Hoi An, Vietnam

"Lanterns, tailors and a river that glows every night"

Hoi An is touristy, and it still has a soul. The old trading port is a tangle of yellow walls, wooden shophouses and assembly halls, and when the sun drops the whole town switches on: silk lanterns over every lane, candle boats on the Thu Bon river, and cafés spilling onto the street. And the secret bonus? A long, sandy beach. An Bang is a fifteen-minute bike ride from the old town — rice fields one way, the sea the other. Come for the history, stay for the tailors, the shoemakers and the evenings you won't want to end.

Hoi An at a glance

Best time to go: February to April is the sweet spot: sunny, warm and comfortable for walking. May to August is hot and great for the beach, while September to November brings heavy rain and, most years, river floods in the old town.
How long to stay: Three nights covers the Ancient Town, a walking tour, a lantern boat and a tailor or shoemaker. Give it five to seven days if you add the beaches, My Son and a Da Nang day.
Who it's for: Travellers who love history, evening strolls, made-to-measure shopping and a slower, prettier pace after Hanoi.
Might not be for you if: You want somewhere undiscovered. The Ancient Town is busy, especially in the evenings, so it rewards early mornings.

The Hoi An shortlist, illustrated

Lantern boats glowing on the river in Hoi An at night — Lanterns on the Thu Bon
Candle boats and glowing lanterns. The river's nightly show.

The carved circular screen wall at the Fujian Assembly Hall in Hoi An, with a guide standing in front — Ancient Town walking tour
A pretty wall until someone tells you its story.

The colourful tiled gate of the Fujian Assembly Hall in Hoi An under a blue sky — Fujian Assembly Hall
Ornate gates, incense and carved dragons at every turn.

Wall of colourful leather bags and shelves of boots and sandals in a Hoi An leather shoe shop — Made-to-measure shoes
Pick a style in the morning, wear it by the weekend.

Best Time to Visit

February to April — warm, dry and before the real heat; avoid the October to November floods

Dec – Jan

Cooler and sometimes drizzly, quieter streets, cosy lantern evenings.

Feb – Apr

The sweet spot: sunny, warm and comfortable for walking.

May – Aug

Hot and humid, perfect beach weather — buy a hand fan, you'll keep it for years.

Sep – Nov

Rainy season, with river floods in the old town most years.

Getting Around

The Ancient Town is small and partly car-free, so feet and bicycles do most of the work. Da Nang airport is about 45 minutes away.

🚶 Walking

The old town is compact and best explored on foot, especially in the evening when the lanterns come on.

🚲 Bicycle

Most hotels lend bikes for free — ride out through rice fields to An Bang or Cua Dai beach.

📱 Grab

Easy, fixed-price rides to the beaches, Da Nang and the airport.

🚌 Bus & shuttle

Shuttles and buses link Hoi An with Da Nang; the nearest train station is in Da Nang.

💡 Book the Da Nang airport transfer through your hotel or Grab — it's cheaper than an arrivals-hall taxi.

Suggested Itineraries

Day 1

Arrive Hoi An

Transfer from Da Nang, evening lantern walk.

Day 2

Old Town History

Walking tour, assembly halls, old merchant houses.

Day 3

Made to Measure

Shoemakers and tailors, then a lantern boat on the river.

Day 4

Countryside by Bike

Rice fields, Tra Que vegetable village, An Bang beach.

Day 5

My Son

Morning trip to the Cham temple ruins in the jungle.

Day 6

Slow Day

Cafés, a cooking break from cooking, and a night out with friends.

Day 7

Departure

Final fitting, banh mi for the road, airport in Da Nang.

🎈 If it starts feeling like homework, delete a day. Wander a market. Eat a second pastry. That's the itinerary now.

Highlights

Ancient Town walking tourLantern boats on the Thu BonCustom-made shoes and clothesAn Bang beach by bike

Must See

Japanese Covered Bridge
Fujian Assembly Hall
Thu Bon river at night
Hoi An night market
An Bang beach day

Local Cuisine

Cao lau noodlesBanh mi PhuongWhite rose dumplingsMi Quang

Insider Tip

Ask your hotel about a free walking tour — a building is just a pretty wall until someone tells you what it was built for.

A traveller photographing red lanterns over a yellow-walled Hoi An street by the river — A paradise for photographers — bring an empty memory card.

Round basket fishing boats pulled up on the sand at An Bang beach near Hoi An — Beach day: basket boats and casuarina shade at An Bang.

Hoi An travel questions, answered

How many days do you need in Hoi An?

Three nights is enough for the Ancient Town, a walking tour, the lantern river and a beach afternoon. If you're having shoes or clothes made, allow at least two to three days for fittings.

How do you get from Da Nang to Hoi An?

Da Nang airport is about 45 minutes away by car. Grab, hotel transfers and shuttle buses all make the trip, and there's no train station in Hoi An itself.

Is it worth having shoes or clothes made in Hoi An?

For many visitors it's a highlight. Shops can make custom shoes, dresses and suits within a few days, so order early in your stay to leave time for a final fitting.

When is the rainy season in Hoi An?

Roughly September to December, with October and November the wettest. Floods in the old town are common in that window, so check the forecast before booking.

Details last checked 21 October 2026.

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