10 Best Things to Do in Hoi An
Things to do in Hoi An
1. Explore Hoi An Old Town
Hoi An Old Town is a pearl of architecture in central Vietnam. The old town’s exceptionally preserved Japanese merchant houses, Chinese Temples, French colonial houses, and ancient tea warehouses reflect past local and foreign influences. From the iconic 16th-century Japanese Bridge to the impressive Fujian Assembly Hall, you can spend hours wandering around the charming old streets of Hoi An. As a result, it became a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Tips: the old town becomes a pedestrian zone (no cars) after 10 am making it perfect to discover peacefully!
2. Get a suit or dress tailored
No visit to Hoi An is complete without visiting a tailor shop! Hoi An is the best place in Vietnam to get custom-tailored clothes at a reasonable price. There are dozens of tailoring shops spread across the old town, each one can create whatever dress, shirt, or suit you like within two or three days.
We suggest showing them a photo of a design you’d like because it can be hard to choose between their many different fabrics, patterns, and styles.
Our experience with NY Central Tailor was great! Bonus: we got a 10% discount for staying at Hoianian Central Villa.
3. Cycle Around the Green countryside
Surrounded by lush green countryside, there is much more to discover in Hoi An than in the old town. Most hotels and guest houses provide free bikes to visit the surrounding rice fields, beaches and traditional villages.
One option is to join the popular free biking tour organized by local Vietnamese students. This shared cultural experience allows them to practice their English while you discover off-the-beaten-track places!
Otherwise, you can follow one of these routes:
- Rural village of Cẩm Châu to An Ang beach
- Kim Bong Carpentry Village & Cam Kim rice fields
- Farming village of Tra Que in the north-east
4. Day trip to Da Nang & the Marble Mountains
Da Nang is a large coastal city located 30 minutes north of Hoi An. Although it is not as charming as Hoi An, it is home to beautiful beaches and cultural landmarks! We only went through Da Nang to visit the Marble Mountains, the five famous marble and limestone hills. Historically, each mountain has been named after one element: Kim (metal), Thủy (water), Mộc (wood), Hỏa (fire), and Thổ (earth).
As you climb the stairs, you will discover many caves, tunnels, beautiful pagodas, and Buddha sanctuaries until you reach the summit of Mount Thuy.
Additionally, you can visit the Lady Buddha after crossing the Dragon Bridge in Da Nang.
- Opening hours: 7 AM to 5:30 PM
- Ticket price: 40,000 VND + 15,000 VND for elevator
- Parking Fee: 5,000 – 10,000 VND to park your scooter safely
Tips: Try to come early to avoid crowds of tourists and the heat! The entrance area is near dozens of marble carving shops trying to sell you a 5-meter-high marble Buddha.
5. Book a cooking class
If you want to learn how to cook your favorite Vietnamese dishes, Hoi An is the best place to do a cooking class! There are plenty of cooking classes to choose from. Most of them include a trip to the market to buy your ingredients and experience locals bargaining for fruits and veggies. Your class can also start with a bike ride through the rice fields or a ride in a round-basket boat.
Here is the cooking class we tried – great chef and recipes in a beautiful setting!
6. Ride a traditional basket boat
Taking a basket boat ride in the Bay Mau Coconut Forest is a fun experience to do in Hoi An!
The basket boats, locally known as Thung Chai, were said to have been created when the French started taxing boats in Vietnam. Fishermen who couldn’t afford to pay the taxes decided to design these circular “baskets” from bamboo and palm leaves to replace their fishing boats.
Basket boats quickly became beloved for their inventive craftwork and for being tax-free! Expect many tourists taking videos of the famous basket boat dance (basket spinning very fast) while you navigate on the narrow river. You can also learn a lot about the ancient craft of these traditional baskets.
Tips: Some cooking classes include a 40 minute basket boat ride before you start cooking!
7. Sample the Hoi An local food
Vietnamese cuisine is among the best in the world. Each city has its delicious specialties. Hoi An’s most favored dish is, without a doubt, the Banh Mi! This delicious sandwich is made with a crispy baguette filled with savory meats, mayonnaise, and pate, topped with pickled veggies, crunchy cucumbers, spicy chilies, and fresh coriander.
The two best are the famous Banh Mi Phuong, featured by Anthony Bourdain, and the delicious vegan Banh mi Chay!
Here are some other local dishes from the Central Vietnam region that are worth trying:
- Cao Lau: amazing noodle dish with sliced roast pork, squares of crispy pork fat, bean sprouts, herbs, and greens.
- White Rose Dumplings: translucent rice paper filled with shrimp or pork and folded to resemble a flower shape.
- Com Ga: shredded chicken tossed with refreshing Vietnamese coriander, onions, and lime juice dressing
8. Shop and eat at Hoi An night market
Each night after sundown, hundreds of colorful lanterns illuminate the Thu Bon River making the atmosphere truly one of a kind.
Although very packed, the vibrant Night Market is heaven for tourists looking for souvenirs, local crafts, artworks, and mouth-watering street food! You can also take a boat ride along the river or enjoy one of the many bars playing live music and restaurants overlooking the river.
9. See the Bamboo Circus show
For those looking for a unique Vietnamese cultural experience, the Hoi An Lune Center is a must-do! Recognizable by its large bamboo dome, the theatre is home to the Bamboo Circus show – the Cirque du Soleil Vietnam style! The art performance combines a bamboo circus, live music, acrobatics acts, contemporary dance, and traditional Vietnamese storytelling. The AO show portrays the rich cultural Vietnamese life from the peaceful countryside to urbanization.
- Show time: every day at 6 pm
- Ticket price starts from 700,000 VND ($30)
- Representations are also in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
10. Relax on the beach
Just outside the Old Town are some of Vietnam’s best beaches. Grab your bike and cycle through the rice fields to the beautiful An Bang beach or the smaller Cua Dai beach. With many relaxed beach bars, sun lounges, and seafood restaurants, it’s the perfect chilling spot before leaving Hoi An.
We particularly liked the family-run Chiên Kitchen Restaurant & Bar just behind the main street, the best Com Ga we have tasted.
Bonus: Hai Van pass to Hue
The best way to travel to Hue is to drive over The Hai Van Pass. This scenic 21km coastal road between the ocean and mountains is perhaps one of Vietnam’s most scenic roads. Made famous by Top Gear, you will enjoy the winding roads and spectacular views over Da Nang before reaching Hue.
The 135km ride to join Hue from Hoi An takes 3 to 5 hours including stops at the fishing village of Lang Co and the Elephant Springs.
You can either rent a bike like we did or go behind an easy rider! For the second option, your driver picks you up in the morning, and seated behind, you will enjoy the sights without worrying about driving!
- Bonus: they arrange a separate transport for your luggage to Hue!
- Note: You can also do this route from Hue to Hoi An.
Best restaurants & bars
- Hoi An Heart Kitchen
- Peanuts restaurant
- Cao lầu Không Gian Xanh
- Ellie’s Cafe Hoi An – Healthy Breakfast- Brunch- Lunch
- 포마이 – Phở May
- Aloha Bar & Restaurant
- Gieng Coffee
Where to Stay in Hoi An
Hoi An is filled with nice homestays or boutique hotels overlooking the river. We stayed in two different homestays that we loved. The Lazy Bear Hostels was half way between Hoi An Old town and the beach area. Our private room had the nicest decoration with many nice touches and the bed was super comfy. We liked the location with rice paddies just around the corner. We had free access to bikes and the breakfast was tasty (especially the iced latte)!
We then stayed at the Hoianian Central Villa near Hoi An Old Town which was probably our favorite homestay in Vietnam. Suzanne is the most welcoming and without doubt the nicest host ever and has so many great recommendations for Hoi An (restaurants, tailoring, activities)! Suzanne and her lovely family really want you to have the best time in their house and Hoi An.
The Hoianian rooms are massive, clean and well-decorated. You can walk to the center in less than 10 minutes which is convenient!
We recommend 100% these two accommodations if you stay in Hoi An.
How to travel to Hoi An
If you come from North Vietnam, you have a few options:
- Take a direct bus from any cities up north (Hanoi, Phong Nha, Ninh Binh or Hue) directly to Hoi An. We came from Hue with a minibus that dropped us at the Lazy Bear Hostel. We arranged it with our homestay in Hue.
- Take a train to Danang and catch a bus or a taxi to Hoi An (45min-1h)
- Fly directly into Danang Airport and catch a taxi to Hoi An (45 min).
- Rent a bike and drive the Hai Van Pass from Hue to Hoi An directly
From South Vietnam, the best is to fly from Ho Chi Minh or Dalat to Danang Airport and take a taxi after to Hoi An. Alternatively, you can also take a long sleeping bus (15 hours) from Dalat to Hoi An.
Getting around
Hoi An Old Town is a popular town to visit in Central Vietnam. It can be very crowded, especially around the night market during the evenings; walking around is the nicest way to see the beautiful streets of Hoi An.
To visit Hoi An’s surrounding areas such as An Bang Beach, Bay Mau Coconut Forest, or just the stunning rice paddies, cycling is your best bet, many hotels offer bikes for free.
If taking a day trip to Danang, it is best to rent a scooter.
Best time to visit Hoi An
The best months to visit Hoi An are between February and April when you can expect warm and dry weather.
Hoi An’s rainy season starts in September and lasts until January. The least preferred months to visit Hoi An are October and November where there can be heavy flooding and rains.
How many days do you need
Hoi An was one of our favorite regions in Vietnam – there is so much to do in the Old Town and the surroundings. You could easily spend a full week to explore this fantastic part of Vietnam.
Spend at least 3 full days to see the best of Hoi An.
