Place · Ancient Town west (Covered Bridge end)
Japanese Covered BridgeChùa Cầu (Lai Viễn Kiều)
The town's symbol: cross it 06:30–08:00 or after 19:00 for photos without a crowd; the small pagoda inside is one of the old-town ticket stops, and the 2024 restoration left it brighter than old photos.
Time on site
10–15 min
p95 30 min
Price
on site
bring cash
Hours
unknown
see note below
Best time
06:30–08:00 or after 19:00
quietest window
28″ bags
No
Ancient Town west (Covered Bridge end): forbidden
- Dawn or after dark
- Old-town ticket stop
- Restored 2024
- Go 06:30–08:00 or after 19:00
- Bring cash
- Crowded at peak
- Works with kids
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 8Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…Order tailored clothes on your first day in town
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Vietnam ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal; lookalike sites charge extra.
- Vietnam ↗Crossing streets: walk slowly and steadily; motorbikes flow around you — do not stop or run.
- Vietnam ↗Carry Vietnamese đồng in small notes; many stalls and taxis are cash-only.
- Central Coast ↗September–December is typhoon and flood season on this coast: build a spare day into any plan and check the storm forecast before booking boats, passes or beach nights.
- Hoi An ↗Order tailored clothes on your first day in town: a good tailor needs 24–48 hours and at least one fitting before the final piece.
- Hoi An ↗October–November: the riverside streets flood most years; check the forecast and your hotel's street level before booking.
Map & directions
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Plan
What to know before you go, how long it takes, when to be there
Weather here, next 7 days
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Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Time on site
Minimum
5min
Worthwhile
10min
Typical
15min
p95
30min
Old-town ticket booths and the bridge's visiting hours are not printed until verified.
What to see, in order
01
The bridge itself
Built by the Japanese trading community around the 1590s–1600s; rebuilt several times; restored 2022–2024.
02
Dog and monkey statues
Guardians at either end, said to mark the years construction started and finished.
03
Small pagoda (Chùa Cầu) on the north side
Dedicated to the northern god Trấn Võ, protector against floods and earthquakes.
04
₫20,000 note
The bridge is printed on it; hold one up for the classic photo.
How to do it well
- 1Go at dawn: the lanes are empty and the light is soft.
- 2Buy the old-town ticket at a booth; one stop is the bridge (check current ticket rules).
- 3Photograph from Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai looking east, or from the riverside.
Facilities
- toilets
- Public toilets nearby (signed).
- tickets
- Old-town ticket for foreigners about ₫120,000 (≈ US$5) (2026 estimate; rules changed in 2024–25, check).
On the ground
Getting in, crowds, and where to go if it does not work
Getting in
- Stop
- West end of Trần Phú / Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai (walk; the old town is car-free at set hours)
- Exit
- —
- Ticket
- on site · official site · bring cash
- Stairs
- unknown
- Shoes
- Shoes on.
Crowds and switching
- Crowd clock
- Tour groups 09:00–11:00 and 15:00–18:30; lantern crowds 18:30–21:00.
- Sensory load
- 5/5
- Exposure
- medium
Bailouts
crowd
Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai street, west
heat
Trần Phú café (AC)
Nearest rescue anchor: A — Café by the Covered Bridge (field-verify)
Combine in the same cluster
- Tân Kỳ old house (3 min)
Red lines
- Do not sit on the bridge railings or touch the carved guardian statues.
More on the groundPrices · Closures · Rules on site · Access and kids · Next door
Tickets and prices
| Ticket | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Old-town ticket (foreign visitors) | about ₫120,000 (≈ US$5) (2026 estimate) | Covers entry to a set of heritage sites; check what it includes now. |
Closed days and closures
| When | Status | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Floods | check before you go | The riverside floods most Octobers and Novembers. |
“Check” means the date moves year to year or is not published far ahead: confirm on the official page for your date.
Rules on site
- dress
- Shoulders covered in the pagoda.
- photos
- Allowed; do not block the bridge for shoots.
Access and kids
- with kids
- The dog and monkey statues are a hit.
Next door, in walking order
Deep dive
Questions, what is nearby, photos and sources
Questions and answers
Why does it look so new?
A major restoration finished in 2024 (check) replaced damaged timbers and roof tiles; some visitors miss the old patina.
Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk
Do I need a ticket just to walk across?
Ticket rules for the old town changed recently; carry the old-town ticket to be safe (check at a booth).
Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk
Nearby
Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.
- ClusterAncient Town west (Covered Bridge end)40 m · 1 min walk
- PlaceAn Hội Night Market and lantern boats180 m · 3 min walk
- EatMót Hội An (herbal drink stall)190 m · 3 min walk
- ClusterAn Hội islet and night market210 m · 3 min walk
- PlaceTân Kỳ Old House230 m · 4 min walk
- EatMorning Glory (Nguyễn Thái Học)300 m · 5 min walk
Photos
Deep dive
The bridge on the ₫20,000 note.
1Builders1 min
Built by the Japanese community around the 1590s–1600s to link their quarter with the Chinese quarter across a small stream, the bridge was rebuilt several times; its current form is largely 18th–19th century.
2Dog and monkey1 min
Statues of dogs and monkeys guard each end, said to mark the years construction began and ended. A small temple on the north side honours Trấn Võ, protector against floods and earthquakes.
3Restoration1 min
A major restoration from 2022 to 2024 replaced decayed timbers and roof tiles; the bridge reopened in 2024 (check current access).
- Reopened
- 2024
Read, watch, wordsSources
Read for this deep dive
Background reading only: the text above is written by Voykit, not copied from these pages.