Located on the northern bank of the lower Thu Bon River, Hoi An is an ancient town in Quang Nam Province, about 30 kilometers from Da Nang and 122 kilometers from Hue. Mentioning Hoi An instantly brings to mind rows of mustard-yellow ancient houses, the shimmering lantern-lit river at night, and delicious local dishes rich in cultural identity.
5 reasons to visit Hoi An
- Visit the most atmospheric old town of Vietnam.
- Cycle through green rice fields through the countryside.
- Relax on one of the beaches.
- Explore the city in the evening with lanterns illuminating the street.
- Take a day trip to My Son or Cham island.
When is the Best Time to Visit Hoi An?
Hoi An’s climate is a blend of both northern and southern Vietnam, with distinct dry and rainy seasons. Each season offers its own unique charm to the ancient town.
The first three months of the year are ideal for exploring Hoi An, with mild sunshine, cool weather, and occasional light rain.
From April to June is the peak of the dry season. Although this is the hottest period, Hoi An’s weather remains relatively pleasant due to its location on the southern side of the Truong Son Mountain Range. This is also the peak tourist season.
July is still part of the dry season. August and September mark the transition between seasons, with gentle sunlight during the day, occasional light showers, and cool nights.
The last three months of the year are the rainy season in Hoi An. Sunshine becomes rare, rain is frequent and heavy, and flooding can sometimes occur. Travelers from the southern regions visiting Hoi An during this chilly season should pack appropriate clothing to protect their health.
So best time to visit
- February to April: pleasant temperatures, low humidity.
- From June to August: the temperatures are the warmest, up to 38 ° C
- From September to January: the rainy season of Hoi An. October and November are wettest
- November to January: coldest temperatures, ranging from 19 to 24 °
What to do in hoi an?
1.Cycling through the old city
Hoi An offers a breathtaking mix of ornate Chinese temples, a Japanese-style bridge, wooden shop buildings, French-colonial houses and old canals. Most of the old shops have been carefully converted into modern businesses for tourists, including countless tailors, souvenir shops, art galleries, restaurants and cafes. The best way to explore this city is on bicycle. Visit the city both during the day and in the evening, when the lanterns illuminate the old town.
The most famous sights in Hoi An are the Japanese bridge, Cantonese Assembly hall, Fujian Assembly Hall and the Chuc Thanh Pagoda.
2. Take a cooking class
Hoi An is the most popular place to take a cooking class in Vietnam. A cooking class in Hoi An is often more than just learning to make dishes, but there are often many other activities that you do, such as a visit to a local market, boat trips, cycling and visiting craft villages.
There are dozens of restaurants that offer cooking classes. Check the options first. Which activities does it include, are there vegetarian or vegan options and how long does it take.
3. Relax on the beach
If you have been walking around for a whole day to see all the sights in Hoi An, you might be ready to relax the next day. Fortunately there are a number of beaches in Hoi An and in the area. The two most popular are An Bang Beach and Cua Dai Beach. You can easily reach these beaches by bike from the center. With a scooter or taxi you can even go to the beaches in Da Nang.
4. Take a boat trip
Hoi An offers plenty of opportunities to get on the water. Enjoying some of the many river roads in the city is a must – rent a boat, go paddling or take a tour where you see life on and along the water. You can walk to the river from the old town where you will be flooded by boat trips on the Thu Bon river. You can also go to Cam Thanh Village where you can paddle through the forest of coconuts with a basket boat.
- Tip: If you are looking for a more active activity, go kayaking in Hoi An and paddle through the many waterways around the city.
5. Bay Mau Coconut Forest
Located just over 3 kilometers from the center of Hoi An Ancient Town, along the banks of the Hoai River, lies the Bay Mau Water Coconut Forest, which spans more than ten hectares in Cam Thanh Commune. The basket boat tour service for exploring the coconut forest has appeared in Cam Thanh in recent years and has gradually become an essential “specialty” of Hoi An tourism. Each basket boat is allowed to carry a maximum of two people. For a ticket price of 200,000 VND per person, visitors can enjoy a one-hour ride in a traditional basket boat, weaving through the narrow waterways lined with lush green nipa palm trees on both sides.
In addition to the boat ride, visitors can watch entertaining boat dance performances and learn how to make charming little souvenirs from nipa palm leaves—such as flowers, grasshoppers, bracelets, sunglasses, rings, or hats. If you visit Bay Mau in September, you’ll also get the chance to taste ripe water coconuts, known for their sweet, crunchy flesh.
6. Visit the markets
One of the most popular sights is the markets in Hoi An. Markets are also one of the best places to see the local life. In the middle of the city next to the river you will find the central market where you can really find everything. Every night there is a Night Market. The 300-meter-long Nguyen Hoang Street changes into a sea of color, while vendors set up stalls selling everything from handmade jewelry and clothing to delicious snacks. This market is illuminated by hundreds of different colored lanterns that decorate the street and illuminate the stalls.
7. From Hoi An to Hue
The route from Hoi An to Hue is very impressive and is already an activity in itself, with the highlight being the Hai Van Pass. This mountain pass is known for the TopGear TV program and offers great views of the sea, mountains and beaches. You can drive a scooter over this mountain pass yourself, you can hire an Easy Rider on the back of the motorcycle or rent a car with driver. When you go with an Easy Rider or car you often visit other sights on the route such as the Marble Mountains and Lang Co Beach.
Food & drinking
Restaurants
Deciphering Hanoi’s street food scene can be astonishing, but it is worth keeping up and diving into. The city’s best food comes from the dozens of vendors that line the city’s sidewalks with smoking charcoal burners, tiny plastic stools and queues of locals.
- Aubergine49 Restaurant
- Tra Que Garden Restaurant
- FireFly Restaurant & Bar
- Nhan’s Kitchen
- Restaurant & Cafe Tuan
- Phi Banh Mi
- Nhu Bau Resturant
- Mr. Son
- Am Vegetarian Restaurant
- Purple Lantern
Nightlife
Across the river, the area known as An Hoi, is popular for backpackers. There are quite a few options for drinking. They fluctuate from night to night and are easy to find.
- Make a walk through Hoi An to see the lanterns lit the street
- Visit Hoi An Night Market
- Dive Bar
- Mango Mango
- Dublin Gate Irish Pub
- Tiger Tiger
How to get there
Flights to Hoi An
The closest airport to Hoi An is Da Nang International Airport (DAD), located in the heart of Da Nang. It is 30 kilometers from Hoi An. From the airport, the ride to Hoi An takes approximately 30 minutes by taxi or bus. There are flights to Da Nang from all over the country, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Da Lat, Phu Quoc.
Busses to Hanoi
Hoi An has two bus stations with buses to and from many destinations in Vietnam, such as Nha Trang (10 hours) and Hue (2.5 hours). But in Da Nang there is a larger busstation with a lot more busses and connections.
Between Hoi An and Da Nang there is a public bus that stops just outside the center of Hoi An and runs through the Da Nang center.
Trains to Hanoi
The nearest train station is in Da Nang. Several trains a day arrive from Quy Nhon (6 hours), Hanoi (17 hours), Ho Chi Minh City (17 hours), Hue (3 hours), Nha Trang (11 hours) and Mui Ne (16 hours). At the station you have no problems finding a taxi to take you to Hoi An.
How to get around
Hoi An is small enough to walk effortlessly through the old city. Every day from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., the old town is closed to motor vehicles and is only accessible to pedestrians and cyclists.
With a bike you have more reach and it is a cheap option to go to the beaches and explore the countryside. Most hotels offer guests bicycles free of charge or cost a dollar or two per day.
Cyclos are a nice way to explore the old city. Expect to pay around 100,000 dong for a one-hour tour.
If you are a confident motorbike driver there are very beautiful trips through the countryside, to the many islands and further over the Hai Van Pass and the area around Lang Co.
