On the central coast of Vietnam, about 30 km south of Da Nang, sits a small riverside town whose lantern-lit waterfront has earned it UNESCO World Heritage status and a permanent place on every traveller's must-see list. Hoi An Ancient Town is one of Southeast Asia's most atmospheric destinations — a working town where silk-tailors, lantern-makers and river fishermen still go about their daily lives inside a 400-year-old trading-port streetscape.
This guide covers everything you need to plan a Hoi An trip in 2026 — the attractions that genuinely deserve your time, the food worth crossing the street for, how to get around, and where to stay from riverside boutique to beachfront luxury.
1. Wander the Ancient Town at Dusk
Every visitor should plan to be inside the Old Town between 17:00 and 19:00, when the silk lanterns are switched on and the crowds thin out. Entry to the historical core costs VND 120,000 (about USD 5) per person and grants access to five of the heritage sites — pick from the Japanese Covered Bridge, the Cantonese Assembly Hall, the Museum of Trade Ceramics, the Museum of Folk Culture and one of the old merchant houses.
Insider tip: the same ticket works at multiple sites across five days, so don't try to cram it all into one walk.
2. Drift Down the Thu Bon River at Night
The Thu Bon River is Hoi An's living artery, and the most romantic thing you can do is float down it after dark. Local boatmen offer rides from the central dock for VND 150,000–200,000 per boat (a 30-minute loop), releasing a small paper lantern onto the water as you go. For a quieter experience, head upstream to Cam Kim Island for a cycling tour through coconut groves and riverside villages — half-day tours run around VND 600,000 per person.
3. Take a Half-Day Cooking Class
Hoi An is Vietnam's culinary capital for a reason — its food draws on centuries of trade with Japan, China and France. A half-day cooking class at one of the riverside cooking schools (Red Bridge, Morning Glory, or Van's Garden) typically includes a market walk, a boat trip to the school and three dishes you cook yourself, for around VND 850,000–1,200,000 per person. The flagship dish everyone learns is cao lầu, a noodle dish you can only make with water from Hoi An's unique underground wells.
4. Cycle to An Bang or Cua Dai Beach
Just 4 km east of the Old Town, the beach strip stretches for kilometres with two main options: An Bang Beach (more restaurants and loungers, livelier) and Cua Dai Beach (quieter, better for sunrise). Most hotels lend bicycles free of charge; otherwise rent from any of the Old Town shops for VND 50,000 per day. The ride is flat and shaded by coconut palms the entire way.
5. Get Fitted for Custom Tailoring
Hoi An is famous worldwide for fast, affordable custom tailoring — a bespoke suit can be made in 24–48 hours for USD 80–250, and a tailored dress for USD 30–80. The most reputable shops include Yaly, Beo, Bebe, and Tadi. Bring reference photos, allow time for two fittings, and you'll walk away with a tailored wardrobe at a fraction of Western prices.
Where to Eat
For bánh mì, the legendary Bánh Mì Phượng on Phan Chu Trinh (the one Anthony Bourdain ate) serves the iconic pork baguette for around VND 25,000. For white rose dumplings (only made in Hoi An), head to White Rose Restaurant on Nguyễn Thái Học — order the mixed plate for about VND 120,000. For sit-down dinner, Morning Glory, The Cargo Club and Miss Ly Café serve elevated central-Vietnamese cuisine in atmospheric old shophouses; mains run VND 150,000–350,000.
How to Get Around
Hoi An's Old Town is closed to cars between 09:00 and 11:00, and again from 15:00 to 21:30. Walking is genuinely the best option inside the historical core. For the beach or surrounding villages, rent a bicycle (free at most hotels) or a scooter for VND 120,000–150,000 per day. Ride-hailing apps Grab and Be work in Hoi An — a GrabCar to the beach is typically VND 50,000–70,000. Hoi An has no airport of its own; the closest is Da Nang International Airport (DAD), a 45-minute drive away, with private transfers costing VND 450,000–600,000.
Where to Stay
Anantara Hoi An Resort — 5-star, riverfront, colonial-style rooms from USD 180 per night. Steps from the Old Town with a riverside pool.
Four Seasons The Nam Hai — 5-star, on Ha My Beach 8 km north, beachfront villas with private pools from USD 750 per night. One of Vietnam's finest resorts.
Hotel Royal Hoi An (MGallery) — 5-star in the historic quarter, blend of French-colonial and Vietnamese design, from USD 130 per night.
Hoi An Historic Hotel — 4-star boutique in a restored 19th-century trading house, courtyard pool, from USD 90 per night.
Lantana Riverside Hoi An — 4-star boutique on the Thu Bon, rooftop bar, from USD 70 per night. Best mid-range value.
Best Time to Visit
The dry season runs February to August, with February–April being the most comfortable (25–30°C, low humidity). September–November brings typhoons and flooding — the Old Town has been waterlogged in recent years. The Full-Moon Lantern Festival (monthly on the lunar calendar) is magical but expect crowds; book hotels 2–3 months ahead.
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