Hoi An is Vietnam’s most photogenic town — a UNESCO-listed trading port preserved almost intact, surrounded by rice paddies, white-sand beaches, and excellent food. Its compact size means you can walk or cycle everywhere.
1 Day in Hoi An
- Morning: Ancient Town walking tour — Japanese Covered Bridge, Phung Hung Old House, the colourful merchant houses on Tran Phu street; break for cao lầu at a local café
- Midday: Tailored lunch at Morning Glory restaurant; browse the lantern and silk shops on Nguyen Thai Hoc street
- Afternoon: Rent a bicycle, ride 4 km to An Bang Beach for a swim; return via the rice fields at sunset
- Evening: Lantern-lit Ancient Town after dark — the best time to photograph the riverside; White Rose dumplings and grilled bread at the night market
2 Days in Hoi An
- Day 1: Ancient Town morning → Thanh Ha Pottery Village by bicycle → An Bang or Cua Dai Beach afternoon → lantern-lit evening in town
- Day 2: Tra Que Organic Village cooking class (morning) → Hoi An Museum of History and Culture → afternoon visit to the Cham Island (boat tour, 45 min each way) for snorkelling
3 Days in Hoi An
- Day 1: Ancient Town deep dive — visit all five heritage houses, the Assembly Halls (Fukian, Cantonese), and the market
- Day 2: Full-day Cham Islands tour — snorkelling, fresh seafood lunch on the island, swimming
- Day 3: Day trip north to Da Nang — Marble Mountains, Dragon Bridge, My Khe Beach; or south to My Son Hindu Sanctuary (45 min drive)
4–5 Days: Hoi An Extended
Hoi An rewards a slow pace more than almost anywhere in Vietnam:
- Get a suit or dress tailor-made — order day 1, fittings day 2–3, collect day 4
- Take a full-day cooking class that includes a market tour and boat ride on the Thu Bon River
- Bicycle the countryside: Cam Thanh water coconut forest, buffalo plowing, village life
- Day trip to Hue via the Hai Van Pass (most scenic route by motorbike or car)
Activities to Build Into Any Itinerary
- Lantern-making class (1–2 hrs; numerous workshops in town)
- Sunrise at An Bang Beach before the crowds arrive
- Thu Bon River boat ride at dusk (small basket boats, 30 min)
- Full Moon Festival — 14th of each lunar month; cars banned, lanterns everywhere
- Bicycle to Kim Bong Carpentry Village across the river
Practical Notes
- Getting around: Walk or bicycle within town; motorbike taxi or Grab for beach runs
- Best areas to stay: Inside or just outside the Ancient Town for atmosphere; An Bang Beach for a resort feel
- Ancient Town ticket: 120,000 VND covers five heritage sites; purchase at town entrances
- Best season: February–May (dry, warm, perfect beach weather). Avoid November–December (flood season — the town sometimes underwater)