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Voykit pocket guide · Vietnam
Hoi An
Hội An
Hội An is a two-shift town: walk the old town 06:30–09:00 and after 17:30, spend the middle of the day at a tailor, a cooking class, the beach or the pool — and give it two or three nights, never a day trip.
Hội An's UNESCO old town is small — about 1 km end to end — and almost every visitor crowds into it at the same hours: late morning with the tour buses and 18:00–21:00 for the lanterns. The town is at its best when you are there when they are not. The traps are noon walks in the heat, tailors ordered on the last day, lantern-boat prices agreed per person, a homestay that locks before the DAD car arrives, and October–November floods that put the riverside under water.
- Country
- Vietnam
- Local name
- Hội An
- Best months
- Feb · Mar · Apr · May
- Time zone
- Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh
- Stay
- 2 days: Dawn old town + lantern evening; basket boats the next morning
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- VND
- Money
- Cash for stalls, ticket booths, boats, cyclos and tailor deposits; cards at hotels, most restaurants and the bigger tailors (some add 2–3% for cards). Carry ₫10,000–100,000 notes.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₫450,000–800,000 excl. bed · Mid ₫900,000–1,800,000 excl. bed · High ₫2,000,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Install an eSIM before you fly, or buy at a carrier counter in DAD arrivals or a carrier store in town (passport needed).
- Emergency
- Police 113 · Fire 114 · Ambulance 115
- Plugs
- 220 V; two-pin sockets (types A and C, many also take F). Bring a universal adapter.
- Tipping
- Not expected at stalls. Round up for drivers; ₫20,000–50,000 for a boat rower; ₫100,000–200,000 for a day guide.
- Water
- Do not drink tap water; many hotels have refill stations. Ice in established cafés is usually factory-made.
- Toilets
- Signed public toilets in the old town (small fee), cafés, restaurants and the market; carry tissues.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (iced milk coffee at a café) | ₫25,000–50,000 |
| Cao lầu at a stall | ₫35,000–70,000 |
| Beer: fresh beer glass / bottle in a bar | ₫5,000–15,000 / ₫20,000–45,000 |
| Car old town → An Bàng | ₫60,000–100,000 |
| Car Hội An → DAD airport | ₫300,000–450,000 |
| Old-town ticket | about ₫120,000 (check) |
| Tourist SIM or eSIM, about a week | ₫150,000–300,000 |
| Bicycle hire per day | Free–₫50,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- Đà Nẵng International Airport (DAD) for Hội An
- Hội An has no airport: DAD is 30 km away, 40–60 minutes by car. Book the car in an app or through the hotel, and confirm the Hội An door is open if you land after 21:30.
By rail and road
| Station | Serves | To the centre |
|---|---|---|
| Đà Nẵng railway station (Ga Đà Nẵng, 791 Hải Phòng) | Reunification line: Huế, Hanoi (north); Quy Nhơn, Nha Trang, Saigon (south) | Car 45–60 min, ₫300,000–400,000 |
| Tam Kỳ station (Ga Tam Kỳ) | Some Reunification-line trains south | Car 1 h |
| Hội An bus station (Bến xe Hội An) | Local and provincial buses | Car 5 min |
| Public bus Đà Nẵng – Hội An | Đà Nẵng centre | Walk or car 5–10 min |
| Airport shuttle vans DAD – Hội An | DAD airport | Already there |
| Hotel pick-ups (sleeper buses and limousine vans) | Huế, Nha Trang, Đà Lạt, Hà Giang via Hanoi, Phong Nha | Already there |
Typical fares
- DAD → Hội An, car
- ₫300,000–450,000, 40–60 min
- Old town → An Bàng, car
- ₫60,000–100,000
- Lantern boat, per boat
- ₫150,000–200,000 for 15–20 min
Get around
Walk the old town, cycle to the beach and villages, ride-hail for DAD, the villas and anything after dark. The town is flat and small; distances are measured in bike minutes.
| How | Fare | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | Free | Old town, An Hội |
| Bicycle | Free at hotels or ₫30,000–50,000 a day | Beach, Trà Quế, Cẩm Thanh, Thanh Hà |
| Ride-hail car | ₫60,000–150,000 locally | Beach, villas, DAD |
| Ride-hail motorbike | ₫15,000–40,000 | Solo short hops |
| Cyclo | Posted rates at official stands, about ₫150,000–250,000 for 30–45 min (check) | Old town loop |
| Electric carts | Per ride or per cart (check) | Hotels to the old-town edge, An Bàng |
| Boats | ₫150,000–200,000 per boat for a lantern ride; river trips by the hour | Lantern evening, Thu Bồn river, Cẩm Kim |
| Scooter | ₫120,000–180,000 a day | Mỹ Sơn, the pass |
Fares are estimates; check before you ride.
- Passes
- No pass; the old-town ticket is the only 'pass'.
- Late at night
- No transit; ride-hailing works but thinner late at night.
See and do
01Japanese Covered BridgeChùa Cầu (Lai Viễn Kiều)
The symbol of the town, empty and golden at dawn before the tour groups.
Hours: best 06:30–08:00 · Price: Ticket stop · Time: 15 min · 15.8771, 108.3262
02Lantern evening on the riverChợ đêm Hội An – Thả đèn hoa đăng
Lanterns, rowing boats and the old town lit up across the water.
Hours: best 18:00–20:00 · Price: ₫150,000–200,000 per boat · Time: 1–2 h · 15.8757, 108.3270
03Fujian Assembly HallHội quán Phúc Kiến
The grandest of the Chinese guild halls: dragons, incense coils and model junks.
Hours: best Morning · Price: Ticket stop · Time: 20–30 min · 15.8773, 108.3308
04Cooking class with market and basket boat
Market, boat and 3–4 dishes; useful for the rest of the trip and the best rain plan.
Hours: best Morning · Price: ₫600,000–1,200,000 · Time: Half day
05Get something tailored
The town's trade; a shirt or dress made to measure in 48 hours if you order on day one.
Hours: best Day one · Price: From ₫350,000 · Time: 2–3 visits
06Cẩm Thanh basket boats (Bảy Mẫu coconut forest)Rừng dừa Bảy Mẫu
Basket boats through the water-coconut palms, before the music boats arrive.
Hours: best 07:00 · Price: ₫150,000–200,000 · Time: 1 h · 15.8820, 108.3690
07Trà Quế vegetable villageLàng rau Trà Quế
A flat bike ride through herb gardens on the way to the beach.
Hours: best 07:00–09:00 · Price: Free; class extra · Time: 1–2 h · 15.9000, 108.3345
08Mỹ Sơn at opening
Cham temple valley, 1 h away, before the heat and the buses.
Hours: best Opening · Price: Tour ₫400,000+ · Time: Half day
09Cao lầu, bánh mì and cơm gàCao lầu Thanh
Three dishes you eat properly only here.
Hours: best Breakfast and lunch · Price: ₫25,000–80,000 each · Time: 1 h each · 15.8798, 108.3255
10An Bàng BeachBiển An Bàng
The town's beach by bicycle; a sunbed and grilled fish in the afternoon.
Hours: best Afternoon, calm months · Price: Free · Time: Half day · 15.9140, 108.3400
Hours and prices are desk estimates (checked 2026-09); anything marked (check) is not confirmed. Coordinates open in any map app.
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mỹ Sơn | Car 50–60 min | Half day, at opening |
| Cù Lao Chàm islands | Speedboat 20–30 min from Cửa Đại pier | Full day |
| Đà Nẵng and the Marble Mountains | Car 20–45 min | Half or full day |
| Trà Quế vegetable village | Bicycle 15 min | 2 h |
| Thanh Hà pottery village | Bicycle 10–15 min west | 1–2 h |
| Kim Bồng carpentry village (Cẩm Kim island) | Bicycle over the Cẩm Kim bridge or a short boat, 10–20 min | 2 h |
Eat
| Where | What · area | Price | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bánh Mì Phượng (2B Phan Châu Trinh) | Bánh mì · Old town | ₫25,000–45,000 | Budget |
| Bánh Mì Madam Khánh (Trần Cao Vân) | Bánh mì · Old town west | ₫25,000–45,000 | Budget |
| Cơm gà Bà Buội (Phan Châu Trinh) | Chicken rice · Old town | ₫45,000–80,000 | Budget |
| Cao lầu Thanh (Thái Phiên) | Cao lầu · Old town north | ₫35,000–60,000 | Budget |
| Bale Well (Giếng Bá Lễ) | Bánh xèo and nem lụi set, rolled yourself · Old town (Trần Hưng Đạo lane) | ₫120,000–180,000 per person (check) | Mid-range |
| Morning Glory (Nguyễn Thái Học) | Local dishes in a restored house · Old town | ₫100,000–250,000 per dish | Mid-range |
| White Rose (Hai Bà Trưng) | White rose dumplings · North | ₫70,000–150,000 | Mid-range |
| Riverside restaurants on Bạch Đằng | Seafood and Hội An classics · Old town | ₫200,000–400,000 | Mid-range |
| Riverside and resort restaurants | Tasting menus · Cẩm Thanh, coast | ₫1,000,000+ (check) | Splurge |
| Upmarket old-town restaurants | Central Vietnamese set menus in heritage houses · Old town | ₫700,000–1,500,000 (check) | Splurge |
Per person, one dish or one meal, 2026 estimate. Addresses change: check the day before.
Sleep
| Band | Price a night | Where | What |
|---|---|---|---|
| budget | ₫180,000–300,000 dorm · ₫400,000–700,000 double | Old-town edge, An Bàng lanes | Hostels, homestays |
| mid | ₫700,000–1,800,000 | Old-town edge, rice-field edge | Boutique hotels, garden villas |
| mid | ₫600,000–1,500,000 (cheaper by the week) | An Bàng | Beach homestays and small villas |
| splurge | ₫3,000,000–12,000,000+ | Coast, Cẩm Thanh, riverside | Resorts, private-pool villas |
Per room per night in đồng, 2026 estimate; Tết, full-moon weekends and holidays add 20–50%.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Xin chàosin chow |
| Help me! | Cứu tôi với!kuh-oo toy vuh-ee |
| 1, 2, 3 | một, hai, bamoht, hai, bah |
| How much is it? | Bao nhiêu tiền?bow nyew tyen |
| Please take me to this address | Làm ơn chở tôi đến địa chỉ nàylahm uhn chuh toy den dee-ah chee nay |
| Excuse me! (to a younger server) | Em ơi!em uh-ee |
| I have a booking | Tôi đã đặt phòngtoy dah daht fong |
| What time? | Mấy giờ?may zuh |
| Thank you | Cảm ơnkahm uhn |
| Call the police! (113) | Gọi cảnh sát! (113)goy kahn saht |
| 4, 5, 6 | bốn, năm, sáubohn, nahm, sow |
| Too expensive! | Đắt quá!daht kwah |
| I booked a Grab | Tôi đặt Grabtoy daht grab |
| I'll have this one | Cho tôi cái nàychaw toy kai nay |
| Do you have a room free? | Còn phòng không?kon fong khohm |
| Now | Bây giờbay zuh |
| No, thank you (street sellers) | Không, cảm ơnkhohm, kahm uhn |
| Fire! Call the fire service! (114) | Cháy! Gọi cứu hỏa! (114)chai! goy kuh-oo hwah |
| 7, 8, 9, 10 | bảy, tám, chín, mườibay, tahm, cheen, muh-ee |
| Come down a bit | Bớt đibuht dee |
Say it for greetings, prices and 'no ice'. Show the screen for addresses, allergies, medical problems and anything you need done exactly — a wrong tone on those costs more than the embarrassment of pointing at a phone.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Old houses: They are homes: stay in the visitor rooms, do not open doors or climb stairs that are not signed, and ask before photographing people.
- Halls and pagodas: Shoulders covered; hats off; quiet; do not walk between worshippers and the altar.
- Photos: Ask before close-up portraits of vendors and boat women; some expect a small payment for posed photos, so agree first.
- Wedding shoots: Couples and photographers use the lanes as a set; do not stand in their shot, and they should not block yours for long.
- Haggling: Calm and friendly; walk away if it does not move. Never at food stalls with a posted menu.
- Tipping: Not expected at stalls; tip boat rowers and guides a little; round up drivers.
- Shoes: Off in homes and some pagoda halls: look for the pile of shoes at the door.
- Floating lanterns: Many residents now discourage them because of river waste; if you release one, buy from a seller who collects them.
Red lines
- Do not enter family areas of old houses.
- Agree lantern-boat and basket-boat prices per boat before boarding.
- Do not swim at An Bàng under red flags.
Scams and watch-outs
- Boat touts quoting per person then multiplying; agree the total per boat.
- Tailors promising 'pure silk' or 'cashmere' that is polyester: ask for a burn test or buy by the metre from a fabric stall.
- 'Old town ticket' sellers away from the official booths.
- Basket-boat add-ons (spinning show, fishing, crab catching) billed at the end.
- Commission shops: a friendly cyclo driver or 'guide' who steers you to one tailor or lantern shop earns a cut that you pay.
- Floating-lantern sellers who hand a child's candle to you and then ask for money: decide first.
One and two days
1 day
If you must — better to sleep one night. Skip: Arriving at 10:00 and leaving at 18:00: you see the town at its worst.
- 06:30Covered Bridge and the west lanes
- 07:30Bánh mì breakfast
- 08:30Fujian hall and Tân Kỳ house
- 11:00Market lunch
- 13:00Cooking class or pool
- 17:30Lanterns and a boat
2 days
The usual stay. Skip: Beach day in October–November.
Day 1 — old town and lanterns
- 06:30Old town at dawn
- 08:00Tân Kỳ house before groups
- 09:30Order at a tailor
- 11:30Market lunch
- 18:00Lanterns, boat, dinner
Day 2 — basket boats and bánh mì
- 07:15Basket boats
- 10:00Bánh mì, fitting, then onward
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Hội An Centre for Cultural Heritage Management and Conservation: hoianworldheritage.org.vn/
- UNESCO — Hoi An Ancient Town: whc.unesco.org/en/list/948/
- Vietnam National Authority of Tourism: vietnam.travel/
- Wikivoyage — Hoi An: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Hoi_An
- Wikitravel — Hoi An: wikitravel.org/en/Hoi_An
- TripAdvisor — Hoi An things to do: www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g298082-Activities-Hoi_An_Quang_Nam_Province.html
- Lonely Planet — Hoi An: www.lonelyplanet.com/vietnam/south-central-coast/hoi-an
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Hoi AnHội An
Cho tôi đến địa chỉ này
Please take me to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Take me to
- Chùa Cầu (Lai Viễn Kiều)Japanese Covered Bridge
- Chợ đêm Hội An – Thả đèn hoa đăngAn Hội Night Market and lantern boats
- Hội quán Phúc KiếnFujian Assembly Hall
- Rừng dừa Bảy MẫuCẩm Thanh basket boats (Bảy Mẫu coconut forest)
- Làng rau Trà QuếTrà Quế vegetable village
- Cao lầu ThanhCao lầu Thanh (Thái Phiên)
Embassies are in Hanoi; some countries have consulates in Đà Nẵng. Write your own embassy's 24-hour line below.
Cars stop at the old-town edge during car-free hours; say the nearest cross street.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/hoi-an). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.