Hoi An Travel Guide

Hoi An Overview

Hoi An is a historic trading-port destination on the Thu Bon River in central Vietnam. Its compact Ancient Town preserves timber merchant houses, assembly halls, temples, family chapels and narrow streets shaped by centuries of interaction between Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese and later European communities.

UNESCO inscribed Hoi An Ancient Town on the World Heritage List in 1999 under criteria (ii) and (v). The World Heritage property covers 30 hectares with a 280-hectare buffer zone and preserves more than one thousand timber-frame buildings within a street plan that developed when Hoi An functioned as an international trading port between the 15th and 19th centuries.

Hoi An’s heritage recognition now extends well beyond the Ancient Town. The wider Cu Lao Cham-Hoi An landscape became a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2009, the Art of Bai Choi in Central Vietnam entered UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2017, and Hoi An joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2023 for Crafts and Folk Art. This combination of architecture, crafts, food, rural life and coastal ecology creates several distinct reasons to visit Hoi An beyond its lantern-lit streets.

Hoi An’s administrative boundaries changed in 2025. The former Hoi An City is now divided among Hoi An, Hoi An Tay and Hoi An Dong wards plus Tan Hiep island commune, all within the enlarged Da Nang municipality. The new Hoi An Ward, which includes the Ancient Town and former Cam Kim area, covers 10.78 km² and had 37,222 residents in July 2025. Travelers will nevertheless continue to encounter “Hoi An” as the destination name for the Ancient Town, An Bang, Tra Que, Cam Thanh, craft villages and Cu Lao Cham.

Best Time to Visit Hoi An for Heritage, Beaches and Village Life

February to April offers the best overall balance for exploring Hoi An. Rainfall is lower, temperatures are generally comfortable for walking and cycling, and the weather usually suits both the Ancient Town and surrounding villages. May to July is hotter but stronger for beach trips, while October and November carry the greatest flood and tropical-storm risk.

Weather in Hoi An

Flooding is part of Hoi An’s environmental history, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed tourism experience. During severe rain, follow official closures and local safety guidance rather than entering flooded streets simply for photographs. Heritage sites and villages normally reopen only after safety inspections and cleanup.

Getting to Hoi An from Da Nang and Central Vietnam

Hoi An has no commercial airport or railway station, so Da Nang is the principal transport gateway. Da Nang International Airport is roughly 30 km from the Ancient Town, while Da Nang Railway Station provides access to the North-South railway.

The current Da Nang bus network includes 01SB between Da Nang Airport and Hoi An and Route 02 between Da Nang’s central bus corridor and Cua Dai. Route 02 currently charges by distance, from 8,000 VND for short journeys to 30,000 VND for the full route. Bus schedules change, so check DanangBus shortly before travel rather than relying on older Hoi An bus timetables.

Getting Around Hoi An

Walking is the best way to experience the Ancient Town, while bicycles are especially useful for Tra Que, Cam Chau and the beach corridor. Motorized traffic is restricted across much of the heritage center during pedestrian hours.

• Walking: best inside the Ancient Town, An Hoi and the Hoai River area.
• Bicycle: practical for Tra Que, An Bang, Cam Chau and quieter countryside roads.
• Grab / taxi: useful for Cam Thanh, Thanh Ha, the beaches and accommodation outside the center.
• Motorbike: convenient for wider countryside travel but unnecessary inside the pedestrian core.
• Hoai River boat: primarily an evening sightseeing experience rather than an essential transport service.

The Ancient Town’s pedestrian and non-motorized zone currently operates from 09:00-21:30 in summer and 09:00-21:00 in winter. Phan Chau Trinh becomes pedestrian-oriented from 17:30 until the same seasonal closing times.

For informal river rides, agree on the fare, route and duration before boarding rather than relying on old published boat prices.

Inside Hoi An Ancient Town: Trading-Port Architecture and Living Heritage

The Ancient Town should be explored as a connected trading-port landscape rather than as a checklist of isolated monuments. Merchant houses open toward former commercial streets and waterways, Chinese assembly halls document migrant communities, and Japanese and Vietnamese sites reveal how international trade reshaped local architecture and ritual life.

Hoi An Ancient Town.

The heritage authority currently offers two sightseeing-ticket options:

• 80,000 VND ticket: Ancient Town landscape, one signature monument – Japanese Covered Bridge or Quan Cong Temple – plus two other cultural monuments.
• 120,000 VND ticket: Ancient Town landscape, one signature monument, access to the museum system and three other cultural monuments.
• Validity: tickets can be retained for entry during a stay of up to three days.
• Groups: groups purchasing eight or more tickets can receive a complimentary heritage guide.

The ticket also provides access to selected cultural programming. Traditional performances currently take place at Song Hoai Square, 01 Cao Hong Lanh, at 10:15, 15:15 and 16:15. Japanese tea-ceremony demonstrations are scheduled at the Japanese Culture Gallery, 06 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, at 09:30 and 16:30.

Japanese Covered Bridge, also known as Chua Cau or Lai Vien Kieu, is the symbolic monument of Hoi An’s historical relationship with Japan. The bridge developed during the period of Japanese merchant activity in Hoi An, while the small shrine attached to it was added later. Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu gave the bridge the name Lai Vien Kieu in 1719.

Japanese Covered Bridge, also known as Chua Cau, restored and reopened in August 2024

The bridge underwent an extensive conservation project beginning in late 2022. After nearly 19 months of work, the restored monument officially reopened on August 3, 2024.

Chinese assembly halls preserve the religious and social life of merchant communities from southern China.

Fujian, Chaozhou and Cantonese assembly halls, Hoi An

• Fujian Assembly Hall: 46 Tran Phu Street; associated particularly with worship of Thien Hau, protector of seafarers.
• Chaozhou Assembly Hall: 92B Nguyen Duy Hieu Street; built by the Chaozhou community and known for elaborate wood and ceramic decoration.
• Cantonese Assembly Hall: 176 Tran Phu Street; founded by migrants from Guangdong and later associated strongly with Guan Gong worship.
• Quan Cong Temple: one of the two signature monuments included in the current Ancient Town ticket system.

Merchant houses and family chapels reveal how trade, religion and domestic life occupied the same narrow urban plots.

Historic merchant houses in Hoi An

• Tan Ky Old House: 101 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street; about two centuries old and occupied by successive generations of the same family. Its architecture includes practical adaptations to recurrent flooding, including upper-level storage and pulley systems.
• Duc An Old House: 129 Tran Phu Street; adds an early-20th-century political and intellectual layer because the property operated as a bookstore connected with reformist and anti-colonial activity.
• Phung Hung Old House: 4 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street; large two-storey merchant residence near the Japanese Bridge.
• Tran Family Chapel: 21 Le Loi Street; family worship complex associated with Tran Tu Nhac during the Nguyen period.

Hoi An’s museum network provides additional context for travelers who want more than architectural sightseeing. The Museum of History and Culture traces local settlement through Sa Huynh, Champa and later Vietnamese periods; the Museum of Trade Ceramics documents maritime exchange; the Sa Huynh Culture Museum focuses on early archaeological material; and the Museum of Folk Culture records local performance, clothing and everyday traditions.

Tra Que, Thanh Ha and Kim Bong: Villages of a UNESCO Creative City

Hoi An’s inclusion in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network for Crafts and Folk Art is easiest to understand outside the Ancient Town. Farming, pottery and carpentry remain active community practices rather than purely museum displays.

Tra Que Village lies about 3 km from the Ancient Town in Hoi An Tay Ward. The community has cultivated vegetables and herbs for more than five centuries, and its farming landscape now covers more than 18 hectares. Traditional Tra Que vegetable cultivation entered Vietnam’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2022, while UN Tourism named Tra Que a Best Tourism Village in 2024.

Tra Que Village – Hoian

• Admission: 35,000 VND.
• Opening hours: 08:00-18:00.
• Best time: early morning or late afternoon.
• Experiences: cycling, gardening, watering crops, herb harvesting and cooking.

Village visits often combine naturally with Hoi An cooking classes, since fresh herbs and vegetables are central to many local dishes.

Thanh Ha Pottery Village developed as an important ceramic community during Hoi An’s trading-port era. Visitors can watch clay preparation, hand-forming and pottery-wheel techniques before trying simple pieces themselves.

• Admission: 35,000 VND.
• Opening hours: 08:00-17:30.
• Best for: families, craft workshops and travelers interested in everyday ceramic traditions.

Kim Bong Carpentry Village, across the river from the old merchant center, preserves wood carving and carpentry skills historically used for houses, religious structures and boats.

• Admission: 35,000 VND.
• Opening hours: 08:00-17:30.
• Experiences: wood carving, boat building and repair, mat weaving, basket making and craft demonstrations.

Hoi An’s creative identity also includes silk. Hoi An Silk Village demonstrates stages from silkworm cultivation to thread extraction and traditional loom weaving, connecting modern craft tourism with the textiles once traded through the port.

Cam Thanh Coconut Forest and Hoi An’s River Landscapes

Cam Thanh shifts the experience from urban heritage to waterways, nipa palms and fishing culture. Bay Mau Coconut Forest lies about 3 km from the Ancient Town in Hoi An Dong Ward and has become one of the area’s most popular ecotourism experiences.

Cam Thanh Coconut Forest, a popular ecotourism spot for basket-boat rides near Hoi An

• Opening hours: approximately 08:00-18:00.
• Entrance: 30,000 VND per person.
• 45-minute basket boat: about 150,000 VND per boat for up to two people.
• 60-minute basket boat: about 180,000 VND per boat for up to two people.
• Experiences: basket-boat rides, fishing demonstrations, nipa-palm crafts and local cultural performances.

The busiest basket-boat zones can be lively and commercial. Travelers wanting a quieter view of the wetland should visit early or choose an operator focused more on the ecosystem and community than spinning-boat performances.

The nearby Co Co River provides another emerging layer. Historically, the waterway helped connect the Hoi An trading port with the area now occupied by Da Nang. Recent restoration and tourism programs have reintroduced kayaking, sailing, fishing demonstrations and riverside cultural activities, although the river remains an evolving tourism corridor rather than a core attraction.

An Bang, Tan Thanh and Hoi An’s Coastal Lifestyle

Hoi An’s coastline now offers several distinct experiences rather than a single quiet beach. An Bang has developed into a mature beach-lifestyle district, Tan Thanh retains more fishing-village character, while Cua Dai combines resort accommodation with access toward Cu Lao Cham.

An Bang Beach in Hoi An

• An Bang Beach: best for restaurants, beach cafés, boutique accommodation and evening social life.
• Tan Thanh: better for sunrise, fishing-community atmosphere, small vendors and community events.
• Cua Dai: quieter resort-oriented coast and principal departure area for Cu Lao Cham speedboats.

The differences between these areas are explored further in this overview of the beaches around Hoi An.

An Bang’s contemporary beach scene continues to evolve. Royal Shore Beachclub, for example, opened in April 2026 with dining, a pool, music and family-oriented facilities. Such venues change faster than heritage attractions, so opening hours and programs should be checked shortly before visiting.

Cu Lao Cham and the Hoi An Biosphere Landscape

Cu Lao Cham is not simply a beach excursion; it forms the marine core of the UNESCO Cu Lao Cham-Hoi An Biosphere Reserve. UNESCO designated the reserve in 2009. It covers 33,475 hectares, including 26,777 hectares of marine area, and links the Ancient Town’s river-estuary system with the island archipelago.

Cu Lao Cham island, part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with 134 recorded coral species

UNESCO records 134 coral species alongside fish, molluscs, crustaceans and seaweed in the marine ecosystem.

• Sightseeing fee: 70,000 VND.
• Environmental / sanitation fee: 20,000 VND.
• Visitor hours: approximately 07:00-16:00.
• Speedboat from Cua Dai: about 15-20 minutes.
• Wooden boat: approximately 90 minutes.
• Best sea conditions: generally March-August.

Travelers should avoid disposable plastic bags, never stand on or remove coral, follow life-jacket requirements and avoid purchasing wildlife products. Rough seas between September and February can interrupt boat services even when conditions in the Ancient Town are manageable.

Lanterns, Bai Choi and Hoi An after Dark

Hoi An’s evening identity combines lantern-lit streets with folk performance, river activity and contemporary cultural shows. The Ancient Town is illuminated by lanterns every evening; the special monthly cultural program should not be confused with the fact that lanterns are visible nightly.

The program commonly called the Hoi An Lantern Festival is associated with the 14th day of each lunar month, when the old-town environment hosts additional traditional activities. Bai Choi, folk games, music and community performances become especially visible during these cultural nights.

Hoi An Lantern Festival, held monthly on the 14th day of the lunar month in the Ancient Town

Bai Choi itself is much more than entertainment for tourists. UNESCO inscribed the Art of Bai Choi in Central Vietnam on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2017. It combines music, poetry, acting and a traditional card game and remains part of Hoi An’s living performance culture.

Two larger evening shows offer very different experiences:

Hoi An Memories Show uses a roughly 25,000 m² outdoor stage and nearly 500 performers to present five chapters inspired by the region’s history. Hoi An Memories Land opens separately before the main show; admission to the theme park and admission to the performance are not the same ticket.

Teh Dar is performed at Hoi An Lune Center near the Ancient Town. Bamboo apparatus, acrobatics and live tribal-inspired music create a more compact theater experience than Hoi An Memories. Performance days vary, so current dates should be checked before planning an evening around the show.

Festivals that Reflect Hoi An’s Trading-Port Culture

Hoi An’s most meaningful festivals are connected with religion, migrant communities, crafts and local performance traditions rather than being purely tourist events.

Nguyen Tieu Festival takes place around the first full moon of the lunar year. Rituals are held at Quan Cong Temple, Chinese assembly halls, communal houses and other religious sites. The Hoi An Nguyen Tieu tradition is recognized as National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The Hoi An Mid-Autumn Festival combines lanterns, lion and Heavenly Dog dances and community celebrations around the eighth lunar month’s full moon. Hoi An’s Mid-Autumn Full Moon Festival received national intangible-heritage recognition in 2023.

Hoi An Mid-Autumn Festival, a nationally recognized celebration with lanterns and lion dances

Hoi An-Japan Cultural Exchange reflects more than four centuries of interaction associated with Japanese merchants, the Covered Bridge and the story of Araki Sotaro and Princess Ngoc Hoa. Its annual program can include tea ceremony, traditional arts, exhibitions and cultural workshops.

Craft villages also maintain their own calendars. Thanh Ha’s pottery founders’ anniversary and Kim Bong’s traditional craft festival combine ancestor worship with craft demonstrations and community events. Exact Gregorian dates vary and should be checked each year.

Where to Stay in Hoi An

The best place to stay depends more on neighborhood than hotel star rating. The Ancient Town favors walking and heritage; An Bang favors beach life; Cam Chau offers a quieter middle ground; and Cam Thanh works better for resorts and countryside-focused stays.

Ancient Town / central Hoi An

• Best for: first-time visitors, walking, restaurants and early or late access to the heritage center.
• Anantara Hoi An Resort: 1 Pham Hong Thai Street, Hoi An Ward, Da Nang City; riverfront location less than 1 km from the historic center.

Hoi An Tay / northern side of the center

• Best for: travelers wanting easy access to the Ancient Town while remaining convenient for Tra Que and An Bang.
• Almanity Hoi An Resort & Spa: 326 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hoi An Tay Ward, Da Nang City.
• La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa: 132 Hung Vuong, Block 7, Hoi An Tay Ward, Da Nang City.

An Hoi / Hoai River

• Best for: night-market activity, river views and travelers who prioritize the evening atmosphere.
• Trade-off: the busiest streets can remain lively until late.

Cam Chau / Hoi An Dong

• Best for: quieter accommodation, rice-field views and being between the Ancient Town and coast.

An Bang / Cua Dai

• Best for: beach-focused stays, cafés and slower itineraries.
• Trade-off: repeated taxi or bicycle trips are required for Ancient Town sightseeing.

What to Eat in Hoi An

Hoi An’s cuisine reflects both the wider Quang region and the town’s own trading-port identity. Cao Lau and chicken rice are the strongest local signatures, while White Rose dumplings, Mi Quang, banh mi and wontons add enough variety for several days of eating.

Cao Lau combines thick, chewy rice noodles with sliced pork, fresh greens, crispy toppings and a small amount of savory sauce. Its preparation is strongly associated with Hoi An, although some popular stories about a single mandatory well or specific ash ingredient should be treated as local culinary tradition rather than firmly documented historical fact.

Cao Lau, Hoi An

Com ga Hoi An uses seasoned yellow rice with shredded chicken, herbs, onions and pickled vegetables. Unlike generic chicken rice, the local version is defined by its shredded meat, herbs and strongly seasoned accompaniments.

Hoi An chicken rice

• White Rose dumplings: delicate rice-flour dumplings with shrimp or pork filling, fried shallots and dipping sauce.
• Mi Quang: Quang-region noodles served with a small amount of concentrated broth, herbs, peanuts and rice crackers.
• Banh mi: Hoi An has a particularly strong reputation for baguettes filled with pate, meat, herbs, pickles and sauces.
• Fried wontons: crispy wontons often topped with a tomato-based sweet-savory sauce.
• Banh xeo: small crispy rice pancakes with pork, shrimp and bean sprouts, wrapped with herbs and rice paper.
• Che bap: sweet corn pudding associated with the Thu Bon river region.

More stalls and local dishes are covered in this guide to Hoi An street food.

Where to eat:

Tailoring, Lanterns and What to Buy in Hoi An

Shopping in Hoi An has genuine destination value because several products are linked directly with the town’s craft economy. Tailoring, silk, lanterns, pottery and woodwork connect modern visitors with skills developed around the historic trading port.

Custom tailoring in Hoi An ranges from inexpensive shirts and dresses to suits and more complex garments. Fast 24-hour production is possible at some businesses, but quality generally improves when travelers allow enough time for measurements and at least one fitting.

• Allow 24-48 hours: longer if ordering suits, coats or several garments.
• Discuss fabric first: confirm material, lining and construction before paying a deposit.
• Schedule a fitting: do not rely only on initial measurements.
• Check workmanship: inspect seams, buttons, hems, zippers and fit before final payment.
• Keep time for alterations: avoid collecting the garment immediately before leaving Hoi An.

Lantern making remains another recognizable Hoi An craft. Traditional workshops use bamboo frames covered with fabric or silk, and many allow visitors to assemble a small folding lantern.

Other meaningful souvenirs include Thanh Ha pottery, Kim Bong wood products and locally produced silk. A visit to Hoi An Silk Village can help travelers distinguish the stages of silk production before buying fabric or garments.

Practical Hoi An Travel Tips for International Visitors

• Keep your Ancient Town ticket: current tickets can be used during a stay of up to three days, even after individual included monuments have been visited.
• Use pedestrian hours to your advantage: early morning is quieter for photography; late afternoon and evening bring the strongest street atmosphere.
• Prepare for flooding: October and November are the highest-risk months. Follow official closures and never assume floodwater is safe simply because boat services appear.
• Protect yourself from heat: May-July afternoons can be uncomfortable in the Ancient Town and at Tra Que; start outdoor sightseeing early.
• Agree on boat prices: confirm the Hoai River boat fare and duration before boarding.
• Choose your Cam Thanh experience: early departures generally provide a quieter wetland atmosphere than peak-hour performance areas.
• Reduce plastic on Cu Lao Cham: carry reusable bags and bottles and follow marine-conservation rules.
• Plan tailoring early: place orders near the beginning of your stay so there is enough time for fittings and alterations.
• Check current administrative addresses: older websites and maps may still use Quang Nam Province and pre-2025 ward names.
• Check Tet and festival schedules: ticket counters, pedestrian-zone hours and heritage services can operate differently during major holidays.

Hoi An Travel FAQ

How many days should I spend in Hoi An?

Two full days are enough for the Ancient Town, one village or Cam Thanh and an evening cultural experience. Three days allow time for An Bang, Tra Que, craft villages or a slower countryside itinerary. A 48 hours in Hoi An itinerary is a practical starting point for a short first visit.

Can I visit Hoi An as a day trip from Da Nang?

Yes. The Ancient Town is roughly 45-60 minutes from central Da Nang or the airport by road. A day trip works for the core heritage area, but staying overnight provides a much better experience of the lantern-lit streets, Bai Choi, evening shows and early-morning local life.

Is the Hoi An Lantern Festival held every night?

No. Lanterns illuminate the Ancient Town every evening, but the special monthly old-town cultural program is associated with the 14th day of the lunar month and includes additional traditional performances and activities.

Should I stay near the Ancient Town or An Bang Beach?

Stay near the Ancient Town if heritage, food and evening walking are the priority. Stay at An Bang if beach time, cafés and a slower atmosphere matter more. Travelers with three or more nights can also split their stay between both areas.

Is Cam Thanh Coconut Forest worth visiting?

It suits travelers interested in basket boats, nipa palms and fishing culture. The busiest parts can feel commercial, so visit early or choose a quieter community-focused experience if ecological scenery is the main reason for going.

Can I visit Cu Lao Cham year-round?

Boat services are most reliable from roughly March to August. From September into the winter months, rough seas and storms can cause cancellations, so confirm marine conditions before committing to an island day trip.