Top Tips For Visiting Hoi An

The Old Town of Hoi An, on Vietnam’s eastern coast, is an enchanting mix of colorful shophouses, French colonial houses, and Chinese temples (which date back to French and Chinese rule here), adorned with bright silk lanterns. In the 17th and 18th centuries, this was one of the most prominent port towns in Southeast Asia, with traders arriving from China, Japan, France, Portugal, the Netherlands, and India. Today, this well-preserved town provides an interesting glimpse into life here over 200 years ago. This post features the top tips for visiting Hoi An, what to see, how to get here, and other must-see areas nearby.

Visiting Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An Riverside

Riverside is the liveliest area of Hoi An, located on the Thu Bon River. It’s lined with many bars, cafes, and markets. Although lovely both day and night, it’s especially atmospheric at night. The charming buildings, in their bright colors, reflect off the water, making this area even more alluring. And the delicious Vietnamese food at the many cafes here, make it the perfect place in the evening.

How To Get To Riverside: Located between Old Town Hoi An and Hoi An Island on the Thu Bon River.

The Japanese Covered Bridge, Or Chua Cau

The Japanese Covered Bridge was built by Japanese merchants over 400 years ago. It connected what was once the Japanese Quarter to the Chinese Quarter. Very charming, inside and out, it’s a popular tourist and photo spot. Locals refer to it as Chua Cau, or Pagoda Bridge, as it has a temple dedicated to the Taoist God of weather, Tran Vo Bac De.

How To Get To The Japanese Covered Bridge: This bridge is located on the west end of Tran Phu Street.

Tan Ky Historic House

The historic house of Tan Ky is a mix of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese architecture. It dates back to the 18th century and was home to several generations of merchants. This living museum is full of ornate architectural details and antiques and is one of the oldest and most beautiful houses in Hoi An, so I recommend a visit.

How To Get To House of Tan Ky: The Historic house of Tan Ky is located a short walk from the Japanese covered bridge at 101 Nguyen Thai Hac Street.

Hoi An Central Market

The Hoi An Central Market is bustling market that spans five streets. It starts before sunrise. You will find lots of fresh fish, meat, spices, produce, and souvenirs. There’s also a large food court, which is a great place to try a variety of Vietnamese food. And if you want a custom-made dress, suit, or shirt, this is reputedly the best place to find a tailor.

How To Get To Hoi A Central Market: Located north of Thu Bon River, there are several entrances to this market. The food court entrance is at the corner of Tran Phu and Nguyen Hue Streets.

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Lantern Market, or Night Market

The Lantern Market, on Hoi An’s islet, is spell-binding, with its thousands of colorful silk lanterns lit in the night sky. Many crafted from the silk made here. Although this market is mostly for tourists, it’s one of the most beautiful markets in Vietnam. It’s held nightly from 5-11 PM. In addition to the colorful lanterns, you can also find food stalls and souvenirs.

How To Get To The Lantern Market: The Hoi An Night Market is located on Nguyen Hoang Street on the islet of Hoi An. Simply cross the bridge and look for the signs.

Hoi A Lantern Moon Festival

Time you visit to Hoi A to include the Lantern monthly Lantern Moon Festival. It’s held every month on the night before the full moon (the 14th day of the lunar month). Lanterns with candles are set afloat on the Thu Bon River in celebration. You can make a wish and release you own lantern, or just watch the spectacle. Streets are blocked, the electricity is turned off (to amplify the glow of the lanterns), and music is played, and a variety of street food stalls pop up. Make sure to arrive early to get a spot near the waters edge (as early as 5:00). Although this festival is held monthly, the first lunar month of the New Year, in February, is the biggest event.

Chinese Temples and Assembly Halls

There are many colorful temples and assembly halls in Hoi An. Most of them are Chinese, as the Japanese were prevented from rebuilding after destruction from the 18th century Tay Son rebellion. The most sacred temple is Quan Cong, or Ong Pagoda, which is located near the Japanese Covered Bridge. It was built in the 17th century to honor a famous Chinese general. Quan Am, or On Lang Pagoda, sits right behind it, and is another popular temple.

Phuc Kien Assembly Hall is one of the biggest and most grand assembly halls in Hoi An. Just down the road is Hai Nam.

An Bang Beach, Or Cua Dai

The palm-lined, white sand beach of A Bang is relatively undeveloped, making it a charming place to visit. There are also water sports options, like surfing (best from September to March) and Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP). Visit early in the morning for the clearest water.

How To Get To An Bang Beach: An Bang Beach is located about 4 miles (7 km) north of Hoi An Old Town. You can rent a bicycle or catch a taxi to get here.

Hoi An Silk Village

Hoi An Silk Village is a quaint village that once employed thousands in the silk trade. Today, there are still silk artisans living and working here, although mostly for tourists. It’s a living museum. You can learn about the art, visit the mulberry garden, shop silk products, and maybe even feed the silkworms.

How To Get to Silk Village: Located in Quang Nam Province, Silk Village is about 1.24 miles (2 km) from the city center. It’s best to arrive by taxi, or you can rent a bicycle.

Take A Cooking Class

Cooking classes are very popular in Hoi An, so there are many choices. Most include a visit to the central market, a ride in a traditional basket boat on the river, as well as other cultural learning opportunities, like this one: Hoi An Cooking Class (Local Market, Basket Boat, Fishing & Cooking). Plus the people of Hoi An are very charming, making this a fun activity when visiting.

Side Trips From Hoi An

The temple complex at My Son and the bridges in Da Nang make perfect side trips when visiting Hoi An.

My Son Sanctuary

My Son is a complex of Hindu temple ruins, from the Kings of Champa that once ruled here. This UNESCO listed site, dating from the 4th to the 14th century, was both a burial site for Cham royalty and a site for religious ceremonies. The temples pay homage to the God of Shiva.

It’s best to visit in early morning or late afternoon, when there are fewer tour buses.

How To Get To My Son: Approximately an hour southwest of Hoi An, near the village of Duy Phu, there are several ways to visit outside a tour. The most beautiful way to travel is via motorbike, riding through the stunning mountain scenery. Only do this, however, if you’re an experienced rider. You can also hire a motorbike taxi (GrabTaxi), taxi (Grab is the ride hailing service here), or private car for the trip. If you prefer a tour, I recommend this one: My Son Sanctuary Luxury Trip from Hoi An.

Da Nang

Da Nang is a 45-minute drive north of Hoi An. Although it’s not as charming as Hoi An, there are some unique bridges, and if you want something quieter and less touristy, this would be the best place to stay in the area.

The top sites include the Instagram worthy Golden Bridge, in Ba Na Hills, which is over an hour west of Da Nang. This is that bridge that looks like a giant pair of hands is holding it up. A great way to see this is via an organized tour, like this one: Shuttle Bus Hoi An to Golden Bridge Ba Na Hill.

There’s also Dragon Bridge, which literally shoots flames and water on weekend evenings around 9 PM. This bridge is within walking distance of the main town area of Da Nang.

Da Nang also has several pristine, quiet beaches.

How To Get To Da Nang: Da Nang is the nearest airport from Hoi An, so if you’re arriving in this area from a different city, you may actually arrive in Da Nang before traveling to Hoi An. There is a bus (LK-02) between the two cities that costs a little more than $1 USD. It takes about 60 to 80 minutes. Taxi and private car are other options. The ride sharing service here is called Grab. And if you only have a back back, try GrabBike.

Want More of Vietnam?

Hanoi, the capital, and main hub or culture and history, is a must-visit spot. This busting city is full of friendly people and amazing food. It’s also fascinating to visit its Old Quarter, its French Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, temples, museums, and more. This also makes the perfect base for day trips to lovely Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay, Ninh Binh, or interesting Sa Pa.

Ho Chi Minh, formerly known as Saigon, is the biggest and most populous city in Vietnam. You can visit the War Remnants museum to see a different side of the war, as well as visit Independence Palace, also known as Reunification Palace, and learn more about the history of Vietnam. From here, you can take a day trip to the fascinating maze of rivers in the Mekong Delta.

And to help plan your trip, see the Vietnam Travel Guide, which covers all the highlights, how to get around, the best time to visit, safety, commons scams to be aware of and more.

Safe Travels!

Julie