Things to Do in Hoi An
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to Hoi An, Vietnam, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
Right, Hoi An. Lantern-lit old town, tailor shops on every corner promising a suit by tomorrow morning, they usually deliver, a former trading port so well preserved it's become one of the most photogenic towns in Southeast Asia. This is the proper, no-nonsense guide to things to do in Hoi An: what things actually cost, when to go, what to skip, and which bits are worth the fitting. Five main stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site to see if you were paying attention.
The Lantern-Lit Old Town
Hoi An's old town is famous each evening for the glow of thousands of silk lanterns, strung across its streets, a genuinely magical sight as dusk falls, the yellow-walled buildings and narrow lanes lit almost entirely by lantern glow rather than electric street lighting. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the atmosphere here at night is genuinely unlike most other Vietnamese towns, quieter, more intimate, and considerably more atmospheric.
A small entry ticket covers access to several of the old town's historic buildings and museums, worth picking up at one of the ticket booths if you want to go beyond just wandering the lit streets.
Best time Evening, after sunset
Address Hoi An Ancient Town
The Monthly Lantern Festival
A monthly lantern festival, when electric lights are switched off entirely, is especially popular with visitors, held on the 14th day of the lunar calendar each month, the old town lit purely by lanterns and candlelight, small floating lanterns released onto the river adding to the genuinely striking atmosphere.
It gets considerably busier than a normal evening, worth planning ahead if you want a good photo spot, though the crowds are genuinely part of the festive energy rather than a detraction.
Best time The 14th day of each lunar month, evening
Hoi An's Trading Port History
Hoi An flourished for centuries as a major trading port serving merchants from across Asia and Europe, Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, and other traders all left their mark on the town's architecture and culture, genuinely visible today in the mix of styles throughout the old town, the Japanese Covered Bridge, built in the 1590s by the local Japanese community, remains one of the most iconic single structures in the town.
Several Chinese assembly halls (community meeting houses built by merchant communities from specific regions of China) are open to visitors and worth seeking out for a deeper sense of this layered trading history.
Hours Daily, roughly 8am–6pm
Address Throughout Hoi An Ancient Town
Custom Tailoring
Hoi An is well known today for its huge number of tailor shops, able to produce custom clothing quickly, visitors often leave with a custom-made suit or dress finished within a day or two, a genuinely popular reason people specifically build Hoi An into their Vietnam itinerary, dozens of shops competing on quality, price, and turnaround time.
Quality varies considerably between shops, worth researching current reviews rather than the first shop that approaches you on the street, and allow at least two fittings if possible, rather than a single measurement, for the best final result.
Best time Arrive with at least 2 days in Hoi An to allow for fittings
Cao Lau & Hoi An Street Food
Hoi An has its own distinct noodle dish, cao lau, thick noodles, pork, and greens, genuinely only made properly here, reportedly using water from a specific local well, worth seeking out at a proper local stall rather than a tourist-facing restaurant.
The wider street food scene, including banh mi (Hoi An is often credited with having some of the best in the country) and white rose dumplings (banh bao vac), is genuinely excellent, worth a food-focused wander through the old town's side streets.
Best time Lunch or dinner
Best time to visit Hoi An
February through April gives the most comfortable weather for the amount of walking this list involves, mild and drier than the rest of the year.
The wet season (roughly October through December) brings a real risk of flooding in the low-lying old town, worth checking current conditions if travelling then, though the flooded streets themselves have become an unusual, if inconvenient, photo opportunity for some visitors.
Getting around Hoi An
Hoi An's old town is genuinely walkable and largely pedestrianised in the evenings. Bicycle rental is cheap and popular, a good way to explore beyond the old town, including nearby beaches and the surrounding countryside.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Hoi An worth visiting?
- Yes, easily, the lantern-lit old town is genuinely one of the most atmospheric places in Vietnam, and the custom tailoring and food scene add real practical and culinary appeal beyond the sightseeing.
- How many days do you need in Hoi An?
- Three days allows proper time to enjoy the old town at night, get a custom suit or dress tailored with fittings, and explore the food scene without rushing.
- Is Hoi An expensive?
- No, genuinely affordable, street food and local transport remain cheap, tailoring costs vary by fabric and shop but remain good value compared to custom clothing elsewhere.
- What is Hoi An famous for?
- Its lantern-lit UNESCO-listed old town, centuries as a major international trading port, and its huge number of tailor shops offering fast custom clothing.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
