5 days in Hoi An

Day by day

1. Day 1: Japanese Covered Bridge (Chùa Cầu) and Ancient Town streets and lanterns

   Japanese Covered Bridge (Chùa Cầu), Ancient Town streets and lanterns and Tan Ky Old House, then Lantern boat ride on the Thu Bon in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Japanese Covered Bridge (Chùa Cầu)

      See it at dawn, when the street is empty, and again after dark when lanterns light it from the river. (20 minutes, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Ancient Town streets and lanterns

      The Ancient Town ticket covers entry to five heritage sites of your choice; buy it at the ticket booths on the edge of the old town. (Half a day, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Cao lầu

      The central market food hall and small restaurants across the old town.

   4. Afternoon

      Tan Ky Old House

      Go early or late in the day; the narrow house becomes crowded when tour groups arrive. (30 minutes, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Lantern boat ride on the Thu Bon

      Agree the price and length of the ride before boarding; 15–20 minutes is typical.

2. Day 2: Fujian Assembly Hall (Phúc Kiến) and Quan Cong Temple

   Fujian Assembly Hall (Phúc Kiến), Quan Cong Temple and Phung Hung Old House, then Hoi An Night Market in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Fujian Assembly Hall (Phúc Kiến)

      Look for the model of a Chinese trading junk inside, and visit in the morning when incense smoke catches the light. (30 minutes, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Quan Cong Temple

      Combine it with the central market across the road and the small Hoi An Museum of History behind. (20–30 minutes, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Hoi An bánh mì

      Long-running stalls such as Bánh Mì Phượng on Phan Chau Trinh Street and carts around the old town.

   4. Afternoon

      Phung Hung Old House

      Climb upstairs to see the trapdoor and look out from the balcony onto the street. (30 minutes, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Hoi An Night Market

      Buy a collapsible lantern here to take home, and bargain politely.

3. Day 3: Museum of Trade Ceramics and Hoi An Central Market

   Museum of Trade Ceramics, Hoi An Central Market and Lantern-making workshop, then Float a lantern together in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Museum of Trade Ceramics

      Head upstairs to the balcony for a view over the tiled rooftops. (30 minutes, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Hoi An Central Market

      Come early for the fish landing by the river, then eat breakfast in the food hall. (1 hour, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Hoi An chicken rice

      Specialist cơm gà shops on Phan Chau Trinh Street and around the old town.

   4. Afternoon

      Lantern-making workshop

      Choose a smaller lantern size for children; the finished lanterns fold flat for packing. (1.5–2 hours, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Float a lantern together

      Take a rowing boat on the Thu Bon after dark and release a paper candle lantern.

4. Day 4: Day trip to My Son Sanctuary

   About 1 hour by car each way. Getting there: Car with driver, motorbike tour or organised tour.

   1. Morning

      Travel to My Son Sanctuary

      About 1 hour by car (Car with driver, motorbike tour or organised tour); about 40 km.

   2. Day

      My Son Sanctuary

      The religious heart of the Champa kingdoms, a jungle valley of red-brick towers built between the 4th and 13th centuries to honour Shiva. Best for culture and first-timers.

   3. Evening

      Back in Hoi An

      Dinner: try White rose dumplings.

5. Day 5: An Bang Beach and Tra Que vegetable village

   An Bang Beach, Tra Que vegetable village and Bay Mau coconut forest, then Old town at dawn in the evening.

   1. Morning

      An Bang Beach

      Cycle there through Tra Que's vegetable gardens and come back at sunset. (Half a day, free).

   2. Late morning

      Tra Que vegetable village

      Visit on the way to An Bang by bicycle, early in the morning or late afternoon when farmers are working. (1–3 hours, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: White rose dumplings

      Restaurants across the old town, and at the family workshop that supplies them on Hai Ba Trung Street.

   4. Afternoon

      Bay Mau coconut forest

      Go in the morning before the tour buses, and agree whether the price includes the spinning show and crab-fishing. (1–1.5 hours, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Old town at dawn

      Walk the empty streets and Covered Bridge at sunrise before the shops open.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Ancient Town keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, An Hoi islet ($$) suits first-timers, nightlife and families. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 15–20 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11.2 hours in December to 13.1 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Hoi An
• 2 days in Hoi An
• 3 days in Hoi An

Questions travellers ask