Hoi An is an ancient port town in Quang Nam province, central Vietnam, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. The old town is packed with buildings from the 15th to 19th centuries — the best-preserved streetscape in Southeast Asia — where Chinese, Japanese, and European architectural styles sit side by side in easy harmony. After dark, thousands of silk lanterns glow over the Hoai River, creating an atmosphere that draws travelers from every corner of the world.
#1 Hoi An Ancient Town
The Ancient Town is the heart of everything here. Narrow laneways line up one egg-shell-yellow heritage building after another, interspersed with craft workshops and paper lanterns hanging across the sky. A single combo ticket — 120,000 VND — covers entry to 5 heritage sites, including the Japanese Covered Bridge and the Chinese Assembly Halls. Preservation standards are serious: several streets close to motor traffic each evening so people can walk without dodging motorbikes.
- Buy the 120,000 VND combo ticket at the ticket booths before entering any heritage site
- Before 8:00 am the crowds are thinnest and the light is best for photos
- After 5:00 pm many streets go car-free — the most pleasant time to explore on foot
#2 Japanese Covered Bridge
The Japanese Covered Bridge — <em>Cau Nhat Ban</em> — was built in the 17th century by the Japanese merchant community that had settled in Hoi An, and its image still appears on the 20,000 VND banknote. The bridge carries a small shrine housing ancient deity statues. It just completed its first major restoration in decades in August 2024, with a budget exceeding 20.2 billion VND.
- Your Ancient Town combo ticket already covers bridge entry — no extra purchase needed
- Inside the bridge, look for the monkey and dog statues that mark the Chinese zodiac years of the bridge's construction
- The best photo angle is from the Hoai River bank in the late afternoon
#3 Lantern Night on Hoai River
On every full moon night the Ancient Town cuts its electric lights and lights thousands of silk lanterns instead — the most romantic atmosphere in Vietnam. You can take a wooden boat along the Hoai River, release a paper wish-lantern onto the water, and watch street performances along the riverbank. The tradition stretches back to the 16th–17th centuries, when Hoi An was one of the busiest international trading ports in Southeast Asia.
- Check the lunar calendar in advance — full moon nights happen once a month
- A river boat ride costs 150,000 VND per boat (1–3 people); the 7:00–9:00 pm window is the most spectacular
- Non-full-moon nights are still beautiful, just less dramatic — paper lanterns can be released on the river any evening for 10,000–20,000 VND
#4 Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese Congregation
Hoi Quan Phuc Kien was founded in the 1690s by Fujian Chinese settlers who arrived after the fall of the Ming dynasty. It is the largest and most ornate of the five Assembly Halls in Hoi An, dedicated to the sea goddess Thien Hau, protector of sailors. Inside you'll find classical Chinese statuary, a spacious courtyard, and a well-tended ornamental garden.
- The combo ticket lets you pick 4 of the 5 Assembly Halls — Phuc Kien is the one to prioritize
- Dress modestly — covered shoulders and knees are expected at this active place of worship
- The Cantonese (Quang Trieu) and Chaozhou halls are also worth a quick visit
#5 Cam Thanh Coconut Village Basket Boat Tour
One of the most genuinely fun experiences near Hoi An is riding a round basket boat — <em>thung chai</em> — through narrow canals inside a nipa palm forest in Cam Thanh Village. Local boatmen demonstrate the traditional Vietnamese spinning technique, a crowd-pleasing move that makes great footage. You can try paddling yourself and join in a traditional crab-catching demonstration. The rural calm is a real contrast to the busy Ancient Town a few kilometers away.
- The boat-spinning demonstration by local guides is the visual highlight — set your camera to burst mode
- Wear clothes you don't mind getting wet; a little splashing is part of the fun
- This is often combined with a Tra Que Village cycling tour, which makes for a well-rounded half-day
#6 Tra Que Vegetable Village
Tra Que has been farming the same riverside plots for hundreds of years using only river algae as fertilizer — no chemicals. Visitors can dig beds, harvest greens, and take cooking classes that begin with picking the very herbs they'll use. The village supplies fresh produce to restaurants in the Ancient Town daily, making it a genuine part of Hoi An's food culture rather than a staged attraction.
- Book a cooking class in advance — most classes start with a walk through the garden before heading to the kitchen
- Cycling from the Ancient Town takes about 20–25 minutes along scenic rural roads
- Come early morning to see the farmers at work in the best light
#7 My Son Sanctuary
My Son was the religious center of the Cham Kingdom from the 4th to the 14th century — a complex of more than 70 red-brick towers dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. It earned its own UNESCO listing in 1999. The drive from Hoi An takes about an hour, making it a practical half-day trip best tackled in the morning before the afternoon heat sets in.
- Arrive before 7:30 am to beat both the crowds and the heat
- Entry fee is 150,000 VND per person; the site is open daily 6:00 am–5:00 pm
- Book a group tour from Hoi An — cheaper than private transport and you get a guide who explains the Cham history
Where to stay in Hoi An for this trip
A well-located hotel means less commuting and more sightseeing. Here are real, top-rated stays in Hoi An — compare Agoda · Booking · Trip.com in one click.
Hoi An Odyssey Hotel & Spa
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Hotel Royal Hoi An - MGallery
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RiverTown Hoi An Resort & Spa
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Little Hoi An . A Boutique Hotel & Spa
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Tours, tickets & activities in Hoi An
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Before You Pack
Hoi An rewards at least 2–3 nights — enough time to catch the Ancient Town both in daylight and after dark, and to make day trips to My Son Sanctuary, An Bang Beach, and the surrounding villages. It is also one of the best-positioned bases in central Vietnam for exploring the wider region.