16 Best Things to Do in Hoi An: The Complete Experience Guide

Hoi An may be small, but it packs a surprising number of experiences into its old streets, riverside neighbourhoods and nearby countryside. The best things to do in Hoi An range from walking through centuries-old merchant houses and seeing the Japanese Covered Bridge to cycling through vegetable farms, getting clothes tailored and spending an afternoon at An Bang Beach.

For travellers planning Hoi An as part of longer Vietnam tour packages, the town fits especially well into a Central Vietnam route with Da Nang, Hue and nearby day trips. What makes Hoi An different from many other things to do in Vietnam is that you do not need to keep moving from one major attraction to another. The experience here is slower. Spend the morning exploring Hoi An Old Town, escape to the beach or countryside during the hotter afternoon hours, and return when the lanterns come on along the Hoai River.

Hoi An at a Glance

Hoi An Ancient Town was an important trading port from the 15th to 19th centuries and is now protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and European influences can still be seen in its merchant houses, temples, assembly halls and street plan.

Hoi An Old Town ticket, verified 29 September 2026: international visitors pay VND 120,000. The official 2026 ticket includes the general heritage area, either the Japanese Covered Bridge or Quan Cong Temple, one museum and three additional heritage sites. The lower VND 80,000 ticket has a smaller selection of sites.

The important distinction is that you do not need to treat the ticket like a theme-park admission pass. In practice, travellers can walk the streets, eat, shop and explore the public areas without using a heritage entry; the ticket matters when entering protected monuments, museums and historic houses. Hoi An’s official heritage authority nevertheless asks visitors to purchase a ticket when visiting the heritage area because ticket revenue supports conservation.

Weather also affects how much you enjoy the town. Central Vietnam generally has its drier travel window through the first half of the year, with March to May particularly comfortable for Hoi An. June to August can still work well but afternoons become much hotter, while October to January brings a higher chance of heavy rain and storms.

Best Things To Do in Hoi An 

1. See the Japanese Covered Bridge

The Japanese Covered Bridge, or Chua Cau, is the most recognisable of all Hoi An attractions. Built by Hoi An's Japanese community centuries ago, the small covered bridge reflects the trading links that shaped the town.

Do not only photograph it from the street. Use your Old Town heritage ticket to walk through the structure and then continue towards Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, where the surrounding lanes are quieter than the main Tran Phu stretch.

Best time: Before 9 AM for fewer tour groupsTime needed: 20–30 minutesCost: Covered by the relevant Hoi An Old Town ticket entryWanderOn tip: Visit the bridge in daylight for architectural details and return after sunset for photographs.

2. Explore the Heritage Houses and Assembly Halls

There are enough ticketed buildings in Hoi An to fill half a day, but trying to visit every one usually becomes repetitive. Instead, choose two or three that show different sides of the town.

Tan Ky Old House is a good introduction to the architecture of Hoi An's merchant families. The Fujian Assembly Hall brings in the Chinese trading history, while one of the local museums adds context to the pottery, maritime trade and everyday life that made the port wealthy.

Best time: 8 AM–11 AMTime needed: 1.5–2 hours for 2–3 sitesCost: Use the inclusions on your Old Town ticketWanderOn tip: Do your ticketed indoor sites in the morning. Save the streets and riverfront for late afternoon.

3. Experience a Lantern Evening and the Full-Moon Festival

Lanterns appear across Hoi An every evening, so you do not need to visit during the festival to see the city glowing after dark.

The monthly celebration is different. The famous lantern night takes place on the 14th day of every lunar month, when traditional lanterns and candlelight become the focus of the Ancient Town. Vietnam's official tourism site also identifies the lunar 14th as the traditional festival night.

For travellers searching for Hoi An lantern festival dates, the remaining confirmed 2026 nights after September are:

23 October 202622 November 202622 December 2026

These dates follow the lunar 14th-day calendar.

Best time: Around 5:30 PM onwardsTime needed: 2–3 hoursCost: Walking the riverside is free; boats and floating lanterns cost extraWanderOn tip: Arrive before sunset. The blue-hour period gives better photographs than waiting until the sky is completely dark.

4. Take an Evening Boat Ride on the Hoai River

Once Hoi An lights up, small wooden boats begin moving along the Hoai River beside the Ancient Town. It is undeniably touristy, but a short ride gives you one of the best views back towards the illuminated riverfront.

Do not confuse releasing a paper lantern with the monthly festival. Boats operate on regular evenings too, and the riverside is lit with colourful lanterns throughout the year.

Best time: 6 PM–8 PMTime needed: About 20–30 minutesCost: Variable; confirm the total boat price before boardingWanderOn tip: Ask whether the quote is for the entire boat or per passenger before you get in.

5. Walk Through Hoi An Night Market

Cross the river to An Hoi Islet and you reach the evening market around Nguyen Hoang Street. It is more tourist-focused than Hoi An Central Market, but this is where you will find lantern stalls, souvenirs, small snacks and some of the most photographed shopfronts in town.

Best time: 6 PM–9 PMTime needed: 45–60 minutesCost: Free to enterWanderOn tip: Browse once before buying. Similar souvenirs can vary noticeably in price only a few stalls apart.

6. Eat Your Way Through Hoi An Central Market

If the Night Market shows Hoi An after dark, the Central Market shows the working city in the morning. Come early for fruit, herbs, noodles, seafood and vendors preparing local dishes.

Look for cao lau, Hoi An-style chicken rice and white rose dumplings. Vietnam Tourism specifically highlights cao lau, hoanh thanh and white rose dumplings as signature dishes of the city.

Best time: 6 AM–9 AMTime needed: 1 hourCost: Free entry; pay for what you eatWanderOn tip: The morning atmosphere is far more interesting than visiting after the fresh-market rush has finished.

Beyond the Old Town

7. Spend a Slow Afternoon at An Bang Beach

An Bang Beach is roughly 4 km from the Ancient Town and works perfectly between a morning of sightseeing and an evening back under the lanterns. Vietnam Tourism describes it as around a 10-minute drive from central Hoi An.

The beach has swimming areas, cafés and seafood restaurants, but the experience changes with the season and sea conditions.

Best time: Before 10 AM or after 3:30 PMTime needed: 2–4 hoursCost: Beach access is generally free; loungers and food cost extraWanderOn tip: Avoid cycling there during the hottest part of a summer afternoon.

8. Ride a Basket Boat at Cam Thanh Coconut Village

The circular bamboo basket boats in Cam Thanh have become one of the most photographed experiences around Hoi An. They move through waterways surrounded by nipa palms, and some operators add high-energy boat spinning and music.

The honest verdict: the spinning videos are entertaining, but they are not the reason to come. A quieter paddle through the coconut waterways early in the morning gives you a better sense of the area.

As of the official 2026 Da Nang tourism price list, entrance to Cam Thanh Coconut Forest is VND 30,000 and its listed visiting hours are 8 AM–6 PM. Basket-boat rides are a separate commercial service, so prices vary by operator.

Best time: 8 AM–10 AMTime needed: 1–1.5 hoursCost: VND 30,000 site entrance + separate basket-boat chargeWanderOn tip: Confirm the boat price and duration before starting, especially if booking directly at the village.

9. Get Clothes Made by a Hoi An Tailor

Ordering custom clothes is one of Hoi An's most distinctive experiences, but it works best when you treat it as tailoring rather than instant shopping.

For a structured jacket or suit, allow around 48 hours or more and ideally two fittings. Current 2026 tailoring guides consistently advise travellers not to leave complicated garments until their final day. Deposit policies differ, but established shops commonly request around 30–50% upfront, with the rest due after fittings and completion.

Best time: Your first afternoon in Hoi AnTime needed: 2–3 visits across 2–3 daysCost: Depends heavily on fabric and garmentWanderOn tip: Bring reference photographs and discuss fabric, lining, fit, alterations and the final price before paying your deposit.

10. Join a Vietnamese Cooking Class

Many cooking classes combine a market visit with hands-on preparation of dishes such as spring rolls, pancakes and local Hoi An recipes. Some also include a short boat or countryside component.

Choose the class based on how much cooking is actually involved rather than the number of activities packed into the itinerary.

Best time: MorningTime needed: 3–5 hoursCost: Varies by classWanderOn tip: Ask how many dishes you personally cook and whether the market visit is guided rather than just a quick photo stop.

11. Cycle Through Tra Que Vegetable Village

Cycling is one of the easiest ways to understand how quickly Hoi An changes outside the Old Town. Within minutes, yellow merchant houses give way to rice fields, vegetable gardens and quieter lanes.

Tra Que Vegetable Village is especially easy to combine with An Bang Beach. The official 2026 visitor price listed for Tra Que Vegetable Village is VND 35,000, with visitor hours of approximately 8 AM–6 PM.

Best time: 7 AM–10 AM or late afternoonTime needed: 2–3 hours including cyclingCost: VND 35,000 village admission; bicycle rental extraWanderOn tip: Sunrise is particularly good if you want to see agricultural activity rather than only visitor demonstrations.

12. Make Your Own Hoi An Lantern

Hoi An's lantern tradition dates back centuries, and a small lantern-making workshop gives more context to what otherwise becomes just a colourful evening photo. Vietnam Tourism notes that lantern making has been practised here for more than 400 years.

Most workshops guide you through shaping the bamboo frame and covering it with silk.

Best time: Midday, when outdoor sightseeing is hottestTime needed: 1–2 hoursCost: Varies by workshop and lantern sizeWanderOn tip: Choose a collapsible lantern if you need to fit it into checked luggage.

13. Visit Thanh Ha Pottery Village

Thanh Ha offers a quieter craft experience than the centre of Hoi An. The village is known for traditional pottery, workshops and demonstrations, and it fits easily into a half-day countryside ride.

The official 2026 ticket is VND 35,000, with listed visiting hours of roughly 8 AM–5:30 PM.

Best time: MorningTime needed: 1–2 hoursCost: VND 35,000WanderOn tip: Combine it with cycling rather than making a separate car trip from the Old Town.

Day Trips from Hoi An

14. Visit My Son Sanctuary at Sunrise

About 40 km from Hoi An, My Son Sanctuary preserves the remains of temples built by the Champa civilisation over several centuries. Vietnam Tourism recommends early visits, and sunrise or near-opening hours also help you avoid the strongest heat.

Verified 2026 price: VND 150,000 for international visitors. The official regional tourism price list gives operating hours of 6 AM–6 PM.

Best time: Arrive around opening timeTime needed: Half day from Hoi AnCost: VND 150,000 for international adultsWanderOn tip: My Son becomes much more interesting when you understand the Cham religious and architectural context, so this is one day trip where a knowledgeable guide adds real value.

15. Combine Hoi An With Marble Mountains

Marble Mountains sits between Hoi An and central Da Nang, making it one of the easiest stops to combine with an airport transfer or a day in Da Nang.

The main Thuy Son route includes caves, pagodas, stairways and viewpoints. In 2026, official tourism information lists Thuy Son at VND 40,000 for adults and Am Phu Cave at an additional VND 20,000, with both generally open 7 AM–5 PM.

Best time: Early morningTime needed: 2–3 hoursCost: VND 40,000 for Thuy Son; VND 20,000 for Am Phu CaveWanderOn tip: Wear footwear with grip. The stone staircases can become slippery after rain.

16. Take a Seasonal Day Trip to the Cham Islands

The Cham Islands, or Cu Lao Cham, are a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve off the coast near Hoi An. They work best as a warm-weather day trip for beaches, snorkelling and boat excursions.

This is one experience where season matters. Vietnam Tourism recommends roughly April to September for diving, while another official guide highlights May to August for calmer summer island trips. Sea conditions can disrupt boats outside this period.

For 2026, the official regional list gives a VND 70,000 sightseeing fee plus VND 20,000 island sanitation fee; transport and organised boat-tour costs are separate.

Best time: April–August for the most reliable sea conditionsTime needed: Full dayCost: VND 70,000 sightseeing + VND 20,000 sanitation fee; boat/tour extraWanderOn tip: Do not lock this trip into an October–January itinerary without checking the marine forecast and boat operations first.

Getting There and Around

Hoi An does not have its own commercial airport. Most travellers arrive through Da Nang International Airport and then travel south by road. Vietnam Tourism puts the airport-to-Ancient-Town journey at roughly 50 minutes, although actual travel time depends on traffic and your hotel location.

Our detailed Da Nang to Hoi An route guide covers the transfer options, while the Vietnam airports guide is useful if Hoi An is one stop in a longer north-to-south trip.

Once you arrive, walking is best inside the Ancient Town. For An Bang, Tra Que and the nearby countryside, bicycles work well if the weather is comfortable. Taxis and ride-hailing are more practical for Marble Mountains, Cam Thanh and longer transfers.

Hoi An in Your Vietnam Itinerary

For most first-time travellers, two nights in Hoi An is the practical minimum. That gives you one afternoon and lantern evening in the Ancient Town, a morning for the heritage sites and enough time for either An Bang Beach, Cam Thanh or a countryside experience.

Make it three nights if you want a proper tailor fitting, My Son sunrise trip or Cham Islands excursion without rushing the rest of Hoi An.

Where Hoi An falls in your route also depends on the season. Check the best time to visit Vietnam before building a multi-city itinerary, because Central Vietnam's weather does not always match Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Phu Quoc.

If you want Hoi An combined with Da Nang and the rest of the country, explore our Vietnam tour packages for planned central-Vietnam routes and longer itineraries.