Hoi An Ancient Town
A lantern-lit trading port of tube houses, assembly halls and a Japanese covered bridge, preserved almost whole and inscribed by UNESCO. Walk it early, learn how the ticket works, and come back after dark.
Vietnam
Hoi An & Da Nang
Hoi An is the lantern-lit old trading port that Vietnam does best: a UNESCO-listed grid of yellow shophouses, assembly halls and a Japanese covered bridge beside the Thu Bon river, with Da Nang's beaches, caves and mountain cable cars half an hour up the coast.
This guide books central Vietnam properly. It explains the Ancient Town ticket rules, then adds a lantern-making class, a market-to-kitchen cooking class, a basket boat through the Cam Thanh coconut forest, the Champa towers of My Son, the Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills, the Marble Mountains, a day in imperial Hue and the tailors who can sew a suit in a couple of days. Then it matches you to a hotel, from a Four Seasons beach villa to a riverside resort and a simple central base, and it plans around the wet season, when October and November rains can flood the river and the old town.
Don't miss
Hoi An Ancient Town
A lantern-lit trading port of tube houses, assembly halls and a Japanese covered bridge, preserved almost whole and inscribed by UNESCO. Walk it early, learn how the ticket works, and come back after dark.
Marble Mountains
Five limestone and marble hills rising from the Da Nang coastal plain, riddled with caves, pagodas and viewpoints. Easy to reach, easy to combine with Hoi An, and best in the morning.
VinWonders Nam Hoi An
A large coastal theme park with roller coasters, water slides, themed zones and a safari option. A big, family-friendly day out south of Da Nang, and a good wet-or-hot-weather alternative.
Hoi An Cooking Class with Market and Basket Boat
A half-day that combines a market visit, a basket boat ride through the coconut palms and a hands-on cooking lesson. One of the most reviewed experiences in town, and the easiest way to eat well in Hoi An.
Things to do in Hoi An & Da Nang
Lantern-Making Class in Hoi An
A short, hands-on class where you build a silk and bamboo lantern, the craft that defines Hoi An after dark. You leave with a lantern, a new respect for the shopkeepers and a very good photo.
Hoi An Cooking Class with Market and Basket Boat
A half-day that combines a market visit, a basket boat ride through the coconut palms and a hands-on cooking lesson. One of the most reviewed experiences in town, and the easiest way to eat well in Hoi An.
Basket Boat Tour at Cam Thanh
Spin and paddle in a round woven basket through the water-coconut forest of Cam Thanh village. A fun and slightly silly side trip, and this version adds a Hoi An city tour and a floating lantern.
My Son Sanctuary
Brick temple towers of the ancient Champa kingdom, hidden in a jungle valley west of Hoi An. A UNESCO-listed, partly bombed and quietly atmospheric half-day trip best done early.
Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge
A cable car up to a cool mountain resort, a French-style village and the Golden Bridge held in giant stone hands. Spectacular, busy and best tackled early on a weekday.
Marble Mountains
Five limestone and marble hills rising from the Da Nang coastal plain, riddled with caves, pagodas and viewpoints. Easy to reach, easy to combine with Hoi An, and best in the morning.
Hue Imperial City and Royal Tombs Day Trip
Vietnam's last imperial capital, a day away over the Hai Van Pass. Walk the citadel, visit the royal tombs and finish on the Perfume River. Long but rewarding, and not for flood days.
Hoi An Tailors and Custom Clothing
Hoi An is famous for made-to-measure clothing, from suits and dresses to ao dai and shoes, often ready in a day or two. A great experience if you plan fittings and choose your shop carefully.
VinWonders Nam Hoi An
A large coastal theme park with roller coasters, water slides, themed zones and a safari option. A big, family-friendly day out south of Da Nang, and a good wet-or-hot-weather alternative.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
$$$$Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai
Ha My Dong Beach
Hoi An's luxury beach resort: villas with private pools, a long sandy beachfront, a serious spa and a calm, garden setting a short drive from the old town. The splurge for honeymoons and special trips.
Rates on Expedia →
$$$Anantara Hoi An Resort
Thu Bon Riverfront
A riverside resort on the Thu Bon river with colonial-style buildings, a pool and gardens, a gentle walk from the Ancient Town. The best pick for people who want a resort feel and old-town access.
Rates on Expedia →
$$$Hotel Royal Hoi An - MGallery
Central Hoi An
A French-colonial-style riverside hotel near the old town, part of Accor's MGallery collection. Elegant rooms, a pool and a short walk to the lantern lanes make it a strong mid-to-upper-range pick.
Rates on Expedia →
$$Hoi An Historic Hotel
Old Town Area
A mid-range hotel in the old-town area with a pool and garden, managed by Melia. A calm, practical base that puts the lanterns, the market and the tailors within walking distance.
Rates on Expedia →
$Hoi An Pho Library Hotel
Central Hoi An
A budget-friendly hotel in central Hoi An, listed on Expedia as Hoi An Pho Library Hotel and formerly known as Vinh Hung Library Hotel. Simple, central and good for travellers who spend their days out.
Rates on Expedia →Hoi An & Da Nang guides
First Time in Hoi An and Da Nang: What to Book, How to Get Around and How Long to Stay
A practical first-timer plan for central Vietnam: the Hoi An ticket rules, which tours to book ahead, how to get around, how many days to allow and how to plan around the October and November flood season.
Where to Stay in Hoi An: Old Town, Riverside or Beach
Which part of Hoi An to stay in: the old-town area, the riverfront or the beach, with five hotels from budget to luxury and wet-season advice.
