hoi islet
Riverside hotels, the night market and bars across the bridge from the old town
$$ · Best for families, couples and quiet stays
Tra Que and the rice fields
Villas and homestays among paddies and vegetable gardens between town and the beach
$$ · Best for quiet stays, families and budget
Cam Thanh and the coconut villages
Eco-lodges and homestays among water coconut palms east of town
What to eat
- Cao lầu — Thick, chewy noodles with slices of char siu-style pork, crispy pork crackling, fresh greens and herbs in a little dark broth.
- Hoi An bánh mì — Light, crisp baguettes stuffed with pâté, roast pork, cold cuts, herbs, pickles and chilli sauce; Hoi An's versions are famous across Vietnam.
- Hoi An chicken rice — Rice cooked in chicken stock with turmeric, topped with shredded chicken mixed with onion, herbs and lime, served with a small bowl of broth and pickles.
- White rose dumplings — Delicate translucent rice dumplings filled with shrimp and shaped to resemble roses, topped with fried shallots and served with a sweet-sour dipping sauce.
- Fried wontons — Crisp fried wonton sheets topped with a sweet-sour sauce of tomato, shrimp and vegetables; a Hoi An take on a Chinese snack.
- Mì Quảng — The region's yellow turmeric noodles with a little rich broth, pork, shrimp, peanuts, herbs and a sesame cracker.
When to go
The best time to visit Hoi An is February to May, when it is dry and warm and the sea is calm enough for An Bang Beach and the Cham Islands. June to August is hot but sunny. Avoid October and November, when heavy rain and typhoons regularly flood the old town.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Dry season | February–May | Warm, sunny days, calm seas and comfortable temperatures for walking and cycling; the main season for visitors. |
| Hot season | June–August | Temperatures in the mid-30s and warm sea; busy with domestic holidaymakers in the evenings. |
| Rainy season | September–November | Heavy rain, tropical storms and floods, peaking in October and November, when parts of the old town can be under water. |
| Cool season | December–January | Mild, damp and often grey, with rough seas but quiet streets and lower prices. |
Getting there and around
Hoi An has no airport; Da Nang International Airport (DAD) is about 30 km north, around 45 minutes by ride-hailing car, taxi or hotel transfer, and shuttle buses also run between the airport and Hoi An.
The Ancient Town is small and closed to motor traffic for much of the day, so you walk it. Bicycles are the best way to reach the beaches and villages, and ride-hailing cars connect Hoi An with Da Nang and its airport.
Plan your days
Two days covers the Ancient Town, a lantern evening and a bicycle ride to the beach. Four days lets you add My Son, a cooking class, a tailoring fitting or two, and a lazy day at An Bang; a week adds the Cham Islands, Da Nang and Hue.
Practical information
- Currency
- VND
- Language
- Vietnamese
- Plugs
- Type A, C and F sockets, 220 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Do not drink tap water; bottled and filtered water is widely available, and ice is usually factory-made.
- Emergency number
- 113 police, 114 fire, 115 ambulance
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected at street stalls, but in sit-down restaurants for visitors a small tip or rounding up is appreciated.
Hoi An is relaxed, but watch for overcharging by boat operators and tailors, petty theft in crowded evening streets and motorbikes on the roads outside the car-free zone. In October and November, follow local advice during floods and storms.
Flights to Hoi An
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Hoi An?
Two days covers the Ancient Town, a lantern evening and a bicycle ride to the beach. Four days lets you add My Son, a cooking class, a tailoring fitting or two, and a lazy day at An Bang; a week adds the Cham Islands, Da Nang and Hue. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Hoi An?
The best time to visit Hoi An is February to May, when it is dry and warm and the sea is calm enough for An Bang Beach and the Cham Islands. June to August is hot but sunny. Avoid October and November, when heavy rain and typhoons regularly flood the old town.
+What is Hoi An known for?
Lanterns, Japanese Covered Bridge, Tailor-made clothes, Cao lầu noodles, Bánh mì, Ancient Town merchant houses and An Bang Beach. The Ancient Town's merchant houses, Chinese assembly halls and Japanese Covered Bridge sit within a few car-free streets.
+Is Hoi An expensive?
Hoi An is affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $60–$130 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Hoi An?
No. Walk the old town, cycle to the beaches and villages, and book cars or tours for My Son and Da Nang.