Hoi An

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Hoi An

Hoi An is an enchanting and unique destination. With its ideal blend of history, culture, shopping, dining, and leisure, the town continues to be a highly sought-after tourist spot year after year. Its UNESCO-listed Ancient Town is photogenic to a fault, with its collection of distinctive mustard-coloured colonial homes, intriguing food and quaint streets that remain traffic-free for much of the day drawing in cruise excursionists and backpackers alike.

The City

The former trading port of Hoi An has risen to prominence as one of Vietnam's foremost travel destinations over the last few years, lagging only slightly behind the iconic Ha Long Bay – for now, that is. The compact city of just over 100,000 inhabitants continues to transform rapidly, with service businesses scurrying to meet the ever-increasing demand for Hoi An's atmospheric, UNESCO-listed Ancient Town, all this despite the introduction of a tourist entry fee a few years back. This rising popularity has miraculously not been too detrimental to the unspoiled old-time atmosphere so many visitors are after Hoi An remains traffic-free for most of the day, and much of the heritage left by Chinese and Japanese communities once inhabiting the city is well looked after and kept in excellent condition — the Japanese Covered Bridge built to connect the two enclaves remains one of the most popular sights.

Do & See Dining Cafés Bars & Nightlife Shopping Tourist Information

Do & See

Apart from old merchant homes and assembly halls of various Chinese congregations that are some of the Ancient Town's highlights, Hoi An enjoys a fortunate location within a short distance from the beach, and even has a small island archipelago to its name: the laid-back Cham Islands are only a short ferry ride away, and are a great place for a relaxed getaway from the tourist masses. Cycling tours of the surrounding rice fields and Vietnamese cooking classes are some of the most popular activities in Hoi An, and the former French colonial port of Da Nang is an easy day trip from here (so are the Ba Na Hills with their stunning Golden Bridge held up by two enormous sculpted hands).

Hoi An Ancient Town

The part of Hoi An most sought-after by visitors is its incredibly photogenic mustard-coloured Old Town, a UNESCO-listed collection of beautifully preserved buildings; some of these still function as private homes, while a total of 22 are open to the public and operate largely as museums. Of particular interest are historic merchant residences, some of …

Golden Bridge (Cầu Vàng)

Cầu Vàng is a footbridge extending through Ba Na Hills that allows you to enjoy the surrounding natural landscape. The way it is structured may make you think that it is supported by the two massive stone hands, but they're actually decorative fibreglass structures that remain nonetheless a spectacle of their …

Lantern-Making Class

Coloured lanterns are a symbol of Hoi An. Here locals believe they bring happiness, luck, and wealth. Why not join a lantern-making class and craft your own? Select from a variety of silks and work with an instructor to create your own bamboo-framed lantern. The class also includes a delightful Vietnamese tea tasting, making …

Coconut Boat & Hoi an Ancient Town Tour

Join this fun tour for a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural immersion, and culinary exploration. Begin with a visit to the Bay Mau coconut forest, exploring its waters on traditional bamboo basket boats. As night falls, witness the Old Town of Hoi An come alive. End your adventure with a dinner featuring unique …

Japanese Covered Bridge

One of the Hoi An Ancient Town's most emblematic structures, the Japanese Covered Bridge dates back to the early 17th century, when it was first constructed by the Japanese community as a link to the Chinese quarters of Hoi An. Much of the original ornamental wood carvings remain preserved, and so do the sculptures …

Đường Phan Bội Châu (Rue des Arts)

Formerly the main street of Hoi An's French Quarter, Phan Bội Châu is currently going through a renaissance: art galleries, exhibition spaces and sophisticated craft boutiques have opened here, bringing the street to the forefront of the town's cultural life. If you only have time for one gallery visit, make it the Precious Heritage Art …

Hoi An Night Market

From 6 to 9 pm daily, Hoi An's Nguyen Hoang Street transforms into a 300-metre-long bustling night market, unfolding underneath a myriad of colourful lanterns. It's a great place to stock up on souvenirs: prices are low and can get even lower for those with haggling …

Hoi An Central Market

The bustling Hoi An market takes a little getting used to: it's distinctly more hectic than the downtown area and teems with local vendors and shoppers as much as it does with tourists. Abundant Asian herbs, souvenirs like lacquered coconut shell bowls, Vietnamese coffee-makers and traditional cone hats are some of the wares on …

Rice Field Tour

Cycling through the rice paddies in the surroundings of Hoi An is a popular day trip from town. Organised tours may include visits to rice farms and guides that walk you through the entire process of rice cultivation; tours are organised by multiple local providers and can be arranged privately or as part of …

Chinese Assembly Halls

The Chinese who settled in Hoi An identified themselves according to their province of origin. Each community built its own assembly hall, known as 'hoi quan' in Vietnamese, for social gatherings, meetings and celebrations. The Fujian Assembly Hall is, perhaps, the best-known one; the Cantonese Assembly Hall stands out for its beauty and contains a …

Cycling in Hoi An

Although Hoi An is perfectly walkable, cycling is an easy way of getting around, if your itinerary extends beyond the Old Town (including An Bang Beach). The Hoi An Old Town is closed off to all motorised traffic (including motorbikes) on most days, between 8.30 and 11.00 and then again 15.00 to 21.30, which means …

Beaches Close to Hoi An

If time allows to squeeze in a trip to the seaside, An Bang Beach is the best stretch of sand within easy reach from Hoi An. The beach is well-equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas and is reachable by bicycle. There are multiple cafés and restaurants peppered along the coast, as well as a few …

Old House of Tan Ky

Seven generations saw the Tan Ky house remaining in the excellent condition it welcomes visitors in today, as it continues to stand as an excellent example of the confluence of cultural influences that define Hoi An. This 18th-century merchant home combines elements of Chinese and Japanese design and even features elements of European influence (such …

Dining

Vietnam is known for staggering variations in cuisine, each region and major settlement boasting its own unique specialities that are hard to come by elsewhere in the country. Hoi An is especially known for its varied, scrumptious street food, which is beautifully showcased along roadsides during Night Market hours. Some of the eats not to be missed are 'bahn mi' (baguette sandwiches with various ingredients), 'cao lau' pork noodles, the local variety of chicken rice 'com ga', white rose dumplings 'bánh bao bánh vac', and the obligatory hit 'bahn xeo': a crispy pancake packed with a selection of proteins and vegetables, to be dipped into fermented peanut sauce.

Vy's Market Restaurant

Vy's is an exciting delve into Vietnamese street food, its many varieties served at several open-kitchen style indoor stands. The entire experience is carefully manicured and completely sanitary, which takes away possible worry associated with eating off the side of the roads. There are plenty of options to choose from, including 'classics' such as …

Nu Eatery

Hidden in plain sight (turn right after crossing the Japanese Bridge from east to west), this compact restaurant serves up beautiful Asian Fusion cuisine without pretence, with a few imaginative takes on Vietnamese staples unique to the establishment. Come for lunch to enjoy the place nearly all to yourself. Their daughter establishment Sea Shell just …

Miss Ly

Come outside of rush hour (prepare for a wait otherwise) at this genuine restaurant serving up traditional local specialities in a (traditionally) non-air-conditioned space. The restaurant enjoys great popularity: no wonder, for the 'cao lau', white rose dumplings, 'bahn mi' and spring rolls it serves up could go for much more than their price …

Morning Glory

Good morning Vietnam

If you're craving a break from Vietnamese cuisine and longing for the Italian food you love back home, Good Morning Vietnam is your go-to spot. This Italian-owned trattoria offers homemade and authentic dishes, from classic pizza and pasta to other Italian fare. The restaurant exudes rustic charm, with decor reminiscent of a traditional Italian …

Cafés

Hoi An's café scene is incredibly robust, and with Vietnam famously being one of the world's largest coffee producers, each coffee shop in Hoi An enjoys the freedom to brew its own unique blend. Coffee is often served iced, so do mention if you would rather have it hot. The typical local brew is made using a small metal drip filter placed directly on top of the cup and then receives a generous splash of condensed milk to help conceal the bitter notes that sometimes come through (especially in cheaper beans). If you're feeling adventurous, order a 'cà phê sữa chua' (yoghurt coffee) or 'cà phê trứng', which is a caffeinated drink with a heavy base of whipped egg yolks, sweetened with condensed milk.

Ly Thuong Kiet Street

Ly Thuong Kiet runs parallel to the river, a few blocks north of Hoi An's Ancient Town. The street is well-known to coffee lovers for the incredible variety of coffee shops that line …

Reaching Out Teahouse

There's beauty in every detail at Reaching Out Teahouse, from the exquisite ornate tableware to the establishment's mission: to offer employment to people with speech and hearing impediments, who make up the staff almost exclusively. Each table is served wooden blocks with various handy expressions inscribed on them (words like 'thank you' or 'bill') …

Mia Coffee

An expat favourite, Mia Coffee is loved for its shaded outdoor terrace, air-conditioned second floor and illy espressos prepared Italian-style (for those mornings when a traditional Vietnamese drip simply won't cut …

The Espresso Station

The Espresso Station dazzles with creativity and innovation: their menu features some of the most whimsical drinks around, from their signature 'dark soul latte' with activated charcoal (which makes the drink appear black) to coffee served in frozen cubes, with hot creamy milk on the side. You can still get Vietnamese classics, such as …

Hoi An Roastery Espresso & Coffee House

A reliable local coffee shop chain, Hoi An Roastery is one you can safely rely on for a good cup. They offer both Italian-style and Vietnamese coffees, from potent espresso and siphon to egg-yolk coffee, plus a selection of light breakfast and lunch …

Bars & Nightlife

A typical evening meet-up location for local residents is, interestingly, a coffee shop, since coffee is seen as a perfectly suitable drink to be had in the p.m. Even though Hoi An isn't exactly the place for rowdy parties, below is a shortlist of the town's prime locations for drinks and live music.

Soul Kitchen

This An Bang Beach fixture has gained popularity in recent years, not so much as a restaurant, which it is by day, but more of a venue for a great night out. The key ingredients to its success are the breezy waterfront location (and a pleasantly relaxed vibe, by extension), regular live music shows, …

7 Bridges

7 Bridges, an award-winning craft beer brewery from Da Nang, offers a delightful taproom experience in the heart of Hoi An's Old Town. Featuring over 30 draft taps of locally brewed craft beers and tasty bar food in a beautiful, quiet beer garden, this oasis of calm in bustling downtown comes alive with live …

Barconcú Classic Bar

Tucked away on a side street near the centre of Hoi An, Barconcú is a laid-back spot perfect for pre- or post-dinner cocktails. It offers quality cocktails and a good selection of wine in a quaint, tastefully designed space with comfy chairs and chilled background …

Hoi An Night Market

From 6 to 9 pm daily, Hoi An's Nguyen Hoang Street transforms into a 300-metre long bustling night market, unfolding underneath a myriad colourful lanterns. It's a great place to stock up on souvenirs: prices are low and can get even lower for those with haggling …

Shopping

Hoi An packs a treasure trove of exquisite boutiques that sell a wide array of locally-made products, which range from silver jewellery to ornamental paper lanterns, silk pieces, artwork, and more (some even have a workshop open to visitors on site); a large number of local tailor shops offer to-order clothing, bags, and even shoes of excellent quality and at unbeatable prices. Every night a market is set up along Nguyen Hoang Street, where all manner of souvenirs and street foods are on sale. There is also a remarkable number of businesses in Hoi An that work for a good cause, employing and selling wares of disadvantaged or physically impaired artists and creators.