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Planning a trip to Hoi An? Great choice – you’ll love it! Just make sure you plan at least three days, as there are plenty of incredible and unique things to do in Hoi An.
Otherwise, you’ll want to return to this magical town, as I did 🙂
I visited Hoi An for the first time about 10 years ago, on my first-ever backpacking trip to Southeast Asia. Not knowing what I know now, I only planned a 1-night-stay in Hoi An. Big mistake!
From the moment I stepped out of the bus, I fell in love with its cute, colorful lantern-lit streets, the yellow houses and ancient temples in the Old Town, and the super flavorful local dishes.
Luckily, I was able to return to Vietnam for 3 months as a digital nomad and chose Hoi An as my first stop. I stayed for 1 month to truly explore every corner before traveling the rest of the country.
To me, Hoi An is the perfect place to soak up Vietnamese culture and cuisine (without the chaos), start your Vietnam adventure or stay for longer. Especially compared to other Vietnamese cities like Hanoi or Saigon.
In my opinion, you don’t want to rush or only visit Hoi An on a day trip from Da Nang, but have enough time to see the Ancient Town lit up at night, eat a bowl of Cao Lau (Hoi An’s signature dish) and try an egg coffee.
Plus, visit Hoi An’s best beaches, cycle through the green rural rice fields and fish a crab from a coconut boat! 🦀
As you can see, there are plenty of things to do and after my second visit to Hoi An, I am sharing my 15 favorite activities with you that I think can’t be missed on any Hoi An itinerary!
As well as the ones you can skip.
I haven’t met a single traveler who didn’t like Hoi An, so I’m sure you’ll enjoy your time in this charming and diverse town too!
My Favorite Hoi An Attractions on a Map
Hoi An is so much more than its famous Ancient Town! There are local islands worth exploring south of it, green rural rice fields north-east and an amazing strip of beach just north of it.
To make navigating Hoi An easier, I’ve pinned all my favorite things to do, see and eat in Hoi An on a free map that you can save on your device if you like.
Whether you’re looking for historic sites, must-do activities, hidden gems, or the best local eats and cafes, this map will help you plan your trip.
You can save this map to your phone! Just click the star or enlarge icon. Find it later in your saved maps in your Google Maps account.
1. Wander Hoi An’s Ancient Town Streets
One of the best things to do in Hoi An is to stroll through its Ancient Town picture-perfect streets with colorful lanterns, boutique shops, art galleries and cafes.
Get a refreshing coconut coffee at one of Hoi An’s best cafes, watch locals with traditional triangle hats walk past and soak up Hoi An’s beauty and charm.
We must have walked at least 15 times through the Ancient Town and still discovered something new every time we went.
Since this part of Hoi An is car-free, it’s the perfect spot to walk or cycle and get lost. Sometimes, you will see a group of bicycle taxis come past, which make the passengers look like they are oversized babies in a pram! 😅
To see Hoi An in full glory, I recommend coming here at night. Wander along the River to see boats and lanterns lit up and people releasing candles with wishes into the River.
The busiest times in the Ancient Town are mid-morning and after sunset as people like to avoid the heat. So, if you’d like to avoid crowds or have fewer people in your photos, aim for early mornings, midday, and late evenings.
Tip: This Ancient Town Guided Walking Tour will show you all the spots. If you are a foodie, I recommend this Hoi An food tour with Lily instead.
2. Visit Ancient Temples with the Old Town Ticket
While it’s completely free to visit Hoi An’s UNESCO-protected Ancient Town, you will need to purchase an Old Town Ticket if you’d like to enter some heritage sites, museums and temples throughout town.
You can buy them at 11 different ticket booths scattered around the Old Town. They cost 120,000 VDN (5 USD) and will give you entry to 5 self-chosen sites and a map.
We bought our tickets at the ticket booth in front of Uncle Huan Cafe, which I recommend for coffee upstairs, overlooking the beautiful square and temple wall.
You can also get your Old Town ticket online here for the same price 🎟️
If you’d like to go inside more attractions, you’d need to purchase another ticket. The fees go towards maintenance and preservation of the city.
Is it worth it? In my opinion, yes!
The most popular and worth-seeing sights to visit with this pass are:
- Japanese Bridge
- Fujian Assembly Hall
- Cantonese Assembly Hall
- Old House of Tan Ky
- Museum of Folk Culture
Plus, you get to attend a free 30-minute show. I first wanted to skip it, but then I was glad I didn’t because it gave me a great insight into Hoi An’s culture and dances.
Since the system with the Old Town Pass can be a bit confusing, check out our detailed breakdown of what you can see with the Old Town Ticket here ⛩️
3. Check Out the Free Réhahn Art Gallery
If you love photography, art or learning more about Vietnam’s ethnicities, clothing and culture, you have to visit the free Heritage Art Gallery Museum by French photographer Réhahn.
I’m sure you will recognize some of his unique portrait or landscape shots, often used in Vietnamese travel guides. They are stunning!
The ground floor of the museum showcases Réhan’s world-class photography and the years of work it took him to meet and photograph all 54 of Vietnam’s recognized ethnicities.
Make sure to take some time to watch the shown documentary, browse through the coffee table books and read as many of the signs as you can, describing each tribe, person and clothing behind the photos upstairs.
The museum is one of the best we visited in the whole of Vietnam. I liked that it not only had many beautiful photos but also a lot of information about the indigenous tribes of Vietnam.
The photographer Réhan would often spend years trying to contact isolated tribes in Vietnam to document their clothing and traditions before this knowledge gets lost due to the modern world.
I found it super impressive how dedicated he was to documenting Vietnamese culture.
We spent about one hour in there, also because we enjoyed the air-con during a super hot day 😅 We even had a photo we took from the outside of the museum as our blog homepage banner for a while!
If his photography inspires you as much as it did us, check out this 2-minute video in which Réhan shows you the best photo spots in Hoi An! 📸
4. Eat Cao Lau – Hoi An’s Signature Dish
A trip to Hoi An would not be complete without sampling its local cuisine. While there are many delicious Vietnamese dishes to try, one of the best things to eat in Hoi An is Cao Lầu! 🍜
Cao Lau is truly unique to Hoi An and the town’s signature noodle dish. We never saw it on menus outside Hoi An, so don’t miss the chance to eat it at least once while in town.
It consists of thick, chewy rice noodles, slices of marinated pork, fresh herbs, bean sprouts, crispy croutons, and a small amount of flavorful broth at the bottom of the bowl.
The dish is unique to Hoi An because the noodles are made using water from specific ancient Cham wells in Hoi An, giving them their distinct texture.
Every time after the bowl was served, the street vendor would passionately encourage us to mix the contents of the bowl to combine all the flavors. So be prepared to give it a good stir! 🙂
Cao Lau quickly became our daily breakfast go-to, and just thinking of it makes me want to travel to Hoi An again.
The flavors are hard to describe, but very fresh, herbal, crunchy and umami at the same time.
You’ll find Cao Lau in many street stalls and local restaurants throughout town, but to have the VERY BEST one, you’ll have to go outside the Old Town.
These are our two favorite places for Cao Lau:
- TIỆM ĂN SÁNG CÔ NHỊ (best Cao Lau in Hoi An!)
- Cao Lau Mi Quang Loc Hội An (great Cao Lau in the Old Town)
Both only serve Cao Lau for breakfast, so make sure to get there in the morning.
Tip: Cao Lau and many other must-try Hoi An food dishes are covered in this food tour hosted by local Lily 🍜🥟🥢
5. Get High-Quality Clothing or Souvenirs
If you are a regular reader of our blog, you know that we love minimalism and barely recommend any souvenir shopping or shopping full stop.
But Hoi An is one of those exceptions. While we still didn’t buy anything on this year’s trip, I loved visiting the cute little stores and markets full of handmade crafts, art, tea and coffee.
It feels more like browsing an open-air art gallery than a shopping mall or market full of tacky souvenirs.
So if you are looking for something special for yourself or others, Hoi An is a great place to buy high-quality souvenirs, clothing and art!
I also have to admit that on my first visit to Hoi An about 10 years ago, I got myself custom-made leather sandals and a tailored business suit 😄
Hoi An is full of high-quality fabrics, leather and talented tailors that can turn any piece of material overnight into your dream clothing or shoe at a very affordable price!
They even offer international shipping, so you don’t need to carry it around Vietnam for the rest of your trip. I got mine shipped to a friend’s place in Germany, where I picked it up after my trip.
6. Experience Hoi An’s Lantern Festival
Hoi An’s Lantern Festival takes place once a month in Hoi An’s Ancient Town when the moon is full. So the date varies by month, depending on when the full moon is.
So you have 12 chances a year to experience it!
The biggest celebration is during Tết (Vietnamese New Year) in February, which you may want to avoid if you don’t like crowds or limitations on your travel activities, as lots of businesses shut down for a few days.
(On my first trip to Vietnam, I was “stuck” in Saigon during Tết for 3 days because most business activities and transport had shut down).
The lantern festival starts around 6 pm, just after sunset, and ends at around 9 pm.
During those times, all electric lights are turned off, so only the full moon and colorful street lanterns light up the old town streets and the riverfront. Truly magical!
I found it to be a very peaceful experience and enjoyed walking around that night, watching more locals and tourists as usual joining a boat tour or releasing small floating paper lanterns with candles into the river, making a wish.
All streets in the Ancient Town are closed off to traffic during the festival, including bicycles, so we rode our bikes to the edge of the town and walked the streets from there.
On the way, we saw a live dance performance in front of an ancient house, so keep your eyes open for cultural events that evening.
It was a nice evening, but to be honest, it didn’t feel much different from any other night in Hoi An’s Old Town. So, if you can’t be there during the full moon, you’ll have a similar great experience on any other night!
Tip: The daily boat rides on the river are organized (no haggling) and last 20 minutes. You can buy your ticket at the booths along the riverfront or a skip-the-line ticket on GetYourGuide 🎟️
Tip: While the floating candle lanterns look beautiful, they pollute Hoi An’s rivers. Best to skip it! But if you do join, don’t pay more than 5,000–15,000 VND (0.20–0.60 USD) for one 🏮
7. Float Down the River in a Coconut Basket Boat
When I first heard about going on a Coconut Basked Boat Tour in Hoi An, I was skeptical. It sounded very touristy to me.
But it’s actually good fun and a unique thing to do in Hoi An that you shouldn’t miss out on! You just have to choose wisely where to take your tour.
Some tours will blast music super loud and make it more of a party than a peaceful ride down the river.
If you want to party then maybe you will like it! But to me it sounded like a nightmare to have music blasted at me while I’m sitting in a coconut boat.
Any traveler to Vietnam will tell you that the Vietnamese love to blast music at all times of day. So after 3 months in Vietnam, I became a bit sensitive to unnecessarily loud music 🙈
Because we wanted a nice, quiet boat ride we went to Dịch vụ Thuyền Thúng Cô Mốt. This tour is located on an island on the river by Hoi An.
It is a beautiful rural area full of green rice fields that is a great place to cruise around on a scooter.
A tour here costs 200,000 VND (8 USD) for two people and is a nice, peaceful cruise down a river surrounded by palm trees. Do not expect a mindblowing experience, but just a secluded escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.
If you do not want to travel too far from Hoi An’s Old Town, then you can go to HỒNG Family Tours. They are much easier to reach by Grab but will be more touristy.
8. Join A Delicious Vietnamese Cooking Class
One of the best things to do in Hoi An is to join one of the many popular Vietnamese Cooking Classes. Most of them combine a trip to the local market, where you’ll learn about local ingredients.
I joined a cooking class on my first trip to Hoi An and loved it. It was a super nice, relaxed activity and good fun to learn more about the flavors and ingredients of Vietnamese cuisine.
The groups are usually small (we were about 10 people) and it’s a fun and easygoing activity whether you’re solo or traveling as a couple.
Depending on your interest and how much time you have in Hoi An, you could opt for:
- A Traditional Cooking Class with a Local Family
- A Cooking Class + Coconut Boat Tour Combo
- A Cooking Class + Basket Boat + Lantern-Making Combo
- A Vegan Cooking Class 🌱
As you can see, there are plenty of great and affordable options. If you love a foodie activity, I highly recommend joining a cooking class in Hoi An.
Unfortunately, I can’t link to the company I did the cooking class with on my first solo trip to Hoi An because that’s now over 10 years ago – hard to believe!
9. Eat Hoi An’s Best Banh Mi
No matter if you start your Vietnam adventure in Hoi An or are coming from other places in Vietnam, you will want to eat as many Banh Mi as possible in Hoi An.
Because the truth is, we ate the best Banh Mi on our 3-month trip to Vietnam in Hoi An! And we don’t seem to be alone with this opinion – many reviews and locals say the same.
Plus, Anthony Bourdain, a famous American chef and travel show host, ranked one of Hoi An’s street stalls the best place for Banh Mi in all of Vietnam.
Banh Mi is a Vietnamese sandwich full of Vietnamese flavors. You can choose from lots of different ingredients like eggs, meats, veggies, chili and avocado.
What makes Banh Mi so good in Hoi An is the crunchy bread and the use of homemade paté and fermented chili sauces. In other parts of Vietnam, we always found the bread to be too soft and sweet.
But not in Hoi An. So make sure you add eating Banh Mi to your Hoi An food bucketlist.
Since Hoi An is the place to eat Banh Mi in Vietnam, we have rounded up our favorite and must-visit Banh Mi places in Hoi An here! 🥖
10. Try Vietnam’s Best (And Craziest) Coffees
Hoi An isn’t just a paradise for foodies but also for coffee lovers. From egg, salt, coconut to rocket-fuel drip coffee, Vietname’s coffee scene is wild and delicious.
I highly recommend trying all of them!
But it’s not just about trying different styles of Vietnamese coffee in Hoi An. So often, we would read in the reviews of Hoi An cafes that “they serve the best coffee in Vietnam!”.
After visiting the rest of the country, we can second that. We had the BEST COFFEES in Hoi An! Full stop.
While you can find some great brews also in Hanoi, Da Nang and Saigon, the cafe scene in Hoi An is far ahead.
On every corner you can find a beautiful cafe with super friendly service and a great selection of coffee beans, brewing methods and style of coffees.
So get ready for some coffee jitters and make sure you try all the different styles.
Find funny insights into Vietnam’s coffee scene and the best places to grab a cup in Hoi An in our Guide to Hoi An’s Best Cafes ☕️
11. Soak up the Sun on Hoi An’s Best Beach
On my first trip to Hoi An I missed out on going to the beach. I was too short on time and didn’t think I’d miss out on anything. WRONG!
Hoi An is an underrated destination for beach lovers. My favorite one is An Bang Beach. It’s about a 25-minute bicycle or 15-minute car ride away from the Ancient Town and easy to reach.
As soon as you arrive you get the feeling of being in a small beach town. The sand is white and fine, the ocean perfect for playing in the waves or even trying to surf on windier days.
Allan would sometimes cycle there at sunrise (that means getting there at 5.30 am) and watch the locals swim. Vietnamese love getting up early and going to the beach. In Da Nang the beach is packed at 5 am!
During the day it’s mostly tourists that enjoy soaking up the sun on An Bang beach. But (very) early morning and in the evening it’s a local meetup spot.
I recommend combining a trip to An Bang Beach with a stop at BK Coffee. It’s run by a lovely young family and they let you park your bike there for free while you go to the beach.
Otherwise you’d need to pay for parking a few meters further down. So your money is better spent on an ice-cold coconut coffee or smoothie 🙂
12. Explore Hoi An’s Rural Ricefields by Bike
On the way to An Bang beach, you’ll pass Hoi An’s beautiful countryside with green rice fields. We’d often come here just to explore the fields and watch water buffalos going for a swim.
Especially at sunset it’s pure magic to see the fields in golden light and locals in gum boots and traditional triangle hats farming their land.
While it’s cool to cruise around on a motorcycle around Hoi An, I recommend renting a bicycle for this trip. It’s much quieter and peaceful.
We got our bicycles from our accommodation for free, which is often the case in Hoi An. Otherwise, consider joining a guided cycling tour that starts in the Old Town and will show you around Hoi An’s tranquil countryside.
Make also sure to visit Tra Que Village, a local farmers community that is growing vegetables, rice and crops, which is just generally a beautiful area to visit.
Cafe Slow, one of our favorite Hoi An cafes, is also located there. It overlooks the vegetable fields and serves superb coffee.
13. Stay with a Vietnamese Family
While it’s easy to find and book a hotel room in Hoi An, we decided to do a homestay instead.
In Hoi An, as well as the whole of Vietnam, homestays are a popular and cheaper alternative to hotel rooms, often with the same comfort but also access to a kitchen and washing machine.
A homestay in Vietnam often simply means that you will rent a basic room in a Vietnamese family home which is often run as a guest house.
We stayed for one month in the beautiful Hoi An Aroma Villa on the outskirts of Hoi An. While the family lived on the ground floor, we had our room with a private bathroom and a shared guest kitchen upstairs.
It was the perfect place for a long-term stay and equal cycling distance (25 minutes) to Hoi An’s Ancient Town and the beach.
If you are also looking for a more local experience, I highly recommend booking a homestay. That way your money goes to a local family and you’ll get a better idea of how locals live their daily lives in Hoi An.
Tip: You can find plenty of homestays in Hoi An on Booking.com
14. Eat Hoi An’s Best Pho
Hoi An isn’t just a great place for eating Cao Lau or Banh Mi, it’s also a mecca for Phở. Pho is a Vietnamese soup with rice noodles, a rich broth, and usually beef, sometimes chicken.
In Hoi An, Pho is served alongside a variety of herbs, white pickled slices, lemon and chili, which you add on top of the Pho.
This must be a regional thing because we have never gotten so many toppings to add in any other parts of Vietnam.
It took us a while before we found out that the pickled slices were unripe papaya, a common garnish in Vietnamese cuisine!
We’d often eat Pho for breakfast or dinner as most food stalls and restaurants shut their doors in Hoi An over lunch. They have a siesta here, so keep that in mind when eating out.
We found that many of Hoi An’s restaurants serve average Pho, so for an authentic experience, we recommend trying these 7 local Pho spots instead 🍜
15. Day Trip to Da Nang
Da Nang is only 30 kilometers (28 miles) from Hoi An and therefore the perfect distance for a day trip. You can jump on a local bus, get a Grab or rent a motorbike for about 200,000 VDN (8 USD) to get there.
We were very lucky to become friends with the family that runs our favorite Cao Lau stall in Hoi An.
They invited us to join them on their monthly day trip to Da Nang to pray to the Lady Buddha statue there and have dinner at a local seafood restaurant.
After renting our motorbike close to their Hoi An Airbnb, we cruised behind them for about 1 hour to Da Nang, most of the time along the ocean waterfront.
It was an easy and beautiful ride and we loved every minute of it. So if renting a scooter is an option for you, I highly recommend it!
Da Nang is very different to Hoi An, with a long, wide sandy beach, big skyscrapers (which are mostly hotels) and a prominent white female Buddha statue on the headlands behind the beach.
The Lady Buddha statue is a beautiful site to visit and at 67 meters (220 feet) the tallest statue in Vietnam. From there, you can have a great view over Da Nang and the ocean and if you are lucky, you may also spot monkeys (which we didn’t).
We were told that locals from Hoi An regularly travel there to pray for no more floods in Hoi An. Apparently, since doing that, there haven’t been any major floods – so it seems to be working 🙂
These are our favorite things to do in Da Nang:
- Walk the beautiful ocean front
- Visit Lady Buddha on the Son Tra peninsula
- Explore the Marble Mountain caves and religious sites
- See the Dragon Bridge at night (fire and water come out on weekends at 9 pm!)
Most travelers stay in Da Nang and come to Hoi An on a day trip, but I recommend doing it the other way around. Or, if you have more time, stay in both as we did.
If you are short on time, you can also opt for a guided day trip to Da Nang that starts in Hoi An and will bring you to all the sites listed above, except the Dragon Bridge.
Hoi An Attractions You Can Skip
While most of the attractions in Hoi An are very worth visiting, there were a few things we didn’t enjoy as much and think you could skip, especially if you are short on time.
- The Hoi An Food Market: While the outdoor market area is fine and nice for a stroll, I didn’t like the yellow indoor food hall. It felt very touristy and was filled with very enthusiastic food vendors holding menus with overpriced meals in front of your face. Go to these local stalls instead!
- The Hoi An Night Market: Similar to the Food Market, the Night market felt very touristy, overcrowded and tacky. Wander the Ancient Town streets with its great arty shops instead!
- Old Town Restaurants: While we by no means tried them all, we were disappointed by the ones we did eat at. They were lacking Vietnamese flavors! So I highly recommend joining Hoi An’s amazing street food scene instead.
- Riverside Bars: Close to the Night Market is a promenade alongside the river full of tacky bars. Locals will try to get you in, but if you don’t like bright light and loud blasting music, I’d stay out. Rather go to one of the cafes in the Ancient Town that turn into a bar at night instead. We liked Uncle Huan, for example.
🚨 What looks like a great photo is actually a scam in Hoi An (oops). Ladies carrying those fruit baskets will put them on your shoulder in a split second and encourage you to take a photo. Afterwards they will request money for it. We bought some overpriced fruits instead and wrote it off as part of the experience 📸🍌
Hoi An Travel Tips & FAQs
How to get to Hoi An?
Since we started our Vietnam trip in Hoi An, we chose the most convenient option and flew from Bangkok, Thailand to Da Nang International Airport, which is about 30 km (18 miles) away from Hoi An and the closest airport.
From there, you can hop into a car to Hoi An, which takes around 40 minutes. I recommend booking your ride before landing via a:
- Shared shuttle (5 USD p.p.)
- Private transfer (13 USD up to 3 people)
- Grab (Asian’s Uber)
We got a Grab and paid 260,000 VND (11 USD) for the ride, but the price fluctuates depending on the time of the day and demand at the airport.
If you’re coming from other cities in Vietnam, you can easily reach Hoi An with a sleeper bus that will stop at Hoi An’s main bus station. That’s what I did on my first trip to Hoi An.
Alternatively, you can travel by train to Da Nang station and then take a Grab, bus or taxi to Hoi An, which takes about 45 minutes. But taking the bus will be the faster, directer and cheaper option.
We use 12Go to book all our buses and trains across Vietnam – it’s super easy to use. Check it out for current options, prices, and availability.
What are the best areas to stay in Hoi An?
The best area to stay in Hoi An depends on your budget, lenght of stay and what activities you want to do.
Here are my recommendations:
- Hoi An’s Ancient Town is perfect for first-timers or short stays, with easy access to historical sites, markets, cafes, food and tours. It’s the most expensive and touristy area to stay in but also the most convenient. Check out Villa Soleil or RAON Old Town Hotel which both are in an excellent location and have top ratings at a great price!
- Cẩm Nam Island is just south of Hoi An’s Ancient Town and is easy to reach by foot or bike via a bridge over the Thu Bon River. It’s a greener, more local alternative to the Old Town nearby, with lots of accommodation and restaurant options. Friends of ours stayed in the Calm House Hotel Hoi An and loved it!
- An Bang Beach is great for beach lovers. It has a holiday atmosphere and is a 25-minute bicycle or 15-minute car ride away from the Ancient Town through Hoi An’s beautiful rice fields and Tra Que Village. There are many highly-rated homestays and hotels with pools to choose from.
- Cẩm Hà is perfect for longer stays or digital nomads that want to go off the beaten path. It’s on the outskirts of Hoi An and in equal cycling distance (25 minutes) from Hoi An’s Ancient Town and An Bang beach. We stayed there for one month in the beautiful Hoian Aroma Villa and loved the local life, tranquility and untouristy-ness.
How many days should I spend in Hoi An?
Many people only visit Hoi An on a day trip (😱) from Da Nang, but I recommend spending at least 3 days in Hoi An.
This will allow enough time to explore the Ancient Town, try local food, visit the nearby beach, cycle through the rice fields, go on a coconut boat tour, soak up Hoi An’s charm at night and try an egg coffee.
But you could easily fill in 5 or more days. We spent one month in Hoi An as digital nomads and loved it!
When is the best time to visit Hoi An?
Commonly said, the best time to visit Hoi An is from February to May.
That’s when the weather is warm and dry but not too hot – perfect for exploring the town and nearby beaches.
To break it down further, Hoi An has two seasons: A dry season from February to August ☀️ and a rainy season from September to January 🌧️.
- February to May (25-30°C / 77-86°F) is the best time to visit with warm temperatures and little rain – but it’s also Hoi An’s peak season.
- June to August (up to 35°C / 95°F) is great for beach lovers like us but can be very hot.
- September to November (23-30°C / 73-86°F) is the least ideal due to rain and possible flooding in the Ancient Town – which luckily hasn’t happened in quite some years as we learned on a tour.
- December and January are the coolest months (18-24°C / 64-75°F) with light rain – so not ideal if you are team sun lover but a good option for people who can’t stand the heat.
That said, we spent one month in Hoi An in September which is said to be the least ideal time for visiting Hoi An.
But we had picture-perfect weather with mostly blue skies, sunshine and only a few days with heavy rain showers.
So I wouldn’t worry too much about the seasons, but focus more on what activities you want to do and what kind of temperature you prefer. (Or whenever you can go – go!).
If you are a budget traveler like us or want to dodge crowds, avoid peak season (February to May) and opt for other months instead.
How to get around Hoi An?
Getting around Hoi An is easy. You can easily cover the Ancient Town by foot which is pedestrian-friendly, car-free and perfect for strolling.
It’s also popular to rent a bicycle (many accommodations offer one for free!) or a motorbike to explore Hoi An’s rice paddies and beaches, which are about 20-30 minutes away by a scenic drive.
Alternatively you could use Grab to reach nearby attractions which is widely available in Hoi An and usually less than 5 USD per ride. But I recommend sticking to walking or cycling for the best experience.
What to pack for Hoi An?
Since the sun can be brutal in Hoi An, I recommend wearing loose, long pants and thin, long sleeves for sun protection and entering temples.
While Vietnam is not as strict as Thailand with temple dress codes, it still says on the Old Town Ticket to dress modestly.
Also, don’t forget your swimwear, flip flops, sunscreen and a hat – Hoi An has a beautiful beach you’ll definitely want to visit!
Depending on when you’re visiting, a rain jacket is a must. We had a few days of rain, and when it rains in Hoi An, it really pours!
Other than that, you are good to go 🙂
Is Hoi An worth visiting?
Absolutely! To us, Hoi An is a must-visit in Vietnam. Despite being touristy, we loved its charming Ancient Town, unique activities and delicious street food.
You’ll find a great mix of culture, local cuisine, lantern-lit streets, beautiful beaches and rice paddies – a rare combination found around the world.
It’s also a very affordable and walkable town – perfect for budget travelers like us.
What is Hoi An famous for?
Hoi An is known for its well-preserved UNESCO-protected Ancient Town, colorful lanterns, tailor-made clothing, coconut boat tours and unique local dishes like Cao Lau.
I particularly loved the variety of activities in and around Hoi An, strolling or cycling through the lit-up Old Town at night and soaking up local flavors at street stalls.
HOI AN TRAVEL CHECKLIST
These are the sites we found super helpful when planning and booking our trip to Hoi An. For more, check out our Travel Resources.
✔ SafetyWing – Our top pick for travel health insurance. We’ve been insured with them for 4+ years and love how simple and affordable it is to get covered.
✔ Airlo – The eSIM we used for mobile data in Vietnam. It’s set up in minutes, cheap and worked great in Hoi An.
✔ 12Go – Where we booked all our buses and trains across Vietnam, including to and from Hoi An. It’s easy to use and shows you many options.
✔ Booking.com & Agoda – Where we found the best hotels and homestays in Hoi An. If you’re staying longer than a week, Airbnb can also be a great option.
✔ GetYourGuide & Klook – Where we found lots of fun activities in Hoi An like a local food tour, cooking class, lantern workshop and coconut basket ride.
✔ Grab – Works like Uber and is super popular in Hoi An. So be sure to download the app before you go.
Enjoy the Best Things To Do in Hoi An!
Hoi An is one of my favorite places in Vietnam that I can always imagine returning to despite my itch to always want to see something new.
I love the variety it offers, from exploring cute little streets in an Ancient Town to cycling through rice fields, relaxing on an amazing beach and tasting its local cuisine.
Despite being touristy, I think it’s a traveler’s paradise, a perfect long-term destination and an excellent central hub for exploring both North and South Vietnam.
So I highly recommend spending at least a few days in this charming town as there’s an abundance of unique things to do, see, and eat in Hoi An!
For more insider tips on Hoi An, check out our other blog posts below. Or leave a comment or question – we’d love to hear from you!
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