Places to Visit in Hoi An (+ Top Things to Do) (Vietnam) 2026

Hoi An’s Ancient Town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999, its lantern-lit streets and wooden shophouses preserved largely unchanged since the town’s heyday as a 15th- to 19th-century trading port. Merchants from China, Japan, and later Europe settled along the Thu Bon River, leaving behind a fusion of architecture found nowhere else in Vietnam.

This guide covers the best places to visit in Hoi An, from the heritage buildings of the Ancient Town to the pottery villages and markets just outside it, along with the top things to do in Hoi An for travellers who want more than a walking tour — cooking classes, boat rides, and the countryside beyond the Old Town walls.

8 Best Places to Visit in Hoi An

Attraction	Type	Entry Fee	Duration
Hoi An Ancient Town	UNESCO Old Town	120,000 VND (~$5) Old Town ticket	3–4 hours
Japanese Covered Bridge	Landmark / Bridge	Included in Old Town ticket	15–20 min
Fujian Assembly Hall	Assembly Hall	Included in Old Town ticket	30–45 min
Ba Mu Temple	Temple	Free	15–20 min
Hoi An Central Market	Market	Free	30–45 min
Hoi An Night Market	Night Market	Free	45–60 min
Thanh Ha Pottery Village	Craft Village	35,000 VND (~$1.50)	1 hour
My Son Sanctuary	UNESCO Ruins	150,000 VND (~$6)	Half day

Hoi An Ancient Town

Hoi An Ancient Town sits on the northern bank of the Thu Bon River in Quang Nam province and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Between the 15th and 19th centuries it operated as one of Southeast Asia’s busiest trading ports, drawing merchants from China, Japan, and later Europe. That history shows in the architecture: yellow-painted shophouses, wooden-fronted trading houses, and Chinese assembly halls line streets that have changed little in the past two centuries, making the Ancient Town the reason most travellers add Hoi An to a Vietnam itinerary in the first place.

On foot, the Old Town feels compact enough to cover in half a day, though most visitors return more than once. Motorbikes are banned from the core streets after 8am, so mornings are quieter for photos, while evenings bring lantern light and a livelier atmosphere along the riverfront.

• Entry Fee: 120,000 VND (~$5) Old Town Heritage Ticket — covers entry to 5 chosen heritage sites
• Opening Timings: Old Town accessible 24 hours; ticketed sites typically 8am–6pm
• How to Get There: Central Old Town — walkable from most Hoi An hotels and hostels; Grab taxi from An Bang Beach takes around 10–15 minutes
• Duration: 3–4 hours

Japanese Covered Bridge (Chùa Cầu)

The Japanese Covered Bridge, known locally as Chùa Cầu, was built by Japanese merchants in the late 16th or early 17th century to connect the Japanese and Chinese trading quarters across a small tributary of the Thu Bon River. A small temple sits at its centre, dedicated to a Taoist deity believed to protect the town from floods. The bridge completed a major two-year restoration and reopened to visitors in August 2024, and its image also appears on Vietnam’s 20,000 VND banknote.

Crossing takes barely a minute, but the carved statues of dogs and monkeys guarding each end, and the yin-yang tiled roof, reward a slower look. Early morning, before the tour groups arrive, is the best time to see it without a crowd blocking the view.

• Entry Fee: Included in the 120,000 VND (~$5) Old Town Heritage Ticket
• Opening Timings: Accessible during Old Town hours, roughly 8am–6pm
• How to Get There: Western end of the Old Town, at the junction of Tran Phu and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai streets — a short walk from the Central Market
• Duration: 15–20 minutes

Fujian Assembly Hall

Fujian Assembly Hall (Phuc Kien) is the largest and most elaborate of Hoi An’s five Chinese assembly halls, built by merchants from Fujian province as a meeting place and a temple to Thien Hau, goddess of the sea and protector of sailors. Founded as a small shrine in the 17th century and expanded over subsequent centuries, it reflects the scale of the Chinese trading community that once called Hoi An home.

Inside, elaborate ceramic mosaics, carved wooden panels, and a large incense-filled courtyard make it feel more ornate than the town’s other assembly halls. The dragon fountain near the entrance and the model ship on display are popular photo stops.

• Entry Fee: Included in the Old Town Heritage Ticket
• Opening Timings: 8am–5.30pm daily
• How to Get There: On Tran Phu Street, a 5-minute walk east of the Japanese Covered Bridge
• Duration: 30–45 minutes

Ba Mu Temple

Ba Mu Temple, meaning “Three Mothers Temple”, was built in 1626 to honour three deities believed to protect mothers and newborn children in Vietnamese folk religion. Only its ornate triple gate survives from the original complex today, most of the temple buildings behind it having been converted for other civic use over the centuries. Unlike most of Hoi An’s temples, it sits just outside the ticketed Old Town zone on Hai Ba Trung Street, making it one of the few historic sites in the city that’s completely free to visit.

The gate itself is the draw — three arches decorated with dragon and phoenix reliefs, lit up in the evening. It takes only a few minutes to see, so most travellers pair it with a walk along nearby Hai Ba Trung Street rather than visiting on its own.

• Entry Fee: Free
• Opening Timings: Accessible at all times (exterior gate); no fixed hours
• How to Get There: On Hai Ba Trung Street, just north of the Old Town ticket zone — a 5-minute walk from the Central Market
• Duration: 15–20 minutes

Hoi An Central Market

Hoi An Central Market (Cho Hoi An) sits on the riverbank at the eastern edge of the Old Town and has operated as the city’s main produce and goods market for generations. Locals still shop here daily for fresh herbs, seafood, and vegetables long before the first tour groups arrive, and the covered halls stock everything from dried spices to conical hats and silk. A row of food stalls at the back serves some of the cheapest and most authentic meals in town, including cao lau, the noodle dish that originated in Hoi An.

During my time in Hoi An, arriving at the market before 8am gave a completely different experience — vendors setting up, the aisles quiet, and none of the tour groups that arrive by late morning. By lunchtime, the food stalls at the back get busiest.

• Entry Fee: Free
• Opening Timings: 6am–6pm daily; busiest 6am–8am and around lunchtime
• How to Get There: On Tran Quy Cap Street by the river, a 10-minute walk east of the Japanese Covered Bridge
• Duration: 30–45 minutes

Hoi An Night Market

Hoi An Night Market runs along Nguyen Hoang Street on An Hoi Islet, just across the river from the Old Town, and sets up every evening once the sun goes down. Rows of red lanterns strung overhead give the market its glow, and around 50 stalls sell everything from clothing and handicrafts to street snacks and souvenirs. It’s one of the more commercial corners of Hoi An, but the atmosphere along the lantern-lit riverfront makes it worth the walk across the bridge from the Old Town.

Expect to haggle — starting prices are aimed at tourists. Beyond the market stalls, the riverfront here is where vendors sell paper lanterns to float on the water, and bars along the strip get lively after dark.

• Entry Fee: Free
• Opening Timings: Roughly 5pm–10pm daily
• How to Get There: An Hoi Islet, across the pedestrian bridge from the Old Town riverfront
• Duration: 45–60 minutes

Thanh Ha Pottery Village

Thanh Ha Pottery Village, around 3km west of the Old Town on the banks of the Thu Bon River, has produced terracotta pottery for more than 500 years, using techniques passed down through generations of local families. The village supplied roof tiles and household ceramics across central Vietnam during Hoi An’s trading heyday, and several workshops still fire pieces the traditional way, without a motorised wheel.

Visitors can watch artisans shape clay by hand and try the wheel themselves under guidance. A small terracotta park nearby displays miniature versions of famous world landmarks, made entirely from local clay — a quirky stop for kids.

• Entry Fee: 35,000 VND (~$1.50)
• Opening Timings: 8am–5.30pm daily
• How to Get There: 3km west of the Old Town — a short bike ride, or Grab taxi in around 10 minutes
• Duration: 1 hour

My Son Sanctuary

My Son Sanctuary is a cluster of Hindu temple ruins built by the Champa civilisation between the 4th and 13th centuries, set in a jungle valley around 40km southwest of Hoi An. UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage Site in 1999, the same year as the Ancient Town, recognising it as one of Southeast Asia’s most significant collections of Cham architecture. Many of the brick towers were damaged by bombing during the Vietnam War, and the site today is a mix of restored structures and evocative ruins.

Early morning visits, before 8am, avoid both the tour bus crowds and the worst of the heat, with mist sometimes still clinging to the towers. The site is a half-day trip from Hoi An, usually combined with a guided tour rather than attempted independently given the distance.

• Entry Fee: 150,000 VND (~$6)
• Opening Timings: 6am–5pm daily
• How to Get There: ~40km southwest of Hoi An; join a half-day tour or arrange a private car, as there’s no direct public transport
• Duration: Half day (including travel)

Things to Do in Hoi An

Vietnamese Cooking Class

A half-day Vietnamese cooking class is one of the most popular things to do in Hoi An, and most versions follow a similar format: a visit to Hoi An Central Market or Tra Que Vegetable Village to shop for ingredients, followed by hands-on preparation of local dishes such as banh xeo (crispy pancakes), white rose dumplings, and cao lau. Classes typically run for 3–5 hours and are led by local chefs who also explain the herbs and techniques specific to central Vietnamese cooking.

Most classes cap group sizes at 8–10 people, so there’s real hands-on time at the stove rather than a demonstration you watch from the back. Vegetarian options are widely available if requested in advance.

• Price Range: $25–$45 per person
• Duration: 3–5 hours (half day)
• Book via: Klook / GetYourGuide

Hoi An Street Food Tour

A guided street food tour covers Hoi An’s specific culinary identity — dishes like cao lau, banh mi, and white rose dumplings that either originated here or are made differently than anywhere else in Vietnam. Tours typically run in the early evening, moving between five or six stops that mix market stalls, family-run shopfronts, and sit-down spots, usually with a local guide who explains the history behind each dish along the way.

Go hungry — portions at each stop add up to a full meal by the end. Most tours are done on foot within the compact Old Town, making them an easy add-on to an evening already spent exploring.

• Price Range: $20–$35 per person
• Duration: 3–4 hours
• Book via: Klook / GetYourGuide

Cam Thanh Coconut Forest Basket Boat Ride

The Cam Thanh Coconut Forest, also known as Bay Mau, is a cluster of waterways lined with nipa palm groves around 5km southeast of the Old Town. The basket boat ride here — a round bamboo boat called a thung chai, traditionally used by local fishermen — takes visitors weaving through the narrow channels while a local rower demonstrates spinning tricks with the boat, a party trick that’s become one of Hoi An’s most photographed activities.

Rides typically last 30–50 minutes and often include a short cultural show — fishing net demonstrations or a spinning boat performance — at the end. It’s touristy by design, but a fun break from Old Town sightseeing.

• Price Range: $8–$20 per person
• Duration: 30–50 minutes
• Book via: Klook / GetYourGuide

Countryside Bicycle Tour

Hoi An’s surrounding countryside — rice paddies, water buffalo, and small farming villages like Tra Que and Cam Thanh — sits just a short ride from the Old Town, and most hotels provide complimentary bicycles to explore it independently. Guided countryside bicycle tours cover more ground and typically stop at a working farm or fishing village, giving context on rural life that’s easy to miss riding solo, and usually include a stop for tea or fresh coconut along the way.

Early morning departures, before the heat sets in, make the ride more comfortable and catch farmers out working the fields. Routes are mostly flat, so the tour suits riders of most fitness levels.

• Price Range: $20–$40 per person
• Duration: 3–5 hours
• Book via: Klook / GetYourGuide

Lantern-Making Workshop

Lantern-making workshops, run out of small family workshops around the Old Town and An Hoi Islet, teach the basic technique behind Hoi An’s silk lanterns — bending a bamboo frame and stretching coloured silk or paper across it. It’s this kind of hands-on craft that earns Hoi An its reputation as Vietnam’s lantern city, and most workshops let participants take their finished lantern home as a souvenir. Sessions run for an hour or two and are suitable for most ages, including families travelling with children.

No prior craft experience is needed — instructors guide each step, and the frame-bending is the trickiest part to get right. Evening sessions pair well with a walk through the Night Market afterwards.

• Price Range: $10–$25 per person
• Duration: 1–2 hours
• Book via: Klook / GetYourGuide

Sampan Boat Ride & Lantern Release

A sampan boat ride along the Thu Bon River is one of the simplest and most atmospheric things to do in Hoi An in the evening. Small wooden boats, usually rowed by a single local boatman, depart from the riverside near An Hoi Bridge and cover a short stretch of the river past the lantern-lit Old Town skyline. Most rides include the option to release a small paper lantern onto the water, a custom believed to carry a wish downstream.

Rides last around 15–20 minutes and are best booked directly with boatmen along the riverbank rather than in advance. Sunset and just after dark, when the lanterns are lit, are the most popular — and most crowded — times to go.

• Price Range: 150,000 VND (~$6) per boat, up to 2–3 people
• Duration: 15–20 minutes
• Book via: Book directly at the riverbank near An Hoi Bridge

Hoi An Memories Show

Hoi An Memories Show is a large-scale outdoor performance staged nightly at Hoi An Impression Theme Park, combining traditional dance, music, and lighting to retell the story of the town’s history as a trading port. It bills itself as one of the largest permanent outdoor shows in Vietnam, with a large cast and a stage built directly on the river, and has become a fixture on most first-time visitors’ itineraries alongside more low-key evening activities.

The show runs for around an hour and is performed in Vietnamese, though the spectacle carries the story without needing translation. Arrive early, as unreserved seating fills up fast on busy nights.

• Price Range: $25–$45 per person
• Duration: ~1 hour
• Book via: Klook / GetYourGuide

Get Tailor-Made Clothes

Hoi An has been a centre for tailoring for decades, and the Old Town is home to hundreds of tailor shops offering custom-made suits, dresses, and shirts, often ready within 24–48 hours. Fabric choice ranges from budget cotton blends to higher-end silk, and most shops work from a photo or existing garment if you don’t have a specific design in mind. Quality and pricing vary significantly between shops, so it’s worth checking recent reviews before committing to one, especially for higher-value pieces like suits.

Budget at least one extra day in Hoi An for a first fitting and alterations if ordering anything more complex than a simple shirt. Shops near the Old Town’s edges tend to be less pushy than those directly on the main tourist streets.

• Price Range: $40+ per garment, depending on fabric and complexity
• Duration: 1–2 days (including fittings)
• Book via: Book directly at venue or via local operator

Full-Moon Lantern Festival

On the 14th day of each lunar month, Hoi An turns off most electric lighting across the Old Town and lets lanterns and candles take over for the Full Moon Lantern Festival. Streets fill with vendors selling paper lanterns to float on the Thu Bon River, and the atmosphere is markedly different from a regular evening — quieter, more local, and centred on the ritual of releasing a lantern and making a wish.

The festival draws larger crowds than a typical night, so arriving early evening secures a better spot along the riverfront. Checking the lunar calendar in advance is worth doing, since the date shifts each month on the Gregorian calendar.

• Price Range: Free to attend; lanterns for release cost around 10,000–20,000 VND (~$0.50–$1)
• Duration: Evening (typically 6pm–10pm)
• Book via: No booking needed — check the lunar calendar for the exact date

Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge Day Trip

Ba Na Hills is a mountaintop resort and theme park around two hours from Hoi An, best known for the Golden Bridge — a pedestrian bridge held up by two giant stone hands that has become one of the most photographed spots in central Vietnam since opening in 2018. The complex also includes a French-style village, cable car rides with valley views, and an indoor amusement park, making it a full-day outing rather than a quick stop.

Weather at altitude can differ sharply from Hoi An, with mist and cooler temperatures common, so a light layer is worth packing. Most visitors join an organised day trip, as it bundles transport, cable car tickets, and park entry into a single price.

• Price Range: $40–$70 per person (transport, cable car, and entry)
• Duration: Full day
• Book via: Klook / GetYourGuide

Between the heritage architecture of the Ancient Town and the countryside just beyond it, Hoi An places to visit and things to do in Hoi An, Vietnam cover a wider range than its compact size suggests — UNESCO sites, working craft villages, and evening rituals like the lantern release all sit within a few kilometres of each other.

Few towns in Vietnam pack this much history and hands-on culture into an area this walkable. Whether it’s a half-day at My Son Sanctuary or an evening lantern-making session, Hoi An rewards travellers who slow down rather than rush the checklist. For accommodation options, see our Best Hostels in Hoi An guide.

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