For couples · Hoi An · Vietnam
Romantic things to do in Hoi An
Ideas for a couples' trip, from small moments to a special day out.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
_after_renovation_-_img_11.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
Hoi An is one of Vietnam's most romantic stops, with lantern-lit evenings, candles floated on the river, quiet dawn streets and beach sunsets. Couples tend to stay in Ancient Town.
Key facts
- Romantic ideas
- 5
- Couple-friendly sights
- 4
- Area for couples
- Ancient Town
- Best months
- May
Romantic ideas
1.Float a lantern together
Take a rowing boat on the Thu Bon after dark and release a paper candle lantern.
2.Old town at dawn
Walk the empty streets and Covered Bridge at sunrise before the shops open.
3.Sunset at An Bang
Cycle through the rice fields and watch the sun go down from a beach restaurant.
4.Matching tailored outfits
Have clothes made together over a few days of fittings.
5.Riverside dinner
Book a balcony table overlooking the lanterns on Bach Dang Street.
Sights couples love
Neighbourhood · Ancient Town
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.
- 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
Agree the price and length of the ride before boarding; 15–20 minutes is typical.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- After dark
- Kids
- Iconic
Experience · Ancient Town
Lantern-making workshop
Choose a smaller lantern size for children; the finished lanterns fold flat for packing.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Art
- Rainy day
- Couples
Beach · An Bang Beach
An Bang Beach
Cycle there through Tra Que's vegetable gardens and come back at sunset.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Couples
Where couples should stay
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, culture and shopping
Ancient Town
The UNESCO-listed core along Tran Phu, Nguyen Thai Hoc and Bach Dang streets is where the old houses, assembly halls and the Japanese Covered Bridge are. A handful of small hotels and homestays sit inside or on the edge, putting you steps from the lanterns at night and the quiet streets at dawn.
- Good
- Walk out at dawn before the crowds; Restaurants and tailors on the doorstep; Lantern evenings outside the door
- Watch out
- Very crowded in the evenings; Few hotels have pools; Flood risk in October–November
- Nearby
- Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky Old House, Hoi An Central Market, Fujian Assembly Hall
Romantic day trips
- Cham Islands (About 20–30 minutes by speedboat) — Eight small islands forming a UNESCO biosphere reserve, with snorkelling over coral, a fishing village with a small museum and quiet beaches.
- Hai Van Pass (About 1.5 hours to the summit) — The coastal mountain road north of Da Nang with views over the bay and Lang Co lagoon, often combined with a transfer to Hue as a scenic one-way trip.
For dinner
Share local specialities such as Cao lầu, Hoi An chicken rice and White rose dumplings. Agree seafood prices by weight before it is cooked.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Hoi An romantic?
Hoi An is one of Vietnam's most romantic stops, with lantern-lit evenings, candles floated on the river, quiet dawn streets and beach sunsets.
+What is the most romantic thing to do in Hoi An?
Float a lantern together: Take a rowing boat on the Thu Bon after dark and release a paper candle lantern.
+Where should couples stay in Hoi An?
Ancient Town: Car-free heritage streets of shophouses, lanterns and assembly halls.