History · Hoi An · Vietnam
7 historic sites to see in Hoi An
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Start with Japanese Covered Bridge (Chùa Cầu), Ancient Town streets and lanterns and Tan Ky Old House. Together the 7 picks below take roughly 6–7 hours across 1 area; all charge for entry.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 7
- Free entry
- 0
- Time to see them all
- 6–7 hours
- Areas
- Ancient Town
Historic sites in Hoi An
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Landmark · Ancient Town
1.Japanese Covered Bridge (Chùa Cầu)
It appears on the 20,000-dong note and reopened in 2024 after a major restoration.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Neighbourhood · Ancient Town
2.Ancient Town streets and lanterns
In the evening the streets close to motorbikes, silk lanterns are lit and the riverbanks fill with candle sellers and boats.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- After dark
- Couples
- Photo spot
- History
Historic site · Ancient Town
3.Tan Ky Old House
Marks on the walls show the heights of past floods.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Religious site · Ancient Town
4.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
5.Quan Cong Temple
A carp-shaped rain spout and courtyard pond are details to look for.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
Historic site · Ancient Town
6.Phung Hung Old House
The family still lives here and sells embroidery.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Museum · Ancient Town
7.Museum of Trade Ceramics
A restored timber house on Tran Phu Street displays ceramics traded through Hoi An between the 9th and 19th centuries, including pieces from Chinese, Japanese and Middle Eastern kilns recovered from shipwrecks, showing how wide the port's trade reached.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Ancient Town | Japanese Covered Bridge (Chùa Cầu), Ancient Town streets and lanterns, Tan Ky Old House, Fujian Assembly Hall (Phúc Kiến), Quan Cong Temple, Phung Hung Old House and Museum of Trade Ceramics | 20 minutes + Half a day + 30 minutes + 30 minutes + 20–30 minutes + 30 minutes + 30 minutes |
Booking and timing
Of these 7, 7 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Ancient Town streets and lanterns; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 2 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Ancient Town): Japanese Covered Bridge (Chùa Cầu) → Ancient Town streets and lanterns → Tan Ky Old House, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Ancient Town): Fujian Assembly Hall (Phúc Kiến) → Quan Cong Temple → Phung Hung Old House → Museum of Trade Ceramics, at least 2 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- October: highs of 29°C (84°F), about 19 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Heavy rain and flooding are common; riverside streets in the old town can be under water for days.
- November: highs of 27°C (81°F), about 20 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Wettest month with frequent floods and storms; many outdoor activities are disrupted.
- September: highs of 32°C (90°F), about 15 rainy days, quiet crowds. Rainy season begins and the risk of tropical storms rises; Cham Islands trips may be suspended.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Ancient Town — Car-free heritage streets of shophouses, lanterns and assembly halls
More of Hoi An
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Hoi An?
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.