Vietnam · Central Coast
Hoi An
The best-preserved old trading port in Southeast Asia, still lit by silk lanterns every night.
Hoi An is a former trading port on the Thu Bon River whose UNESCO-listed Ancient Town keeps more than a thousand timber merchant houses, clan assembly halls and the Japanese Covered Bridge almost intact. Since 2025 it has been a ward of Da Nang city, a 45-minute drive south of the airport, and it pairs lantern-lit heritage lanes with rice paddies, a working fishing coast and some of central Vietnam's best street food.
Suggested stay
3–5 days
Language
Vietnamese
Currency
VND
Timezone
UTC+7
Why you'll love Hoi An
The old port lanes of 18th- and 19th-century merchant houses, Chinese assembly halls and the Japanese Covered Bridge, best walked at dawn before the crowds.
Lantern nights the riverfront glows with silk lanterns and floating candles after dark, busiest on the monthly full-moon evening.
Food a distinct local canon of cao lau, white rose dumplings, com ga chicken rice and banh mi, cheap and everywhere.
Beyond the walls flat bike rides through rice paddies and vegetable villages end at An Bang beach, with the My Son Cham ruins an hour inland.
Best time to visit
Jan-Apr
Mild & dry · 25-32° days
15.888° N, 108.337° E
UTC+7 · Asia/Ho Chi Minh
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Weather & when to go to Hoi An
Month by month: typical highs and lows, rainfall and rain days.
✓ Best Jan-Apr
Conditions Jan Mild & dry · Feb Driest period · Mar Warm & dry · Apr Beach season · May Heating up · Jun Very hot · Jul-Aug Hot & dry · Sep Typhoon risk · Oct Monsoon peak · Nov Monsoon · Dec Rains easing
Watch for Jun-Jul extreme heat risk · Jul-Oct typhoons risk · Sep-Nov monsoon flooding risk
Cards tinted by verified verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions
When to avoid Hoi An
Skip Sep-Nov, when typhoons and floods regularly put the Ancient Town's streets under 1-2 m of water (late 2025 saw repeated inundations); also expect heavy crowds at Tet and on full-moon nights.
Top things to do in Hoi An
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Hoi An Ancient Town - walk the lantern-lit merchant streets
history culture arts 👍 PopularThe car-free UNESCO quarter of ochre shophouses, Chinese assembly halls and old family homes along Tran Phu and Nguyen Thai Hoc is best early morning and after dusk when the silk lanterns come on. Foreign visitors buy the VND 120,000 heritage ticket at the gate kiosks (now with card-paying smart kiosks), which covers entry plus a set of houses, halls and museums.
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Japanese Covered Bridge (Chua Cau) - cross the restored 17th-century icon
history culture arts 👍 PopularThe town's emblem reopened in August 2024 after a roughly 19-month, VND 20 billion restoration that kept most of the original timber; crossing it uses one coupon from the Ancient Town ticket. Go before 8am to photograph it without the crowds.
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Hoai River - lantern boat ride at dusk
culture arts scenic 👍 PopularRowing boats push off from the riverfront near Tran Phu each evening for a 15-20 minute loop where you float a paper lantern on the water, typically around VND 150,000-250,000 per person through booking sites and less if you haggle on the bank. Pair it with the Nguyen Hoang night market on An Hoi islet across the bridge.
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Tra Que vegetable village - cycle out, farm and cook
food countryside ⭐ Highly recommendedA flat 3 km ride from the old town through rice paddies to the herb gardens that supply Hoi An's kitchens, where you hoe beds with the growers before a hands-on cooking class; half-day farm-and-cook packages run about VND 1,250,000-1,400,000 per person.
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Bay Mau coconut forest, Cam Thanh - spin in a basket boat
nature wildlife scenicRound bamboo coracles paddle through the nipa palm channels of Cam Thanh, with boatmen spinning the basket and weaving crab-catching tricks; expect VND 250,000-400,000 per two-person boat plus a VND 30,000 area ticket. Quieter Tra Nhieu and Thanh Dong coconut groves offer the same without the speaker-blasting tour queues.
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Cao lau and white rose dumplings - eat your way around Hoi An
foodHunt down the town's own dishes: chewy cao lau noodles with char siu pork, banh bao vac white rose dumplings, com ga chicken rice and the town's famous banh mi, then sweet soup and grilled skewers at the night market. Most street plates cost VND 30,000-60,000.
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Hoi An tailors - have clothes made in 24-48 hours
shoppingHundreds of shops will copy a garment or cut a suit from a photo, with established names like Bebe Tailor, A Dong Silk and Kimmy Tailor quoting roughly VND 2-4 million for a two-piece suit. Allow two to three days for fittings and get written quotes before committing.
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An Bang Beach - swim and laze 4 km from town
scenic wellnessHoi An's main working beach, an easy bicycle ride from the old town, is lined with beach bars and loungers and has paddleboard hire; neighbouring Cua Dai has lost much of its sand to erosion, and An Bang's own southern stretch has been sandbagged, so check conditions after storm season.
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Thanh Ha pottery and Kim Bong carpentry villages - see the old crafts
culture arts off beaten pathRiverside craft villages a short ride or boat hop from town where families still throw terracotta pots and carve boat-building timber; Thanh Ha charges a small entry fee and lets you try the wheel.
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Hoi An Memories show - the town's history on a riverside stage
culture arts historyA large-scale evening spectacle on Hoi An Memories Island with hundreds of performers retelling the port's history through dance and lantern scenes; seats sell well in peak months, so book a day or two ahead.
Best areas to stay in Hoi An
$ Budget $$ Mid-range $$$ Premium
Ancient Town
First-time visitors $$Lantern-lit lanes, walk to every sight
Explore hotels in Ancient Town →
An Hoi Islet
Nightlife and budget $Night market, bars and riverside buzz
Explore hotels in An Hoi Islet →
Cam Chau
Couples and slow stays $$Rice-field villas between town and beach
Explore hotels in Cam Chau →
Tra Que Village
Rural slow travel $$Herb gardens, homestays and village calm
Explore hotels in Tra Que Village →
An Bang Beach
Beach lovers $$Laid-back beach shacks and seafood
Explore hotels in An Bang Beach →
Live nightly prices from Booking.com, Agoda and others, centred on Hoi An
Getting to & around Hoi An
Getting there
No airport of its own: fly into Da Nang (DAD), about 30 km and 40-50 min away by Grab
Flight
Da Nang International Airport (DAD)
About 30 km south: a Grab or taxi takes 40-50 min for roughly VND 250,000-350,000, shared shuttles run VND 130,000-150,000 a seat, and the cheap LK02 public bus from central Da Nang costs about VND 35,000.
Train
Da Nang Station
Hoi An has no railway station; Reunification Express trains stop in Da Nang, then it is a 45 min Grab, minivan or bus ride south.
Flights
Chu Lai Airport (VCL)
Smaller alternative with domestic flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, but it sits 70-85 km south, about 1.5-2 hr by private car.
Coach
Hoi An town (hotel or office drop-off)
Open-tour and sleeper buses on the Hue - Nha Trang corridor stop in Hoi An itself, with Hue about 3-4 hr away over or under the Hai Van Pass.
Getting around
Walking
The Ancient Town is pedestrian-only roughly 09:00-21:00 (21:30 in summer), so walking is the main way in.
Free
Bicycle
Flat and easy; many hotels lend bikes free, and An Bang Beach is a 15 min ride.
VND 25,000-50,000/day
Grab (car or bike)
GrabBike hops across town are cheap; a GrabCar to An Bang or Cua Dai beach runs about VND 40,000-90,000.
VND 15,000-90,000
Motorbike rental
Useful for beaches and countryside; a valid licence is required and bikes are barred from the old town during walking hours.
VND 120,000-200,000/day
Taxi
Mai Linh and Vinasun operate here; metered fares sit slightly above Grab.
Metered
Day trips from Hoi An
My Son Sanctuary
Half dayCham temple ruins
UNESCO-listed jungle valley of 4th-13th century Cham Hindu temples; go on the early shuttle or arrive before 9am to beat the tour groups and the heat.
Getting there
bus | tour | car
1-1.5 hr by shuttle, tour or car
Cham Islands (Cu Lao Cham)
Full dayIsland snorkelling
Marine-reserve island cluster with clear-water snorkelling, fishing villages and quiet beaches; boats stop running from roughly mid-October to February, so it is a spring and summer trip.
Getting there
ferry | tour
20-25 min by speedboat from Cua Dai pier
Marble Mountains
Half dayCave-riddled limestone peaks
Five marble and limestone outcrops on the road to Da Nang, climbed by stairs to pagodas, grottoes and sea views; easy to pair with a beach stop on the way.
Getting there
car
30 min by Grab or car
Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge
Full dayMountain resort
Hilltop theme resort reached by one of the world's longest cable cars, home to the giant-hands Golden Bridge; go on a clear day as cloud often swallows the views.
Getting there
car | tour
1-1.5 hr by car or tour, then cable car
Hai Van Pass and Hue
1-2 daysCoastal pass, imperial city
The coastal mountain road north of Da Nang is the most scenic drive in central Vietnam, and an easy-rider day out can end in Hue's imperial citadel; better as an overnight or a one-way move than a rushed return.
Getting there
car | tour
3-4 hr by car or easy-rider motorbike via the pass
A little history of Hoi An
Long before it was a lantern-lit tourist town, Hoi An was a river port on the Thu Bon. It traded under the Champa kingdom, passed to the Vietnamese in the late 15th century, and from the late 1500s the Nguyen lords opened it to foreign merchants. Japanese and Chinese traders settled in their own quarters, and Portuguese, Dutch and French ships called at the port Europeans knew as Faifo. The mix of Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese building styles you still see in the old town comes from that period.
By the late 18th century the Thu Bon had silted up and trade moved north to Da Nang. That decline is why the old town survived almost untouched, with its wooden shophouses, assembly halls and the 16th-century Japanese Covered Bridge. UNESCO listed it in 1999 as an exceptionally well preserved Southeast Asian trading port. In July 2025 Quang Nam province was merged into Da Nang city, so Hoi An is now a set of wards within Da Nang rather than a city of its own.
Emperor Le Thanh Tong annexes the former Champa port area into Dai Viet
Japanese merchants begin the Covered Bridge linking their quarter to the Chinese enclave, finished around 1595
Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu names the bridge Lai Vien Kieu, the bridge for guests from afar
UNESCO inscribes Hoi An Ancient Town as a World Heritage Site on 4 December
The Japanese Covered Bridge reopens on 3 August after a 19-month restoration costing about VND 20 billion
Hoi An becomes wards of Da Nang city in the July 2025 provincial merger; in late October floods match the 1964 record of about 3.4 m
What Hoi An costs
Per person, per day · converted from VND
Shoestring
$19–30 USD /day
≈$500,000–800,000 VND
Dorm bed VND 120,000-200,000 or basic guesthouse VND 250,000-500,000, street food at VND 20,000-50,000 a dish, bicycle or walking, Old Town ticket now and then.
Midrange
$49–84 USD /day
≈$1,300,000–2,200,000 VND
Boutique hotel or homestay with pool around VND 800,000-1,200,000, mix of street food and Ancient Town restaurants (VND 80,000-150,000 a dish), scooter rental VND 120,000-150,000 or Grab to An Bang, a class or tour.
Comfort
$114–209 USD /day
≈$3,000,000–5,500,000 VND
Riverside or beach resort, sit-down dinners, private car transfers, tailoring, spa and guided day trips.
Prices are planning estimates.
Know before you go
Payment
Cash preferred
English
Limited
Wifi
Workable
~50 Mbps
Power
Type A / B / C
230 V, 50 Hz
Dialing
+84
Extreme heat risk in this window; check current conditions before you go.
Typhoons risk in this window; check current conditions before you go.
Monsoon flooding risk in this window; check current conditions before you go.
The months our climate read flags to avoid: the wettest, lowest-rated weather of the year.
Mobile network & SIM card
Get an eSIM before you fly
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FAQs about Hoi An
▸ When is the best time to visit Hoi An?
December to August is the window that works. Jan-Apr is the sweet spot, dry and warm without the heat, and Feb-Apr is ideal for cycling the rice fields and An Bang beach. May-Aug stays dry but turns hot and humid, so plan the old town for early morning and evening. Avoid Sep-Nov: this is the central coast rainy and typhoon season, when the river regularly floods the old town.
▸ How many days do you need in Hoi An?
Plan 3-4 days. That covers the old town by day and night, a bike ride through the rice fields to the beach, and a day trip to My Son or the Marble Mountains. Add a day if you are ordering tailored clothes, because a good tailor wants 2-3 days and at least one fitting.
▸ Is Hoi An safe for tourists?
Yes, it is one of the safest places to visit in Vietnam, and violent crime against visitors is rare. The real hassles are small: pushy touts, taxi or cyclo drivers who quote high, and the odd bag or phone snatch, so agree prices first and keep valuables out of reach. Traffic outside the pedestrian old town is the bigger physical risk, and in Sep-Nov check flood warnings, as water can rise fast.
▸ Do I need a visa to visit Vietnam?
It depends on your passport. Vietnam lets citizens of a set list of countries, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Nordics, Japan and South Korea, stay up to 45 days visa-free, a rule extended through 2028, and an August 2025 resolution added more European countries. Everyone else, including Australians, Americans and Canadians, can get an e-visa online valid for up to 90 days, single or multiple entry, from about USD 25. Rules change, so confirm on Vietnam's official e-visa portal before you book.
▸ Do you need a ticket for Hoi An Ancient Town?
Yes. Foreign visitors pay VND 120,000 for a heritage ticket that covers the old town streets plus entry to a set number of sites, such as the Japanese Covered Bridge, assembly halls, old houses and museums. Walking the streets is the main point, but staff do check at entry points, especially in the evening, so buy one and keep it on you.
▸ Is it worth getting clothes made by a Hoi An tailor?
It can be, if you give it time. A made-to-measure suit typically runs about VND 2-4 million and takes 2-5 days with 2-3 fittings; shirts are around VND 400,000-1,000,000. Order early in your stay, agree the fabric and total price up front, avoid shops a tout or driver walks you to, and do not pay in full until the final fitting is right.
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