Hoi An is a place where the bold march of progress peters into a leisurely amble. In this one-time trading port, the Thu Bon River meanders past crumbling shop houses and weathered pagodas, while sampans come and go from the old ferry quay. Outside the Old Town, two-lane roads slice through waving rice fields and emerge at a frothy coastline. Stay a couple of days, and Hoi An’s easygoing beauty and lantern-lit nights may leave you hopelessly beguiled. Your journey to Hoi An awaits! Check out these Hoi An explorations to prepare for your upcoming trip!

Hoi An Ancient Town – Location, opening hours, and entrance fees 

If you just want to take a chill walk around the old town, enjoy Hoi An’s specialties or take beautiful pictures, there is no entrance fee. However, there are several cultural monuments that require entry tickets:

  • Cultural constructions: Quan Cong Temple, Cau Bridge, etc…
  • Ancient houses: Phung Hung Ancient House, Duc An Ancient House, etc…
  • Church: Church of the Tran family, Church of the Nguyen family.
  • Museums

In addition, tickets also include a wide range of activities, namely folk games, street performances (every day from 7 pm to 8.30 pm), art shows (at 10.15 am and 3.15 pm daily). The ticket prices for Vietnamese and foreigners differ, which are 80,000 VND/person and 120,000 VND/person respectively.

Don’t hesitate to buy tickets as the experience will provide deep insights of the town’s history. Moreover, the money contributes to the repair and preservation of the old town for future generations.

Top things to do in Hoi An

Get lost in the Old Town

Merchants from China, Japan and later Europe settled in Hoi An from the 15th to 19th centuries, creating a unique architectural fusion. Bring your camera as you tread the Japanese Bridge, Tan Ky ancestral house, and Phuc Kien Assembly Hall.

Treat your taste buds

Dining in Hoi An is pure pleasure. Farms and fishing boats contribute just-picked vegetables, seafood, herbs and fruit to the markets daily. Three quintessential Hoi An dishes are Cao Lau, Hoanh Thanh, and white rose dumplings.

Cycle in the countryside

Sunrise in Hoi An is a prime time to grab your hat and hop on a bike. With any luck, you’ll find yourself in a sea of green, with water buffalo flicking their tails. In Cam Thanh and Tra Que, you’ll pass vegetable farms and frond-fringed ponds.

Hit the beach

An Bang Beach, just a 10-minute drive from the Ancient Town, promises seafood lunches, sandy stretches and cool waves. Bring your books, beach blankets, and bikinis; or board a boat to the pristine shores of the Cham Islands.

Marvel at My Son

My Son Sanctuary is a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site 40 kilometres from Hoi An. Tucked into a valley near a shaded stream, these temples were built by the Cham people. The surviving structures date from the 7th to the 13th century.

Hoi An Weather

Expect rainy days and several storms from October to January. If you arrive at the start of the year, bring a few extra layers to stay warm. March to May are the best months to visit, but you can also see Hoi An from June to August if you don’t mind the heat.

Hoi An Transport

The international airport in Da Nang is a 50-minute drive from the Ancient Town. There are domestic flights from Vietnam’s major cities to Da Nang, as well as direct flights from regional hubs. Hoi An can also be reached by bus or shuttle vans from nearby destinations, such as Nha Trang, Da Nang or Hue. Walking and cycling is ideal for sightseeing in the Ancient Town and the countryside. Taxis and ride-hailing apps can also take you around. Ask your hotel about a private car for trips further afield.

What to eat: Must-eat foods in Hoi An Old Town

Banh mi – The most famous Vietnamese street food

Despite being a common household dish, Hoi An’s Banh Mi has a very distinct taste, so much that it is considered as “the best bread in the world”. Among many, Banh Mi Phuong is the most popular food shop. The menu here is extremely diverse with more than 20 different fillings: burgers, spring rolls, pate, chicken with avocado and salad… However, the selling point of these small bread loaves is the special homemade sauce. Each loaf costs around 20,000 – 40,000 VND depending on the fillings.

Cao Lau – A yummy Hoi An specialty in the Ancient Town

Cao Lau has a Chinese-influenced taste with golden noodles, topped with char siu, deep-fried pork skin, and bean sprouts, drizzled with a bit of gravy. Chilling on the balcony watching Hoi An streets with a bowl of Cao Lau in front of you is truly an unforgettable culinary experience that only Hoi An can bring to visitors. Relatively more expensive compared to other dishes, a bowl of Cao Lau costs about 30,000 – 60,000 VND.

Quang noodles – A signature dish of Hoi An cuisine

Quang noodles is believed to be the “soul” of Da Nang and Quang Nam cuisine. The perfect combination of soft rice flour noodles, delicious chicken with rich broth is what makes this dish irresistible. The price for each bowl is about 15,000 – 25,000 VND.

Chicken rice – A tasty Vietnamese food in Hoi An style

The taste of Hoi An chicken rice is one-of-a kind thanks to its special sauce. The light yellow sticky rice grains, delicious chicken with sweet and sour pickled salads never fail to amaze diners. With only 20,000 VND, you can order a delicious Hoi An shredded chicken rice dish.

Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese Pancake)

Tourists are captivated by the crispy golden pancake and the savory flavour of fresh shrimp and meat filling. The sauce is a mixture of rich soy sauce and fragrant peanuts, which can please even the most demanding customers. It will usually cost you 10,000 – 20,000 VND/serving.

Banh Dap (Smashed rice pancake) 

Treat your taste buds with Banh Dap! The crispy rice pancake covered with mussels are dipped with delicious seasoned fish sauce. The mussels here are particularly juicy as when stir-fried, the fishy taste disappears and is replaced with the sweetness of the seafood. The price usually ranges from 15,000 to 50,000 VND.