What to see in Hoi An: 14 essentials

Updated: April 2, 2024

Guide with the best what to see in Hoi An and nearby, where to eat, how to go, the best time to travel, what to buy and many tips.

Hoi An town is only 28 km away Da Nang in central Vietnam and was formerly known as Faifoo and before that as Lam Ap Pho.

Hoi An Old Town is the main tourist attraction of this part of Vietnam, which was declared UNESCO World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999.

Hoi An is a exceptional example of an ancient commercial and port city very well preserved.

It is located on the Thu Bon River and became the main port of the South China Sea.

The buildings of old town from the 15th to the 19th century are an example of the fusion of cultures local and foreign (mainly Japanese, Chinese and French).

However, long before, this area already played strategic functions for the Champas who were great merchants, who were settled upriver in My Son.

Here I tell you about the best things to see in Hoi An and the surrounding area, below I leave you the map with all the places marked, including the restaurants that I recommend below.

What to see in Hoi An? 14 essentials

1.- Japanese Bridge

*** Update 01/20/2024: They are currently rehabilitating the Japanese bridge, which has been damaged by the river flooding during the rainy season. The initial works were not enough, therefore, They have dismantled it and it will last a long time. I will try to update this information, but I suggest you do your research before purchasing tickets online in advance. Likewise, Hoi An has more beautiful things to see which you can read below. 😉 ***

The Japanese bridge It is the greatest treasure in the city, therefore, it is in its official emblem and is one of the best things to see in Hoi An.

It's about a roofed temple bridge made of wood from the 18th century on one of the canals that at the time connected the Japanese part of the city with the Chinese part, where the ceramic manufacturers were located.

Inside the Hoi An Japanese Bridge, you will find the Buddhist pagoda part and the beautiful lantern decoration.

This is the most photographed point in the city, both from the outside and its beautiful interior.

• Working hours: open 24 hours
• Entry Fee:: 20,000 VND (0.8 euros)

2.- Old Town

The old town of Hoi An has a unique charm where you cannot miss strolling to discover its brick constructions, carved wood, beautiful ornamentations and tiled ceilings.

You will find small, crowded homes, commercial shops and other buildings that are architectural monuments.

All in a very special atmosphere that gives its narrow pedestrian streets and lanterns that light up at night.

The old town is next to the river with a checkerboard-shaped street design. On the map below you can see the area it covers.

Some of the most interesting places to visit are, marked in green on the map at the end of the article:

1. Fujian Assembly Center: It is one of the most beautiful buildings, it was built by the Chinese community in the 17th century, the entrance hall has beautiful carved Chinese mythological creatures. Admission is free.
2. Guan Di or Quan Cong Temple: is a 17th century Chinese temple dedicated to the famous general Quan Cong. This general was so important that one of the most important festivals was held in his honor at the end of June. Admission costs 120,000 VND (4.76 euros).
3. Central Market: It is a good place to see the daily hustle and bustle of the local people and taste their food. If you continue walking to the corner to the left side (Trần Quý Cáp street) it is another good place with food and craft shops.
4. Tan Ky Old House: It is a private home of a Chinese family, built almost 200 years ago and is one of the best preserved. Admission costs 120,000 VND (4.76 euros).
5. Bà Mụ Temple: where locals take their children to bless them. It is a classical Vietnamese style temple from the 17th century.

These are just some of the places you can visit in the old town, but there are many more because At every step you find gems.

If you prefer to do the walk with a guide so you don't miss anything, I recommend this tour with guide in Spanish which will tell you a lot of interesting details about the city and its history.

Although if you want a fun experience to get to know the city and at the same time try cocktails, I recommend this other one Hoi An secret tour with delicious cocktails.

3.- Lantern Festival (Full Moon)

Every full moon, on the Thu Bon River next to Hoi An Old Town The Lantern Festival is celebrated (Lantern Festival).

If you can, coincide your trip to this area of Vietnam with the festival because it is quite beautiful to see and at the same time very crowded.

The streets of the city, like the boats, are always illuminated with typical Vietnamese lanterns.

But during this festival The splendor is multiplied with even more lanterns and offerings what they do in the river.

Because it is a date where Locals honor their ancestors with offerings of flowers, candles in little paper baskets that they sell on the sidewalks next to the river.

The offerings are for wish prosperity and good fortune.

4.- River walk

Another of the most beautiful things to see in Hoi An are the small boats decorated with lanterns where you can take a walk.

A good alternative are the dinner cruises that allow you to have the views from the river itself and have dinner at sunset, how is the link which includes a welcome cocktail.

5.- Night market

When you visit Hoi An don't miss stopping by night market they set up on Nguyễn Hoàng Street on the island in front of the old town, where you can taste its tasty dishes at a good price.

In addition, you will find food that is a little curious as you are roasted frogs from the photo above and delicious desserts.

In the market there are also clothes, crafts, including lanterns.

6. Lantern workshop

If you are a fan of lanterns and want a very special experience in Hoi An, I recommend you this workshop to learn how to do them.

The lanterns have a bamboo structure that gives them flexibility and are then decorated with fabrics with different very colorful prints.

The workshop includes all the material, tea and of course a very cheap, super authentic experience.

👍 Friend's tip: Lanterns are an excellent souvenir to bring as a gift, because they are beautiful and weigh very little.

7.- Vietnamese cooking class

One of the wonders of traveling to Vietnam is its delicious cuisine, which is considered one of the healthiest in the world.

But not only that, it is truly delicious, I personally think it is one of the best in Southeast Asia because of the good balance of flavors.

If you like Asian food from that area, you will love Vietnamese food.

If you like to cook, I recommend making a vietnamese cooking workshop like this one in the link.

This way, when you return home you can treat your loved ones to the culinary delights you learned on your trip.

Something very good about this cooking workshop is that it includes visit to the market to buy the ingredients and additionally a ride on the traditional basket boat.

👍 You may also be interested in this other article about 30 Curiosities of Vietnam, where I talk about cooking, a very curious dish and in addition to the curious boat basket.

8.- Show at the Bambú Theater (Lune Center)

On the little island in front of the old town is the Bamboo Theater which is a dome made of bamboo 13 meters high where there are circus shows.

The Teh Dar show is from traditional dance, acrobatics accompanied by music with stories about death and reincarnation, about hunting animals and other stories. All is very nice to see.

You can buy tickets directly at the theater or on your website.

If not, there is also an option that I did not try, it is this is the link. It is a very complete tour that includes admission to the show, in addition to the Guided tour of Hoi An Old Town and boat ride.

• Teh Dar show schedule: almost daily at 6 pm (see the calendar on their website)
• Entry Fee:: between 700,000 VND (27.74 euros) and 1,600,000 (63.41 euros)

9.- Visit to the rice fields and the delta

If you want to enjoy the areas around Hoi Ai I recommend Rent a bike to take a ride through the delta and the rice fields.

Although it is best to join a tour like this one from the link which includes many stops to see the Authentic Vietnam from local people.

For example, the meal is at a Vietnamese family's home, there is a walk along the river and the chance to learn about traditions.

10.- My Son Sanctuary

My Son shrine was a religious and political center built by the Champas starting in the 4th century, who remained in the area for 10 centuries.

Many people compare My Son to Angkor Wat in Cambodia or Ayutthaya in Thailand, but in miniature due to Hindu influence.

In fact, the vast majority of the temples are dedicated to Hindu gods, especially Shiva.

This sanctuary was bombed during the Vietnam War by American troops and many buildings have been left in poor condition.

However, you can still appreciate the splendor of its constructions made of fired brick with rich ornamentation, a technique typical of the Champas.

To get there you can drive or take a taxi from Hoi An which will cost you about 1,000,000 VND (39.65 euros).

If not, another alternative is to join one excursion to My Son, You go with a guide who will tell you many details about the history of the place, including entrance and transportation.

You can check the availability and book here below:

• Opening Hours: every day from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Entry Fee:: 150,000 VND (5.95 euros)

⭐ In this other article I talk in detail about everything there is to see in the Visit to the My Son Sanctuary, its history and how to get there.

11.- Marble Mountains

One of the Most amazing places to visit near Hoi An are the Marble Mountains, which are halfway before reaching Da Nang.

There are 5 mountains, each one corresponds to one of the elements, with caves and tunnels, although only 4 can be visited.

I visited the mountain of water, Thuy Son, because it is the largest and the only one with viewpoints with panoramic views from where you can see Da Nang in the distance, the sea and the other mountains.

Furthermore, the largest cave is also in the water mountain, it is the Huyen Khong with a height of 30 m.

This cave served as a Hindu temple for the Champas. Today it is a Buddhist temple where some ancient elements have been reused as the guardians of the entrance to the cave.

To get there you can drive, take a taxi or take the bus that connects Da Nang with Hoi An.

However, the most practical option is to join a excursion like this one from the link, which also includes a visit to Monkey Mountain next to Da Nang to see the pagoda and Lady Buddha.

• Visiting hours: every day from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Entrance fee to Thuy Son: 40,000 VND (1.58 euros)

⭐ In this article about the Visit to the Marble Mountains I'll tell you everything there is to see, all the alternatives to get there, including the bus and various curiosities.

12.- Yoga Retreat

The Hoi An area, especially the part between the old town and the sea, is famous for its yoga retreats, for its relaxed atmosphere.

If on your vacation you want combine tourist visits with a retreat to fully recharge your batteries, I recommend this one yoga retreat in Hoi An which is super cheap, and includes accommodation in villas with pools.

Besides, includes a visit to My Son, a cooking workshop Vietnamese and traditional basket boat ride.

🙏 You may also be interested in this other article about 3 best yoga retreats in Vietnam and 1 yoga teacher course.

13.- Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge

This is a fairly recent tourist destination, it is the theme park built by the Ba Na resort.

The theme park was built primarily to attract Vietnamese, but the magnificent Golden bridge with a pair of hands holding it has created great interest thanks to social networks.

If you want to take some interesting photos on this bridge you can get there by driving or with a taxi that will charge you about 380,000 VND (15.06 euros) for the trip.

Another alternative is to go with a excursion like this which is quite comprehensive with many stops, including the cable car in the Ba Na Hills.

If not, the cheapest and most practical alternative is to go with a transfer to Ba Na, which will cost you almost four times less than the taxi.

14.- Hue

The famous city of Hue was the imperial capital during the Nguyen dynasty, later since 1802 for almost 150 years it was the capital of Vietnam.

If you visit the central area of Vietnam you cannot miss going to Hue, a city full of history and beautiful corners.

The Hue monument complex is inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.

There you can visit the Imperial city with buildings with thick stone walls with palaces and sanctuaries.

Then you will find the Purple Forbidden City, which was the residence of the emperor with an area of 520 hectares walled and with 10 gates that prevented passage.

One of the true gems in Hue is the Royal Theater of the Nguyen Dynasty, delicately constructed of wood with shapes reminiscent of pagodas.

– How to get from Hoi An to Hue?

To go to Hue from Hoi An you have buses that take you there and cost about 10 euros.

You can check the schedule at the Hoi An bus station or on this website which is very practical because you can also book tickets without traveling. If not, use the search engine below.

Then there you can hire a guide that explains to you about all the places, like this one in the link, and also includes transportation within Hue. You also have the possibility to do it with a guide in Spanish.

If you have little time and don't want to complicate things, you can go with one full day excursion, so you don't worry about anything because it includes transportation, guide and even tickets.

• Opening Hours: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Price of admission: 150,000 VND (5.94 euros)

How much should you spend to see Hoi An?

Hoi An Old Town is not too big One day will be enough.

Many tourists visit from Da Nang just to see the lantern festival and then leave, but keep in mind that you can find many tourists and it is not ideal to enjoy the place well.

That's why, If you have at least one night left, you can visit the old town at your leisure. and other places that I mention in the article.

In addition, visiting other places that are within walking distance and are well connected to Hoi An.

What to buy in Hoi An?

In Hoi An you can buy handicrafts and typical Vietnamese hats as in other areas of Vietnam.

However, the most interesting things specific to Hoi An are:

1. The colorful vietnamese lanterns You will see the artisans making them right there at the night market, as they are foldable, they will not take up much of your time. These lanterns are an excellent souvenir that weighs nothing and perfect for giving as a gift.
2. Another of the most remarkable things about the city are the ceramic crafts, a symbol of the city before it was even called Hoi An that was brought over by the Chinese.
3. Furthermore, in Hoi An you will find many tailors to make custom clothes for you, such as dresses, suits, shirts and almost any garment you want because they are very skilled. Of course, don't expect to pay a few euros because they use good quality fabrics and they make a specific garment for your body that will fit perfectly. Likewise, if you compare it to making custom clothes in Spain it is very cheap. To give you an idea, I paid the same for a dress as I would have paid for a dress at Zara in Spain, but of good quality. Note that The tailor will take at least 24 hours to have the garment ready, depending on the complexity.

When to visit Hoi An? - climate

The driest months are from February to August.

The first months of February to May are the best months to go to Hoi An because the temperatures are warmer and more pleasant as there is not so much humidity.

Instead, The hottest season is from June to August, with days that can reach temperatures of up to 38 °C.

Then, The rainy season is from September to January.

I was visiting Hoi An in January and it wasn't that bad, it rained every day, but at night and then during the day it was a little cloudy and at times the sun came out.

It is rare for it to rain all day, usually it is torrential rain, for a while and it clears.

The biggest problem is that in Hoi An sometimes During the monsoon the river can overflow and flood the city.

The rainy season has an advantage, especially November to January is the coolest season, when at night temperatures can drop to 20 °C.

It's not really cold, but maybe you need a jacket, I was there in January and the truth is that it was a great night's sleep.

Likewise, during the day it is hot and muggy due to humidity.

Below you can see the average maximum and minimum annual temperatures.

Where to eat in Hoi An?

In Hoi An you will find many restaurants where you can eat delicious Vietnamese food at a good price.

Below I leave you a list with the best restaurants in Hoi An:

• Faifo Coffee: In the heart of the old town, this beautiful cafe has a magnificent terrace where you can contemplate the tiled roofs of the old town. It is one of the most popular among tourists.
• Nguyễn Phúc Chu Street: For lunch the best place is the street food restaurants on this street that is on the little island in front of the old town. If you come from the river they are the restaurants that are on the left side, I tried many of them, They are good and cheap restaurants. Some of them are: Miss HÀ, Mr.Dũng and Mr. Sơn, I marked all three of them on the map.
• Quán Cao lầu Bá Lễ: This restaurant is in the old town, it serves Vietnamese food. It is a very cheap restaurant and one of the most popular for its excellent cuisine.
• Bánh Mỳ Chay Huynh Đệ: This is a street stall with delicious vegetarian sandwiches that you can't miss.
• The Espresso Station: It is one of the most popular cafes to have a good coffee, although with the coffee culture of Vietnam you will surely find many places. By the way, in this other article about 30 Curiosities of Vietnam I talk about different types of Vietnamese coffees.
• Night market: at night on Nguyễn Hoàng street on the island they set up the night market, It is the perfect place to dine and taste all the Vietnamese street culinary wonders. 😋 This is the market that I mentioned above in point 5, on the map it is marked in orange in the places to visit in Hoi An.

Where to stay in Hoi An? (with tips)

In Hoi An you will find many hotels at good prices. I recomend you choose a hotel in the old town or nearby, so you can visit everything on foot.

For example, in the area of island in front of the old town is an area that is good because it is close, you have the night market and well-priced restaurants where you can eat and it is a little quieter.

The only thing you have to keep in mind is that if you are going with a transfer, many times Buses or minibuses cannot enter the streets, which are very narrow.

This happens both in the old town and in the island area.

Also be careful when choosing a hotel, because very cheap hotels sometimes have mold problems.

I met a traveler in Hoi An who had encountered this problem, he asked to change his room and there was also mold.

So, I recommend you check the hotel reviews so as not to encounter unpleasant surprises.

Likewise, below I leave you a list of the best hotels in Hoi An for different budgets:

• Cheap: Phong Phu Villa Hoi An It has spacious, clean rooms and is in the historic center.
• Half: Hoi An Historical Hotel The breakfast is very good and the pool area is a delight, with a large pool and sun loungers, this is the best hotel in terms of quality and price in the old town.
• Luxury: Bliss Hoi An Beach This resort is next to the beach 18 km from Hoi An and is perfect for relaxing for a few days. Although it is a luxury resort the price is like a mid-range hotel in Europe.

Hoi An Map

* To check the legend for each place, click the button in the top left corner of the map. To view this map on your phone or computer, tap the star on the right side of the title. Then go to Google Maps, select "Your Places" and "Maps" from the menu.

How to go to Hoi An?

From Da Nang Airport to Hoi An

The closest airport to Hoi An is Da Nang, which is just under 30 km from Hoi An.

• By Bus: To go from the airport there are no buses right there, you have to leave the airport and walk for about 15 or 20 minutes.
• Taxi: In the departure area what you will find are taxis, but I honestly can't tell you how much they charge.
• Grab: Another option is to use the Grab app, which is like Uber, to order a car. There you can see the price they will charge you beforehand. At the airport you can buy a SIM card or use the airport Wifi.
• Transfer: although the most popular option is the transfers that take you to the hotel in Hoi An. These are minibuses that will be waiting for you and have a very good price, here I leave you a link if you want to take a look. You can also buy the ticket for the transfer at the airport. But keep in mind that if there are no more seats left you will have to wait for the next mini bus when the next flight arrives, that is, 1 or 2 hours later.

You can check availability and make a book below.

From Da Nang to Hoi An

To go between Da Nang and Hoi An you have several transportation alternatives:

• Taxi: This is the comfortable option, the price for the trip between both cities is between 350,000 and 450,000 VND (13.87 and 17.87 euros).
• Grab: Another alternative you have between cities is to order a car with Grab, which eliminates the language barrier and the uncertainty of knowing what you will be charged. In this case you will need a SIM or order it from somewhere where you can connect to Wi-Fi.
• By Bus: The local bus is the cheapest option. The route is from Cong Vien Hung Vuong station, cross the Dragon Bridge and continue along Ngũ Hành Sơn Avenue to Hoi An bus station. The bus takes 1 hour 45 minutes and costs 20,000 VND (0. 79 euros) but if you go with a suitcase or a large backpack they will charge you more. Also the conductor usually tries to charge tourists more, regardless of the luggage. 😅 Bring the right change and don't be intimidated.
• Transfer: It is the same company that does the transfer from the airport. The journey between Da Nang and Hoi An is 45 minutes, here you can reserve it.
• Excursion: if you don't want to complicate things you can make one Hoi An tour from Da Nang full day, with a visit to the Marble Mountains and Monkey Mountain.

🔝 If you want to know the best of the country (north, center and south) without worrying about anything, book this all-inclusive trip to Vietnam, which costs about 100 euros per day. 😍

Final Thoughts

Hoi An is a true gem in Vietnam that you cannot miss visiting and exploring its magical corners.

As you have seen in this article, there are many things to see in Hoi An and the surrounding area, and you can also have some very authentic experiences to learn more about the local culture.

If you want to read more, this Vietnam Travel Guide What I wrote may interest you, there you will find all my articles for traveling independently.

If you have any questions, leave me a comment below and if you found the article useful, share it with other fellow travelers. 😘

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