10 Best Things to Do & Places to Visit in Hoi An

Hoi An, a charming UNESCO World Heritage site in Vietnam, offers an unforgettable blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. With its well-preserved ancient town, tranquil riverside setting, and vibrant local markets, Hoi An has become a must-visit destination for travelers seeking an authentic Vietnamese experience.

Whether you're drawn to the city's colorful lantern-lit streets, its famous tailor shops, or the rich culinary scene, Hoi An never disappoints. As an expert in travel and cultural exploration, I’ve curated this list of the best things to do in Hoi An, ensuring you experience the essence of this beautiful town in a meaningful way. From the Japanese Bridge to the lively Hoi An night market, this city is a testament to Vietnam’s rich cultural tapestry.

If you’re a food lover, you’ll find yourself savoring unique dishes like Cao Lau and White Rose Dumplings, which offer a taste of the region’s diverse flavors. For those seeking adventure, nearby attractions like An Bang Beach and the My Son Sanctuary await. As someone who has spent countless hours exploring this fascinating town, I’ll guide you through the must-see attractions, providing expert tips along the way. Whether you’re visiting for a weekend getaway or an extended stay, these experiences will help you unlock the full magic of Hoi An.

10 Best Thins to Do & Places to See in Hoi An

Years go by, but Hoi An remains Vietnam's darling. Strolling through the colourful streets of this UNESCO World Heritage town is to evoke the glory of a bygone era and enjoy a lively present, full of colourful lanterns, tailor shops and crafts. Colours. That's Hoi An. Bright colours, pastel colours. No black or white.

Ready to discover all there is to see and do in Hoi An ? Let's take a look:

1. See the Japanese Bridge (and cross it)

The old town is the city's jewel, full of centuries-old buildings that have stood up all this time, even surviving wars. Walking around here is like travelling back in time: French colonial houses, temples, pagodas, lanterns... and also a good handful of cafés, restaurants and shops (many, many). It's no wonder that it has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

One of the most famous tourist spots in Hoi An Old Town is the Japanese Bridge ( Cau Nhay Ban ), a covered bridge made of wood and cement that has become the symbol of the city . It was built by the Japanese who lived in the city around 1590, to connect their neighborhood with the Chinese side, which was on the other side of the river.

The truth is that the bridge is prettier from the outside than from the outside, which is also expensive. Buuuut we have good news: there is a joint ticket ( Hoi An Old Town Ticket ) that costs 120,000 VND (just under €5), which allows access to five attractions in the city (whichever you choose), including this bridge, and it is worth it.

Fun fact : You'll see statues of dogs and monkeys on the bridge. The reason? It is said that its construction began during the year of the dog and was completed in the year of the monkey.

what to see in Hoi An

2. Try Hoi An's local cuisine and take a cooking class

In addition to its beautiful buildings and temples, Hoi An is known for being one of the gastronomic capitals of Vietnam . What's more, it has a lot of local dishes that you have to try. We specifically recommend these 3:

Cau Lau : A rice noodle dish topped with pork, carrots, bean sprouts, croutons and soy sauce.
White Rose : These are a type of rice dumplings, steamed and filled with shrimp.
Won Ton : Of Chinese origin, this dish is made with fried rice noodles, filled with pork. Here it is served with a sauce made of tomatoes, peppers and onions.

And everything will taste even better when you discover that for about €0.15 you can drink a very cold bia (beer on tap) today . It's a pleasure!

→ Here we tell you about the rest of the typical dishes of Vietnamese cuisine . Come on… stuffing yourself with food and drinking some delicious beers is one of the best things to do in Hoi An 🙂

And if you want to go home with some top foodie knowledge, sign up for this cooking class . Learning some recipes from Vietnam will be the best souvenir!

food in hoi an

3. Take a boat ride (best at sunset), one of the best things to do in Hoi An

The Thu Bon River is one of the city's big attractions and yes, when the sun sets, the river sets too... It gets very busy :-p It won't be a romantic boat ride alone, but it doesn't matter: it is a tourist trap, yes, without a doubt, however it is one of the best things to do in Hoi An. We have no proof but we have no doubts either.

The boat ride costs around 100,000 VND (4€), but you can also enjoy a walk (which is free) to the shore. Or, better yet, do both.

what to do in Hoi An

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4. Visit (at least) one old house

Hoi An was an important trading centre in the past and you know what happens when a town attracts traders…money! And when someone makes a little money, one of the first things they do is… build a mansion ! Indeed. In the centre of Hoi An you can visit several of these old houses . The most recommended ones are:

Phung Hung House , which mixes Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese architectural elements.
The traditional and ancient Quan Thang House has remained virtually untouched since the death of its owner.
The Tran Family House and Chapel , built in the 19th century, is one of the most beautiful examples of Chinese architecture in the city.

There is an entrance fee to these houses, but you can use one of your 5 Hoi An Old Town Ticket vouchers.

best places to visit in hoi an

5. Take a trip to My Son, an original plan to do in Hoi An

About 40 km from Hoi An are the ancient ruins of My Son , which was once one of the most important religious centres in the region. If you have already visited archaeological sites such as Bagan , Angkor , Sukhothai or Borobudur , these may seem a bit poor, but if you think about it in perspective and apply a little imagination, a visit to My Son will be a marvel! It helps a little to do it with a guide.

Today there are more than 50 temples (some in poor condition and others almost swallowed up by nature), all built between the 4th and 14th centuries, almost nothing! We were quite surprised, to be honest, and we really enjoyed this half-day excursion from Hoi An.

We went on a tour booked through a local agency that cost us about €11 (including a minivan to the site, an English-speaking guide and a return boat ride, with lunch). Info and price of the tour to My Son .

The best of Hoi An — Tired? Well, buddy… you still have 5 more things to see and do in Hoi An!

6. Go to the beach and/or take a snorkeling tour

Have you had a super hot day and you'd love to take a dip, but your hotel doesn't have a pool? Then head to the beach! Although we must warn you: it's not going to be one of the most spectacular beaches in Asia (the bar is very high here), but if you want to just laze around and enjoy a few hours of relaxation and swimming in the sea, it might be worth it. The nearest beach is Cua Dai Beach , about 4 km away, and another popular one a little further up is An Bang Beach . You can get there by taxi, motorbike or even by bike.

And off the coast of Hoi An are the Cham Islands , a group of 8 small islands where you can go snorkelling or diving. The largest and most inhabited island is Hon Lao , where you can also spend a relaxing day, enjoying its small beach and relaxed atmosphere. It is advisable NOT to go to the islands between October and February, when the waters are rougher.

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7. Get to know the Marble Mountains

This group of 5 mountains , also known as "The Mountains of the Five Elements", are famous for their caves and tunnels, which have been used by monks to carry out their cults (you can see sanctuaries with religious statuettes and images), as well as by guerrillas to hide or store weapons.

The most important and the only accessible one is Ngu Hanh Son , where you will have to climb a few steps to pass through caves, sanctuaries and viewpoints (don't miss the Huyen Khong cave).

The Marble Mountains are about 20 km from Hoi An, and you can get there by taxi, bus, renting a motorbike or on a half-day tour.

excursions from Hoi An

8. Walk across the famous “Golden Bridge”

If you have Instagram, this bridge held up by two huge hands will sound very familiar to you. Since it opened in 2018, its image has circulated like wildfire 😉 What you may not know is that the bridge is part of a theme park ( Ba Na Hills ) located almost 70 km from Hoi An.

You can go on your own (entry costs around €30) or visit it on a tour that includes hotel pick-up, transport to/from the park and entry. Tour information and prices .

Beyond the bridge, there are several attractions to enjoy, but it is clear who is the protagonist who has conquered the hearts (and photos) of millions of people.

9. Buy souvenirs and/or get a custom suit made

Make the most of your stay in Hoi An to buy a few souvenirs: there is everything here, from the typical coloured lamps to bamboo baskets, t-shirts, bags, accessories... It is possibly the best place in all of Vietnam to buy a souvenir. In particular, we recommend going to the night market on Nguyen Hoang Street (open every day from 7pm).

→ If you are interested in making your own lantern , there is a course that teaches you how to do it. More info .

Hoi An is also famous for the quality (and quantity) of its tailor shops (there are more than 100!). There are all kinds: award-winning, super old and traditional, more modern, expensive, cheaper… But they all agree that the tailors are very fast, they can make a suit or a dress in a few hours.

The process consists of 4 stages: design, taking measurements, fitting and pick-up. That doesn't vary in any store. What does vary is the price, but hey, quality is paid for... here and in Cochinchina. Some of the most recommended tailors are Bebe Tailor , Yali Couture or Kimmy Tailors .

› How much does it cost to have a custom suit made in Hoi An?

Ok, but how much does a tailored dress or suit cost in Hoi An? Obviously it depends on the type of suit/dress and especially on the quality of the fabric and the chosen designs. A dress (for special occasions) is around 50-100USD and a men's suit (jacket, trousers and shirt) is around 90-250USD. In more casual shops, you can order more formal dresses for around 10-20USD and suits for around 40-60USD, but of course, the quality is not the same.

What to see and do in Hoi An

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10. Go out at night, one of the best things to do in Hoi An

When night falls, Hoi An shows its prettiest side: the warm lights of the shops and the rice paper lamps of a thousand colours flood everything, and fill the streets with life. In addition, the air starts to smell like food (ohhhh, how delicious everything tastes in Vietnam) and it is the best time to get to know the other side of this beautiful city. Don't miss a night walk through the centre!

More things to see and do in Hoi An

There are other places to visit in Hoi An, such as Chuc Thanh Pagoda , Ba Mu Temple , Fujian Chinese Congregation Hall , Precious Heritage Art Gallery Museum , Museum of Sa Huynh Culture … but we believe that the ones we tell you about will keep you well entertained for a few days.

Tips for visiting Hoi An

Here are some tips and recommendations for planning your trip to Hoi An:

How to get to Hoi An?

If you are coming from Hanoi (800km away), you can take a night bus to Hue (about €10) and from there there are daily buses connecting both cities. If you don't have time to waste, we recommend taking a flight to Da Nang (they are very cheap) which is only 30km from Hoi An. To book buses in Vietnam, we recommend The Sinh Tourist agency (formerly Sinh Cafe), or the transport comparison site 12go.asia .

Where to sleep in Hoi An?

We had a hard time haggling over prices in Hoi An, but there are good hotels (even with a pool!) for quite affordable prices (around €15 per night). If you want to book online, the best option is to use booking.com .

Check these out: Serenity Villa Hoi An , Hoi An Hai Au Boutique Hotel , Thanh Van 1 Hotel or Ha An Hotel .

How many days does it take to visit Hoi An?

One day would be enough to get to know the city, but it is so beautiful and pleasant that we recommend at least 2 days . Especially if you want to do the excursion to My Son, which, you can imagine, will take at least half a day. But hey, if you want to stay for 3 days, we are not going to judge you.

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