General information

Caption: “We travel for romance, we travel for architecture, and we travel to be lost” - Ray Bradbury

Located in Quang Nam Province, Central Vietnam, Hoi An town with its peace and ancient has become one of the most popular tourist attractions that appeal to the travelers of all tastes and cross over the continents. In 1999, Hoi An was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

This town used to be an essential trading port in Southeast Asia. Many foreign traders, mostly Chinese, Japanese, and the West, bought and sold goods and merchandise during the 17th - 18th centuries. Therefore, Hoi An's architecture is harmoniously mixed with Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese designs. It is a mass of many pagodas, temples, and ancient houses that carries its unique mark, making it distinctive and unlike any other sites throughout Vietnam. Besides its architecture, Hoi An is also famous for street food such as cao lau, banh xeo, my quang, etc. that are sold on the street or in small corners around the beautiful town. With its diverse gastronomy, Hoi An is one of the 25 most appealing destinations for tourists in the world. As being the main port of the silk route, the ancient town is renowned silk and tailor. When traveling to Hoi An, you will have a chance to see more than 400 cloth and tailor shops. With many unique things, Hoi An will be an ideal destination for tourists to discover in the central part of an S-shaped country.

How to get to Hoi An (by airplane, by road, by train)

There are lots of ways to go to Hoi An including by airplane, by road and by train.

By airplane

The easiest way to reach Hoi An is by taking a flight to the international airport in Danang City, a 30-minute drive from the ancient town. There are domestic flights from Vietnam's major cities to Danang City and direct flights from Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, and Siem Reap.

By road

If you start from Hanoi, Saigon, or other main cities along with Vietnam, you can go to Hoi An by road, taking a bus or coach from North to South.

By train

If you go to Hoi An by train, there are two options for tourists, including Danang Station (30 km from Hoi An) and Tam Ky Station (50 km from Hoi An). Danang Station is suitable for those who are from Hanoi or other provinces from the North. In contrast, Tam Ky Station is a good option for those who come from Saigon or Southern regions.

Train from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang can be found here: Luxury train between Hanoi and Saigon.

How to get around Hoi An

The central part of Hoi An ancient town is pretty small. The authority bans on using motor vehicles on the street, so tourists can only walk or use a bicycle, cyclo, or electric car for hanging out. Most homestays, hotels, and resorts in Hoi An have prepared the bikes for free-use and motorcycle for rent. If you want to go further, far from the center of the ancient town, you can hire a motorbike or take a taxi.

Best time to visit Hoi An

Located in a tropical monsoon climate, Hoi An, like Danang City, is where the transition of Northern climate and Southern one; however, South's climate becomes more dominant. So Hoi An has two main seasons, including dry season (from February to August) and rain season (from October to December).

The best time to visit Hoi An is from February to April when the weather is cool, pleasant with no rain. You can also go to Hoi An before Lunar New Year when it is cold in the North while hot in the South. Between May and July, the temperature rises, so it's suitable for beach lovers to enjoy Hoi An's best beaches, such as Cua Dai or An Bang. Cu Lao Cham Island, an hour by boat from Hoi An, is a paradise where you can indulge in sunbathing along the beach or maybe diving for watching coral reef between Jan and Sep.

The rain season in Hoi An falls from October to December when the rain happens longer and more frequently. Sometimes, Hoi An gets flooded during this time, but with its location by the sea, the flood goes away in just a day or two. With its cooling weather, it's difficult to resist a cup of hot coffee or tea.

Best things to do in Hoi An

Hoi An ancient town

Exploring the old town with a harmonious blend of opulent Chinese temples, a Japanese-designed bridge, ancient houses, and French-colonial houses will fulfill your trip. It's time for you to discover a unique architecture and enjoy the hustle and bustle daily life of local people in Hoi An. Declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, Hoi An is famous for plenty of shops, namely countless tailors, souvenir stores, art galleries, restaurants, and coffee shops.

Do not forget to walk around the riverside area near the bank of Thu Bon River. There are a dozen restaurants, lively bars, and pubs where you can enjoy fresh seafood, specialties, beers, or any favorite cocktails, etc. In the evening, hundreds of colorful diverse-shaped lanterns illuminate wooden bridges over the river as well as every corner of the street, making it incredible scenes for anyone who has once gone to this ancient town.

Pagoda Bridge (“Cầu Chùa” in Vietnamese)

An incredible view of Japanese Bridge Pagoda in Hoi An old town

Pagoda Bridge, or Japanese Covered Bridge, back to the 18th century, is one of the most prominent spots in Hoi An ancient town. With a length of 18 meters, Pagoda Bridge is believed to be built by the Japanese residents living in Hoi An as a way to reach the Chinese street. Crossing over the bridge, you'll see a temple dedicated to the Taoist God of weather where local people often pray to help control the weather. Today, it's well-preserved for tourists to visit and considered an iconic symbol of Hoi An.

Fujian Assembly Hall

The unique architecture of Fujian Assembly Hall in Hoi An Old town

Built around 1690, Fujian Assembly Hall, is now a symbol of Hoi An architecture and Fujian artists' talent. Built by people from Fujian, China, the hall is a meeting and socializing place for oversea Chinese in Hoi An in former time. It's worth taking your time here, especially in the Chinese festival, to see sophisticated and unique Chinese architecture and many statues, bronze bells, and drums carrying spiritual meanings as well as mythical creatures.

Hoi An Museum of History and Culture

A 10-minute walking from Pagoda Bridge, Museum of History and Culture showcases the vestiges spanning 2000 years of the ancient town with many artifacts of residents, ceramics, and potteries. The museum locates in one of the oldest pagodas of Vietnam: Quan Am Pagoda. It offers an out of ordinary insight into Hoi An's heritage, including traditional committal rites with authentic tombs and exhibitions depicting Hoi An throughout the ages. Take your moment to visit and wallow yourself in a historical space within the ancient town.

Hoi An Museum of Trade Ceramics

Located in Hoi An's old quarter, the museum of trade ceramics is a sophisticated example of traditional Vietnamese artistry. There is a vast selection of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese ceramics found in the architectural digs, mainly back from the 8th to the 18th centuries, and lots of impressive drawings on display showing distinctive architectural styles.

The museum is where you feel the ancient intangibles and hear the whisper of history. Visiting the museum will give you a cultural insight into the town's history and different relationships with other countries. For archaeology and history lovers, it is an ideal place for discovering when traveling to Hoi An.

Cua Dai Beach

White sandy beach and pristine water of Cua Dai beach

Only a 15-minute drive from Hoi An ancient town, Cua Dai beach, is an incredible getaway for beach-seekers in Hoi An. Three-kilometer stretching of white sandy beach, gentle waves, and pristine water make it a perfect place for swimming, floating around, and snorkeling. It's worth heading to Cua Dai beach to cool off and relax, especially in the summer.

Cua Dai Beach- Hoi An at sunrise

An Bang Beach

An Bang beach, 7 kilometers far from the ancient town in the North, is one of Hoi An's most beautiful beaches. Parts of the beach remains untouched with pristine beauty. An Bang beach is a perfect choice for sunbathing and participating in plenty of seaside activities such as paddle-boarding, swimming, and surfing. For wanderlust people, the little-known place is a secret treasure hiding what you don't want to miss.

Bay Mau Coconut MangroveForest

An attractive view from the sky of Bay Mau coconut forest (Photo credit: Luong Nguyen Anh Trung)

Situated in a 10-minute drive from Hoi An ancient town, Bay Mau coconut forest is known as a unique ecological area with a waterlogged forest system, but the attraction that you can discover the local culture of people here.

You can ride one of the bamboo coracle boats through the forest and listen to history during the Vietnam war since it used to be a shelter of guerillas. You can also take part in a cooking class that residents will teach you how to cook some specialties like spring-roll, rice pancake, etc. It will become an unforgettable experience for you on your Hoi An holiday.

Handspan offers a Thu Bon river experience, a reward for those who get out of the bed early, witnessing how the day begins in Hoi An as we paddle towards the horizon on the beautiful Thu Bon River: Kayaking tour on Thu Bon river and Cam Thanh coconut forest.

Hoi An- The kitchen of the world

The local cuisine is something you can not miss when visiting Hoi An ancient town. With diverse finger-licking dishes such as Cao lau, chicken rice, crispy pancake ("Banh xeo"), banh my, etc., Hoi An deserves its brand "The kitchen of the world." Each dish carries its distinctive flavor and unique decoration. Locals use fresh ingredients readily available in their gardens or fresh catch from the nearby rivers and ocean. All these fresh ingredients, together with grandma's recipes that pass through generations, create the local food's incredible and unique tastes.

As being the interfere of different cultures, Hoi An's gastronomy also reflects a harmonious combination of various culinary cultures like Chinese, Japanese, and French. Take your time to experience a variety of delicious dishes in Hoi An. Do not forget to try some favorite drinks like nuoc mot ("Nước Mót" in Vietnamese), which only has in Hoi An.

Accommodations in Hoi An

As the central city of Hoi An is quite small, therefore visitors can easily find accommodation with different ranges such as homestays, hotels, villas and luxury resorts nearby the ancient town. Read on several best accommodations in Hoi An. Here are some of our favorites:

The Heron House

Situated in a peaceful space of Hoi An, The Heron House is separated from the ancient town. The homestay is suitable for those who want to find the feeling of escape and tranquil. As a being Vietnamese architecturally designed house, the homestay with only three rooms offers comfort and space with an outdoor pool for guests to chill and relax on the whole day.

Address: Group 5, Thanh Tay, Cam Chau, Hoi An, Quang Nam.

Hoi An Chic Hotel - 4 stars

Standing in the heart of a paddy field in the middle Hoi An countryside, Hoi An Chic is our favorite small boutique hotel. The hotel is strategically located between the ancient town of Hoi An (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Cua Dai/An Bang beach. By combining traditional architecture with modern designs, this beautiful boutique property offers style, location, and great value for money, exceptional service, and a superb range of activities.
Hoi An Chic offers a lush tropical garden, an outdoor swimming pool, a small but nice restaurant with a delicious variety of menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Rooms are spacious with a private veranda or balcony. The hotel offers complimentary shuttle services to Hoi An ancient town or free bicycle for their in-house guests. 

Vinh Hung Riverside Resort - 4 stars

Vinh Hung Riverside Resort has a strategic location on the bank of Thu Bon river and just a minute away from Hoi An ancient town. The resort is a perfect choice for your trip with stylish and comfortable rooms set around the lush tropical gardens. The 4-star resort, which blends Vietnamese culture with modern facilities, offers guests tentative hospitality and excellent service.
Vinh Hung Riverside Resort has two swimming pools, a restaurant, a spa offering Vietnamese traditions and innovative therapies and body treatment, and a stylish bar.
Don't miss out on the countryside market organized every afternoon at the resort's garden to enjoy Hoi An local specialties. The resort also offers a complimentary sunset boat tour on Thu Bon river and a free boat shuttle to the old town.

La Siesta Resort and Spa Hoi An - 5 stars

The La Siesta Resort & Spa Hoian is located in a quiet location a few minutes from the Old town's center overlooking paddy fields. The rooms and suites are set in lush tropical gardens and combine modern amenities with classical Vietnamese design.

The hotel has two restaurants, two outdoor swimming pools (one with saltwater) with Jacuzzi, and a spa and gym. A free shuttle service is offered, through the old town to Cua Dai beach. There are also bicycles available for guests to explore the local area. La Siesta resort has always got our guests great feedback for their excellent breakfast, spacious rooms, and extremely professional and friendly staff.

Almanity Hoi An Wellness Resort - 5 stars

Right at the heart of Hoi An ancient town, Alma Resort offers luxurious rooms featured in modern facilities and a comprehensive spa treatment package included in your room price. The resort is also surrounded by a stunning swimming pool and a verdant tropical garden nearby. Let your heart rule your head and immerse yourself in Alma Resort.

Address: No. 326 Ly Thuong Kiet, Minh An Ward, Hoi An, Quang Nam.

Being formally recognized as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999, Hoi An ancient town nowadays has become one of the most popular destinations in the central part of Vietnam. With a unique architecture style as well as a variety of finger-licking dishes, Hoi An has everything that makes it become your dreamy vacation.

Anantara Hoi An Resort - 5 stars

Experience a pleasant blend of riverside relaxation and Anantara luxury, the iconic Hoian Old town on your doorstep with beautiful beach life just a short bicycle or boat ride away. Scenically positioned on the Thu Bon River banks, Anantara Hoi An Resort is a lovely boutique retreat in the historic port town of Hoi An. 
Part of the fast-expanding Anantara group, the resort is an excellent place to stay for those wanting to combine sophisticated and charming accommodation with a base within walking distance of the atmospheric old town of Hoi An.