A Complete Guide to Visiting Hoi An, Vietnam

Oh Hoi An; what a charmer. Hoi An is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque towns in Vietnam, being crowned “The Best City in the World” by Travel+Leisure. With the yellow walled houses, lantern lit streets and some of the most delicious food in the country, it’s not surprising that it’s love-at-first-sight for most travellers to Vietnam. 5 trips later and I still have a soft spot for Hoi An and Central Vietnam. Hopefully this travel guide to Hoi An helps you to plan your own trip!

Hoi An at a glance

Hoi An is a small city, about ~45 minutes south of Da Nang in central Vietnam. This coastal city was originally a bustling and wealthy port, home to merchants from all corners of Asia and Europe. Different cultural influences from the city past are still visible in the ancient architecture, though Hoi An has now transitioned into a tourist hub. Visitors flock to Hoi An to buy custom made items in the hundreds of tailors, see the lanterns light up the yellow streets and to relax at the nearby beaches.

How long to stay – I recommend spending 2 days. There are a lot of things to do in Hoi An, so if you are interested in doing day trips and classes then you could spend ~5days here.

Best time of year – Feb to Oct is dry season with temps from mid-high 30°C, while Oct to Dec is monsoon season so you can expect some rain and potentially flooding if it is bad. The towns ancient infrastructure and proximity to the ocean unfortunately causes Hoi An to flood during monsoon season (2017 was particularly bad). If you’re travelling in monsoon season follow local news to keep tabs on potential flooding near the time of your trip.

Things to see in Hoi An

Hoi An has long-been a not-to-miss destination in Vietnam, and as such there is no shortage of things to do there. For a complete overview of everything there is to see and do in Hoi An, check out my Hoi An Wanderlist, but these are my favourite things to do in Hoi An.

Reaching Out Teahouse

The Reaching Out Teahouse is beautiful cafe in the heart of the ancient city, where the staff have hearing or speech impairment. You’re encourage to order in sign-language and savour the quiet atmosphere of the cafe. Profits go back into training those with physical disabilities and helping them to find work.

Order tailored items

Hoi An is a huge hub for custom clothing, with every other shop offering tailor-made items, from suits to shoes, bags to swimwear. If you have a vision for an item you would like, Hoi An is the place to get it made in Asia.

Learn to Cook

Hoi An is home to the best selection of cookery schools in Vietnam, and with the majority of them set among the rice terraces and mangrove forests, you’d be a fool to pass up the opportunity to learn some skills here.

Explore the ancient sites

Hoi An is an ancient protected city, with a large selection of ancient house and temples to explore, the most iconic being the Japanese Covered Bridge. With an ancient city ticket you get access to 5 sites of your choice.

How to get to Hoi An

Hoi An has strong transport connections as one of the most popular towns in Vietnam, so getting there is no challenge. The bus is definitely the cheapest and most efficient option (as the nearest train and airport are in Da Nang). However I highly recommend booking a motorbike transfer if you are coming from our going to Hue in the north. The road connecting these two cities is the iconic Hai Van Pass and the drive is beautiful.

Bus is the cheapest option for travelling to Hoi An from nearby destinations. You can get buses from all the surrounding towns; from the north from Da Nang or Hue, and from the south from Quy Nhon and Nha Trang. I’ve found the easiest way to book transport in advance is through Baolau*, a search engine that compares all travel options to find the best one for you.

Getting around Hoi An

The ancient area of Hoi An is pedestrianised, making it perfect to explore on foot. Bicycle is a very popular way to get around Hoi An, with many hotels offering free bikes. If your accommodation doesn’t you can find a bicycle to rent here ($1-2). Cyclos are a popular way to explore for those who are unable to wander freely. To explore further you can use Grab or taxis.

What to eat in Hoi An

Hoi An is famous for a number of dishes, like cao lau, white rose dumplings and banh mi’s to name a few. Another favourite dish that I’ve only been able to find in Hoi An is wontons with mango and tomato salsa.

Coffeeshops in Hoi An

Hoi An, like the rest of Vietnam, has no shortage of coffee shops to sit in and watch the world go by. A few local chains have opened up, such as Hoi An Roastery and Cocobox, but there are also lots of cute independent coffee shops. 

Where to stay in Hoi An

Hoi An has no shortage of places to stay for all budgets. There are two main areas I recommend staying in Hoi An; just outside the ancient city (where taxis can drop you off, but still easy walking distance) or near the beach (An Bang). I also recommend finding a hotel with free bicycle hire. I always book my accommodation with Booking.com* as their genius membership gets you deals with selected hotels in each destination.