By air
Da Nang International (DAD), ~30 km
Southeast Asia · Vietnam
Hoi An, Vietnam
A lantern-lit old town on the river
Getting there
Best time to visit
February to April — dry and warm, before the summer heat
Don't miss
The Japanese Covered Bridge
The Old Town's assembly halls
The night market
My Son Sanctuary (a day trip)
Things to do
Floating lanterns on the Thu Bon River
Tailor shops
Cycling the rice fields
An Bang Beach
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Chainwit. · CC BY 4.0
What to pack
Light clothing, sunscreen, room in the bag for tailor-made clothes
A quieter corner
Cycling out to Tra Que vegetable village at sunrise
Questions travellers ask
When should I time my Hoi An trip?
February to April, when it's dry and warm, before the summer heat. Leave room in your bag for tailor-made clothes.
Which airport serves Hoi An?
Da Nang International (DAD), about 30 km away.
What is there to do in Hoi An?
Float lanterns on the Thu Bon River, visit the tailor shops, cycle the rice fields and spend time at An Bang Beach. One morning, cycle out to Tra Que vegetable village at sunrise.
Which dishes should I look out for in Hoi An?
Cao lau noodles, banh mi and white rose dumplings.
About Hoi An
- Riverside
- Coastal
Where it is
Hoi An is an old port town on the central coast of Vietnam, on the banks of the Thu Bon River a few kilometres from the sea, about 30 km south of central Da Nang.
History
The river mouth served the Cham kingdom's sea trade long before the town, known to Europeans as Faifo, became one of Southeast Asia's busiest ports between the 16th and 18th centuries, with Japanese and Chinese merchant quarters. As the river silted and trade moved to Da Nang in the 19th century, the old town was left largely unchanged, and it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.
People
Hoi An's people speak Vietnamese with a central accent, and the old town's families include descendants of Chinese merchants, whose assembly halls for the Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan and Chaozhou communities still stand. Crafts such as textiles and ceramics are still practised, and cao lau noodles are the town's signature dish.
Known for
- The Japanese Covered Bridge
- Chinese assembly halls and merchant houses
- The full-moon lantern festival
- Made-to-measure tailoring
- My Son Sanctuary nearby
Did you know?
Each full moon the town holds a lantern festival honouring the ancestors, when people exchange flowers, lanterns, candles and fruit for prosperity and good fortune.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.