9 great things to do in Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An is a dreamy and colorful town that stole our hearts. The streets are full of life, with beautiful yellow buildings and lanterns that glow beautifully at night. During our three-night stay, we fell in love with its charm and endless activities. In fact, Hoi An ranks as our top spot in Vietnam, alongside Ninh Binh! Join us as we explore the best things to do in Hoi An, Vietnam’s most charming town.

Highlights Hoi An

Get custom-made clothing at Milan Linen Clothings & Custom Tailoring.

Stroll through the Ancient Town.

Visit the Precious Heritage Art Gallery Museum.

Take a Vietnamese cooking class.

Eat street food at the Hoi An Night Market.

Enjoy delicious banh mi at Madam Khanh – The Banh Mi Queen.

Stay at The Nam An Villa Hoi An for affordable luxury. This accommodation includes a pool, breakfast, and free bikes.

How to get to Hoi An

The easiest way to get to Hoi An is by flying into Da Nang International Airport, from where it is an about 45 minutes ride to Hoi An. Da Nang is well-connected with domestic flights from cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and even some international destinations. From the airport, you can take a private taxi, a shared shuttle, or even book a car through a ride-hailing app like Grab for a smooth transfer to Hoi An.

If you’re coming from Hue or other nearby cities, a bus or private car transfer is a convenient choice. And if you’re looking for more adventure, you could always drive the Hai Van Pass! This is a swooping coastal road in Vietnam that takes you from Hue all the way to Hoi An, with great views around every corner or twist.

How to get around Hoi An

Hoi An’s Old Town is very nice to explore on foot. The streets are pedestrian-only during certain hours, and wandering through these lantern-lit alleys along the riverside is one of our fondest memories of Vietnam.

But what we really liked, was that our accommodation provided us with free bicycles to explore town! It was really fun, so we would go as far as say that the only things you need to explore Hoi An are your feet and a bike! The town is flat and very easy to navigate, it only took us one afternoon to get acquainted with most of the roads.

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Things to do in Hoi An

1. Get custom-made clothing

Hoi An is known for its tailor shops, which makes it the perfect place if you’re looking for custom-made clothing. We recommend planning at least 2-3 days here to allow enough time for fitting and possible adjustments. Most tailors in Hoi An are super busy, so you can’t expect them to make all these bespoke clothes in less than 24 hours.

We checked out Milan Linen Clothings & Custom Tailoring and loved it! Our first visit was around 6 PM, where we discussed our clothing preferences and chose fabrics and colors. We also showed them colors of what we liked and wanted, and they were very happy to assist. They then took our measurements, the next evening at 6 PM we returned for the first fitting. A few adjustments later, and by 2 PM the following day, our clothes were ready! We were so happy with the end result, and the team at Milan Linen were exceptionally friendly and helpful throughout our experience. Our total came to around VND 7,000,000 for a suit, shirt, and three dresses.

Since we’re on a world trip and only have so much space in our backpacks, carrying an extra suit, shirt, and 3 dresses isn’t ideal. Fear not! You can opt to send your clothes home (or wherever you want), and the process is really simple. Just let the tailor know that you plan on sending stuff home, and they’ll phone the mailman for you. He or she will then come to the tailor shop and ask you to fill in a few forms. Prices depend on the destination, and are based on the total weight of your parcel. We also had the option of express or standard shipping.

2. Stroll through the Ancient Town

The beating heart of Hoi An is its Ancient Town, where you’ll likely spend most of your time. We had a blast wandering around here, admiring the charming yellow facades, browsing through numerous shops, and visiting cute cafes. The town has a magical vibe at night when the lanterns light up, so we definitely recommend visiting both during the day and at night to fully experience its charm.

It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site with well-preserved buildings, pagodas, and historic houses. Don’t miss Quan Cong Temple, Hoi Quan Phuoc Kien (our personal favorite), and Ba Mu Temple. We’ve heard great things about the Japanese Bridge too, but unfortunately it was under construction during our visit. If you want to see what the bridge is supposed to look like, we can highly recommend watching the Netflix movie A Tourist’s Guide to Love.

To explore any of the buildings, pagodas, or historic houses, you’ll need to purchase the Hoi An Old Town ticket, which costs VND 120,000. This ticket grants you entry to 5 different locations, free to choose. Most tourists don’t do this (or don’t know about this), but there’s a chance that an officer of the law asks you to show your ticket. The chances of this happening are especially high if they see you walking with a tour guide or local.

3. Visit the Precious Heritage Art Gallery Museum

The Precious Heritage Art Gallery Museum displays the Precious Heritage Collection by the French photographer Réhahn. It offers insights into the daily lives of various Vietnamese ethnic groups through photos, traditional clothing, and artifacts. It’s a fascinating visit that gives you a broader perspective. You can wander around here for hours, you can even watch a full documentary if you want! But, if you’re here for the amazing stories and authentic clothing or just to buy some amazing souvenirs, that’s great too. Best of all, admission is free, so there’s no excuse to miss out on this interesting place!

Wondering how much a trip to Vietnam will cost? Take a look at our detailed budget breakdown for 1 month in Vietnam.

4. Get dizzy on a basket boat ride

If you’re up for a good time, don’t miss out on a basket boat ride. It’s a must-do in Hoi An, and for good reason! We had so much fun during this activity. You’ll hop onto a round bamboo boat on the Thu Bon River, gliding through the Bay Mau Coconut Forest. The Hoi An basket boat dance was quite entertaining, especially with their Gangnam Style moves. We also watched locals expertly cast their nets and even tried our hand at crab fishing (don’t worry, we released them afterward). Some people asked their guide to spin the boat around for extra thrills, but we skipped that part due to motion sickness. It looked like a ton of fun, though! And don’t forget that there’s a second floor, too. 😉 Check availability for a basket boat ride in Hoi An on your travel dates.

Planning a trip to Hanoi as well? Don’t miss our guide to the best things to do in Hanoi.

5. Take a lantern boat ride at night

One of the most romantic experiences we had was taking a lantern boat ride at night. Sure, it’s a popular tourist activity with crowds, but trust us, it’s still truly magical! The sight of the entire river lit up by lanterns is enchanting. We made our own special moment out of it, just us two on the water with all these beautiful lights around us. Plus, you can release your own lantern on the Hoai River and make a wish for that special added touch to the experience. It’s definitely one of the best things to do in Hoi An.

We paid VND 150,000 for the boat ride and an extra VND 50,000 for two lanterns. Also, there are tons of operators along the river that organize boat trips. If you find there’s too many people waiting in line at one stall, just walk along the river for a few seconds until you see another one.

6. Explore Hoi An Night Market

Our frequent readers know we love exploring markets. When we discovered Hoi An’s night market, we couldn’t resist returning multiple times. It’s truly one of the most charming markets we’ve explored, especially with its enchanting glowing lanterns. From delicious street food to charming lantern shops and souvenir stalls, this market has it all! The street where you can find this market is 300m long, and illuminated with hundreds of lanterns. So even if you don’t buy anything, this night market still makes for a great place if you’re into photography. To reach the market you’ll have to cross the An Hoi Bridge, a fun spot for a quick photo or two with amazing views over the river.

Good to know
If you’re thinking of capturing some pictures inside a lantern shop, keep in mind there’s usually a small fee ranging from VND 10,000 to VND 30,000 per person.

7. Take a Vietnamese cooking class

If you love Vietnamese food, consider joining a Vietnamese cooking class to master the art of cooking your favorite dishes! It’s the best way to learn all about Vietnamese cuisine, and you can cook dishes such as Bánh cuốn (Vietnamese rice rolls), Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese pancakes), or Phở (Vietnamese soup). These classes typically last 3 to 5 hours, and some even include a fun basket boat ride experience. See availability for a Hoi An cooking class on your travel dates.

8. Or go for a lantern making class

If cooking isn’t your thing, try a lantern making class in Hoi An. You’ll learn how to make a lantern from scratch with different materials like silk and bamboo. The best part? You get to take home your own handmade lantern as a special souvenir. Such a fun and unique experience! Check availability for a lantern making class in Hoi An during your trip.

Only have 2 weeks in Vietnam? Check out our 14-day Vietnam itinerary that covers highlights like Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City.

9. Day trip to Da Nang

If you have some extra time, we highly recommend a day trip to Da Nang, just a half-hour drive from Hoi An. Don’t miss the beautiful pink Da Nang Cathedral, the iconic Dragon Bridge, and the relaxing beaches. We discovered some amazing food spots like Diner 66 Da Nang and byC. café and brunch. And if your schedule allows, exploring Marble Mountains and My Son Sanctuary in Da Nang is well worth it!

Where to eat in Hoi An

• Nu Eatery for delicious Vietnamese food
• Madam Khanh – The Banh Mi Queen for the best banh mi in town
• Le Hoi Banh Mi Chay for the cheapest banh mi
• Cardi Pizza for amazing pizza

Best time to visit Hoi An

The best time to visit Hoi An is from February to April. These months offer pleasant temperatures and minimal rainfall, making it perfect for exploring the charming streets of Hoi An.

How long to stay in Hoi An

We recommend spending at least 3 to 4 days in Hoi An to truly experience the beauty and charm of the city. Hoi An was one of our favorite places in Vietnam. Yes, it’s touristy, but there are also peaceful spots to explore! Spending longer in Hoi An is always a great idea, as there’s so much to do and see that you can easily spend a week here without getting bored.