Hoi An at a glance
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How long in Hoi an?
You only need 3-4 days to explore the whole Hoi An including the beaches and villages. Everything is easily accessible in Hoi An and only a short bike ride away.
Getting around
Cycling is the most convenient way of getting around most places. You can easily rent a bicycle from your hotel or at one of the bike rental stores for 1USD a day!
Taxis Faifoo and Mai Linh are two reliable companies in the region. A 45-minute taxi ride from Da Nang International Airport to Hoi An costs between VND 250,000 and 350,000 (US$ 10-15). Take a taxi if you’d like to go beyond Hoi An.
Motorcycles will give you more freedom to explore rural villages, the coastline, and even as far as Da Nang’s Marble Mountains. Motorbike rentals charge 100,000 onwards.
Cyclos offering a leisurely cruise along Hoi An’s friendly streets. Most cyclo operators usually offer a history lesson about the Ancient Town’s landmarks and culture. A standard fare costs about VND 22,000 per KM. Ensure to negotiate at a fixed rate.
The Japanese Bridge is a prime attraction in Hoi An. Constructed in the 1600’s, the bridge remains a symbol of the significant influence the Japanese had in the region at that period. At night the bridge comes alive attracting tourists and locals. Anyone can photograph the bridge, but crossing the Hoi An Japanese Bridge requires a coupon included in the entry fee.
Coffee break
Sip egg coffee at the Hoi An Roastery.
Visit My Son Sanctuary
Explore ancient architectural ruins in the middle of the forest. The site of My Son may not have the same awe-inspiring effect as Ayutthaya in Thailand or the Angkor Wat complex in Cambodia would, but the ruins of My Son sanctuary in Vietnam are extraordinary for its mystery.
Eat the best Banh My in town
Banh My Phuong serves crispy baguettes with veggies, herbs, eggs and any kind of meat
Sip cocktails at Hoi An’s calm beaches
Not only is Hoi An ancient town charming, it is also a beach destination just 4kkm away. Although don’t expect clear blue waters and soft sand, Hoi An’s beach is calm, quiet and alluring in its own way. Hoi An’s resort hotels offer the luxury traveler comfort and a beach style holiday.
Visit a tailor
Bebe, Yaly Couture, and Bao Khan silk quality and affordable ready to make clothing.
Take a round wooden boat to Cam Thanh water coconut village. Have a local experience by learning about the daily life of local fishermen, their families, and the community.
Visit the Central Market
You cannot leave Hoi An without visiting the Central Market. You will get a sense of how people of Hoi An live and understand the local culture. The market is a lively place with vendors selling everything from clothing, fresh fish, fruits and vegetables and so much more! Be prepared to haggle!
Wake up early to see local vendors and fisherman start their daily work shift
Get to the morning fish market at 6 am and be rewarded with an astonishing site. Local women in conical hats swarm the docks just to get fish for their stalls, while fishermen unload their catch of the day. Bringing your camera is a must.
Get a massage
Escape the crowds and heat for a relaxing time at Heaven Garden in Nguyen Phan Vinh, and My Chi Spa in Tan An Ward.
Have Tea at Reaching Out Tea House
A beautiful hotel with a view of the Thu Bon River will have you feeling at ease. Enjoy excellent customer service and stunningly decorated and nicely appointed rooms
This hotel really does live up to its name. It really is modern and elegant with all the convenience a luxury travel would hope for. Only just 300m from the Old Ancient town, this luxury accommodation and its fantastic cuisine will have you staying for longer!
You will love this place if you appreciate open space, nature and artistic details. The green surroundings such as the palm trees, ponds, and swimming create the perfect setting for friends and family. The great thing is the hotel is located on the river between Cua Dai Beach and Old Town for easy access to many attractions.
Try Quang noodles and the Ban Xheo pancakes. It’s more expensive than most restaurants, but you can get a meal for $10. (106 Nguyễn Thái Học, Minh An, Tp. Hội An – open 11am to 9.30pm all week)
Vietnamese fusion cuisine that combines the traditional elements with fun ingredients such as chocolate or fruit. The cocktails are delicious, has views of the Japanese Bridge lit up at night: (Nguyễn Phúc Chu, An Hội, Minh An, Thành phố Hội An – open 9am to 10pm all week)
Streets Restaurant Cafè is a non-profit association that trains and helps disadvantaged young people in the restaurant. Serves both international and Vietnamese food. (17 Lê Lợi, Minh An, HoiAn City, open 12 pm to 10 pm all week).
Hoi An Central Market
Enjoy fresh food made in front of you! ( Trần Quý Cáp, tp. Hội An, Quảng Nam)
Other restaurants:
Aubergine49 Restaurant
Ms Ly Café
Purple Lantern Restaurant
Nhan’s Kitchen Restaurant
Baby Mustard
Quan Dau Bac
Ancient Faifo
Trà Quế Garden
Flight + Taxi or Bus
If you are going straight to Hoi An from the Airport, you can either contact your hotel, hostel, or homestay and arrange a ride, or take a GRAB for a cheaper fare.
The closest airport to Hoi An is Da Nang International Airport, located in the heart of Da Nang city. It is 30 Km from Hoi An.
From the airport take a shared air-con minibus shuttles to Hoi An to save money. It’ll take 1hour.
The Sinh Tourist open tour bus: 587 Hai Ba Trung St; T: (0510) 386 3948; hoian@thesinhtourist.vn; https://www.thesinhtourist.vn; open daily 06:00-22:00.
The taxi to Hoi An takes about 30 minutes and by the meter, it should cost no more than 300,000 VND. Mai Linh or Vinasun taxis are considered the most reliable.
Train
The closest train station is in Da Nang.
Bus
Bus service to Hoi An is limited as most long distance buses go to Da Nang; from here you can take the local bus, or taxi to Hoi An. Open bus tour companies or deluxe buses direct to Hoi An are usually the best options, saving you from the extra step in the journey.
The colorful Hoi An lantern festival is held every month and the local favorite dish Cao Lau. The lantern festival is a very popular tradition and even if you miss the full moon date, you can still participate anytime. Lanterns are lit every night after the sun goes down. Candles are placed at the bottom of the colorful paper lanterns which float and light up the river. The biggest event is the first full moon of the lunar new year. There are more lanterns and more crowds.
Here are the dates:
| 2018 | November | November 21st, 2018 |
| 2018 | December | December 20th, 2018 |
| 2019 | January | January 19th, 2019 |
| 2019 | February | February 18th, 2019 |
| 2019 | March | March 20th, 2019 |
| 2019 | April | April 18th, 2019 |
| 2019 | May | May 18th, 2019 |
| 2019 | June | June 16th, 2019 |
| 2019 | July | July 16th, 2019 |
| 2019 | August | August 14th, 2019 |
| 2019 | September | September 12th, 2019 |
| 2019 | October | October 10th, 2019 |
| 2019 | November | November 10th, 2019 |
| 2019 | December | December 9th, 2019 |
| 2020 | January | January 8th, 2020 |
