Top 10 Things to Do in Hoi An, Vietnam
Lantern-lit streets, cooking classes, cycling through rice paddies, basket boats, tailors and An Bang beach – the ten best things to do in Hoi An, Vietnam.
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Hoi An is one of Southeast Asia's most charming towns. Its yellow merchant houses, wooden shopfronts and riverside lanterns tell the story of a busy trading port that was frozen in time – and it's surrounded by rice fields, vegetable gardens and long sandy beaches.
1. Explore the Ancient Town
Hoi An Ancient Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, mixing Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese influences. Buy an entry ticket and visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, the colourful Chinese assembly halls and centuries-old merchant houses. Go early in the morning to have the streets almost to yourself.
Mustard-yellow merchant houses, bougainvillea, wooden shutters and the Japanese Covered Bridge – arrive early in the morning, before the crowds, when the light is soft and the streets are quiet.
2. Light up the night
When the sun goes down, hundreds of silk lanterns glow along the streets and the Thu Bon River. Take a short boat trip and float a paper lantern on the water. On full-moon nights, the old town is especially atmospheric.
At dusk, hundreds of silk lanterns glow in every colour, and on the river, small paper lanterns with candles float past the boats.
3. Take a cooking class
Many classes start with a visit to the central market and a basket-boat ride, then teach you to make dishes such as fresh spring rolls, bánh xèo pancakes and phở.
After shopping at the market for herbs and fish, you cook in an open-air kitchen, learning to roll fresh spring rolls and make pho.
4. Cycle through the countryside
Rent a bicycle – most hotels lend them for free – and ride past rice paddies and water buffalo to the villages around town. Guided cycling tours visit local craftspeople and farms.
Cycle past rice paddies where water buffalo graze, farmers in conical hats and small villages – green, peaceful and beautiful.
5. Visit Tra Que vegetable village
Just outside town, farmers grow the fragrant herbs that give central Vietnamese food its flavour. Join a farming experience, then eat lunch made with what you've harvested.
The air smells of basil and mint, and farmers show you how they water the fields from buckets carried on their shoulders.
6. Ride a basket boat
In the Cam Thanh water-coconut forest, round bamboo basket boats spin through the palms. It's fun, silly and great for families.
Sitting in a round bamboo boat, the boatman spins you in circles among the coconut palms – fun and a little dizzying.
7. Eat cao lầu and Hoi An's street food
Cao lầu – thick noodles with pork, herbs and crispy croutons – is Hoi An's signature dish. The town is also famous for its bánh mì sandwiches and white rose dumplings. Eat at the market or at small family-run stalls.
Chewy cao lầu noodles with pork and herbs, crispy bánh mì from a street stall – Hoi An's food is fresh, fragrant and cheap.
8. Have clothes tailor-made
Hoi An is known for its tailors, who can make a suit, dress or shirt in a day or two. Choose a well-reviewed shop, allow time for at least one fitting and agree on the price before work starts.
Choose fabrics from shelves stacked to the ceiling, get measured, and in a day or two your clothes are ready – allow time for a fitting.
9. Relax at An Bang beach
A short bike ride from town, An Bang has soft sand, beach bars and seafood restaurants. Nearby Cua Dai is quieter.
Palm-thatched umbrellas, fresh seafood and the South China Sea – an easy bike ride from town.
10. Day trip to My Son
The ruins of the My Son Sanctuary, a UNESCO-listed complex of Hindu temples built by the Champa kingdom, sit in a jungle valley about an hour away. Go early to beat the heat and the crowds.
Red brick Hindu temples stand among the jungle-covered hills, mysterious and quiet in the morning mist.
Where to stay
Stay close to the Ancient Town for evening walks, or choose a homestay or pool villa among the rice fields for a quieter stay. Families often enjoy the beach resorts between town and the sea.
More of Asia
Flying via Singapore? Read our list of the best things to do in Singapore. Nature lovers can add Thailand's Khao Yai from our guide to 10 incredible national parks around the world.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Hoi An?
Three days is ideal: one for the Ancient Town, one for a cooking class and cycling in the countryside, and one for the beach or a trip to My Son.
When is the best time to visit Hoi An?
February to April has pleasant temperatures and little rain. Summer is hot, and the autumn rainy season (roughly October to December) can bring flooding to the old town.
Do I need a ticket for Hoi An Ancient Town?
Yes. Visitors buy a ticket to enter the Ancient Town, which also gives access to a selection of historic houses, assembly halls and museums.
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