Hoi An
former Quang Nam provincenow part ofDa Nang
- Region
- Centre
- Province
- Da Nang former Quang Nam province
- Nearest airport and station
- Da Nang International Airport About 23 km; Da Nang Railway Station
- Best month
- February – may
- Recommended stay
- 2 to 3 days
- UNESCO heritage
- Hoi An Ancient Town Inscribed in 1999
Why stop here
From the 15th to the 19th century, Hoi An was the thriving trading port of Dang Trong, where Japanese, Chinese and then European ships docked on the Thu Bon River. The old town preserves more than a thousand tile-roofed wooden buildings, assembly halls and the Japanese Covered Bridge; it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. By day, its streets lined with yellow walls belong to pedestrians and bicycles; at nightfall, silk lanterns illuminate both banks of the Hoai River.
Entering the old town means crossing a border in time. Every yellow wall, every carved beam is a page in the history of this trading port that once welcomed ships from all four corners of the world, where Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese and, later, French architecture intermingle. With its delicate curves, the Japanese Covered Bridge remains the link between two cultures.
The true beauty of Hoi An lies hidden in its alleyways: bougainvillea cascading down wooden façades, deep tube houses built around their light wells, the scent of incense from the ancestral altars mingling with cooking smells as the town wakes up.
When evening comes, the Thu Bon River becomes a mirror: the silk lanterns light up, and wooden boats slowly carry off floating candles. And a bowl of cao lầu under the roof of an old merchant’s house is still the quickest way to understand Hoi An: noodles, aromatic herbs and the history of the port brought together in a single bowl.
The must-sees
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Japanese Covered Bridge
A 17th-century tile-roofed wooden bridge linking the Japanese quarter to the Chinese quarter, the emblem of the old town. View the destination → -
Bay Mau Coconut Forest
A forest of nipa palms at the mouth of the Thu Bon River. In a basket boat, you weave between the fronds and watch the villagers cast their nets and spin their boats round and round. View the destination → -
Tra Que Vegetable Village
A market-gardening village on the edge of the Tra Que lagoon, where the soil is still fertilised with seaweed and aromatic herbs are grown the traditional way for the whole of Hoi An. View the destination → -
Cham Islands
An archipelago off Cua Dai, a biosphere reserve with quiet beaches and coral reefs, 20 minutes away by speedboat. View the destination →
Experiences here
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Leisure Hoi An
Sunset over the rooftops of the old town
In the late afternoon, head up to a café terrace and watch the yin-yang roof tiles change colour as the sun goes down. View the experience -
Festivals & events Hoi An
Release a floating lantern on the Hoai River
When the town lights up, let a wooden boat carry you along the Hoai River and entrust a wish to a floating lantern. View the experience -
Shopping & crafts Hoi An
Make a lantern with a Hoi An craftsman
Bend the bamboo frame, stretch the silk and leave with a lantern made with your own hands, in a small workshop in the heart of the old town. View the experience -
Nature & outdoors Tra Que Vegetable Village
By bike from the old town to the vegetable village of Tra Que
Set off while the streets are still quiet, ride through the fields to the vegetable village, learn to grow vegetables with the villagers, then stop off at An Bang beach. View the experience
Gastronomy in Hoi An
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Gastronomy Hoi An
Morning coffee on the banks of the Hoai River
A salt coffee or an iced coffee with condensed milk on a wooden balcony, watching the boats pull in at the market in the early morning. View the experience -
Gastronomy Hoi An
Dinner while strolling through the old town with a local
Five little eateries on foot, as the town lights up: mì Quảng, bánh mì, chè bắp and coffee on the banks of the Hoai River. View the experience -
Gastronomy Hoi An
Cao lầu, noodles you can only find in Hoi An
Thick, firm noodles, made with water from an ancient well in the town, served with xá xíu glazed pork, aromatic herbs and crispy rice crackers. View the experience -
Gastronomy Hoi An
Early-morning market and a cookery class from central Vietnam
Three hours with a chef: Hoi An market at daybreak, then mì Quảng, cao lầu and bánh xèo. View the experience
Hoi An changes colour with the seasons
Every month, on the night of the 14th lunar day, the old town switches off its electric lighting and lights its lanterns.
- Ideal
- February – may
- Dry weather, gentle sunshine
- Possible
- June – august
- Bright sunshine, superb sea
- Best avoided
- September – december
- Rain and typhoons, possible flooding in town
- Possible
- January
- Cool, occasional drizzle
Getting there and getting around
Motorbikes and scooters are restricted in the old town: inside, walking is still the best option.
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1stopover
From Europe to Da Nang
A single stopover; direct flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
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3hours
From Hue, over the Hai Van Pass
By train or by car; the Hue – Da Nang stretch of railway is one of the most beautiful on the North – South line.
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15minutes by bike
To the vegetable village and the beach
Tra Que vegetable village, An Bang beach; many hotels lend bicycles.
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20minutes by speedboat
To the Cham Islands
Speedboats leave from Cua Dai pier; there and back in a day.
Itineraries passing through Hoi An
Itineraries that stop in Hoi An, focusing on a single region or crossing all three.
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10 days
The Centre and its heritage: Hue – Hoi An
The citadel on the banks of the Perfume River and the old town lit up with lanterns every evening. View details → -
15 days
The great classic from north to south
The great classic from north to south in 15 days, via Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, Phong Nha, Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho: day-by-day programme, route map, best season, budget and travel agencies able to organise it. View details → -
30 days
Cruises and a long relaxing stay
A cruise in the bay and seaside resorts. View details → -
30 days
Vietnam in retirement
A gentle itinerary, with enough rest to savour each region. View details →
Accommodation and services
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AccommodationHoi An
Hội An Riverside Lodge
32 rooms on the banks of the Thu Bon River, ten minutes' walk from the old town. View the business profile
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RestaurantsDa Nang
Cơm Niêu Sông Hàn
Cơm niêu đập and Quang Nam specialities on the banks of the Han River. View the business profile
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Local agencies – DMCWhole country
Lotus d’Asie Voyages
Tailor-made trips for European travellers, with guides in all three regions. View the business profile
Frequently asked questions
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Do you need a ticket to enter the old town?
Yes. The old town visitor ticket is sold at the booths at the entrance to the streets; it gives access to several old houses, assembly halls and the Japanese Covered Bridge.
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How long does it take to have clothes made to measure in Hoi An?
A simple outfit is ready in one to two days. Place your order on your very first day, so there is time for a fitting before you leave town.
Nearby destinations
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Da Nang
A young, lively seaside city, the Dragon Bridge and the Son Tra Peninsula View the destination → -
My Son
The ancient Cham sanctuary nestled in a lush green valley View the destination → -
Hue
The imperial city of the Nguyen on the banks of the Perfume River View the destination → -
Kon Tum
The communal houses of the highlands and the Mang Den pine forest View the destination →