Hoi An is a small, walkable town of yellow houses, lantern-lit streets and a river, and it is one of the easiest places in Vietnam to enjoy slowly. Most visitors come for the Ancient Town and the food, then stay longer than planned for the bikes, the beach and the tailors.
Quick facts
- Best time to visit
- February–May for the best weather, though hotel rates in March and April run above average. June and September are good shoulder months. October–December is flood season, especially November.
- Getting there
- Fly into Da Nang (about 30 km away) and take a Grab or pre-booked transfer. A Grab from the airport was listed at roughly 250,000–350,000 VND in 2026.
- Getting around
- Walk the old town. Bicycles rent for about 30,000–50,000 VND a day, motorbikes for 120,000–150,000, and a Grab to An Bang beach is around 50,000–70,000 VND.
- Minimum time needed
- 2 nights for the town and a beach morning. 3–4 if you want a cooking class, a tailor fitting or My Son.
- Rough daily budget
- One 2026 estimate puts a backpacker day at about $22, mid-range at about $67 and comfort at about $175. Treat these as rough guides.
1. The Ancient Town ticket
Entry to the Ancient Town is controlled by a combo ticket. In 2026 foreign visitors paid about 120,000 VND for a ticket covering five attractions from a list of around twenty. Staff do check tickets at the main entrances, so buy one rather than trying to avoid it. Pick sites that interest you, such as an old merchant house, an assembly hall and the Japanese Covered Bridge.
2. Where to base yourself
- Inside or beside the Ancient Town — the most atmospheric, and you can walk everywhere. It is also the noisiest at night.
- Between the town and An Bang — quieter homestays and villas among rice fields, usually with free bicycles.
- An Bang Beach — a laid-back beach strip about a 15–20 minute bike ride from the center on flat roads.
3. Lanterns, the river and timing your walk
The old town is at its best in the early morning, before the tour groups arrive, and in the evening when the lanterns come on and the river fills with small boats. Lantern boat rides and floating candles are everywhere after dark, so agree the price first. A monthly lantern festival is held around the full moon; check the date before you plan around it.
4. What to eat
- Cao lau — the local noodle dish with pork, greens and crunchy crackers, roughly 35,000–45,000 VND.
- Banh mi — often just 20,000–35,000 VND for a good one.
- Com ga — turmeric chicken rice, around 40,000–50,000 VND.
- Cooking classes — typically 500,000–1,200,000 VND and a good half-day activity.
5. Tailors, honestly
Hoi An is famous for custom clothes. Shirts were quoted around 400,000–600,000 VND and full suits at 1,500,000–3,000,000 VND in 2026, depending on fabric and the shop's reputation. Allow at least two or three days for fittings, bring a photo of what you want, and don't rush the first fitting. Cheap and fast is not the same as well-made.
6. Beyond the town
An Bang Beach for a swim and seafood lunch; My Son Sanctuary, a Cham temple complex around 40 km away (150,000 VND for foreign visitors, listed for 2026), best visited early; and Cu Lao Cham island by boat for snorkeling when seas are calm. Hoi An also pairs naturally with our Da Nang guide.
7. A sample 3-day plan
- Day 1: Early walk through the Ancient Town, tailor consultation, cao lau lunch, river and lanterns in the evening.
- Day 2: Cooking class or bike ride through the rice fields, An Bang beach for the afternoon, first tailor fitting.
- Day 3: My Son at sunrise or a Cu Lao Cham snorkeling trip, final fitting and a slow last dinner.
8. Common first-timer mistakes
- Skipping the ticket — it is checked at the entrances.
- Booking in November without checking the weather — flooding is a real risk from October to December.
- Ordering a suit on your last day — good tailoring needs fittings, so start on day one.
- Only seeing the town at night — it is calmer and cooler in the early morning.
Booking Hoi An
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