Useful tips

There are lots of ways to go to Hoi An including by airplane, by road and by train.

The easiest way to reach Hoi An is by taking a flight to the international airport in Danang City, a 30-minute drive from the ancient town. There are domestic flights from Vietnam's major cities to Danang City and direct flights from Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, and Siem Reap.

If you start from Hanoi, Saigon, or other main cities along with Vietnam, you can go to Hoi An by road, taking a bus or coach from North to South.

If you go to Hoi An by train, there are two options for tourists, including Danang Station (30 km from Hoi An) and Tam Ky Station (50 km from Hoi An).

Danang Station is suitable for those who are from Hanoi or other provinces from the North. In contrast, Tam Ky Station is a good option for those who come from Saigon or Southern regions.

The central part of Hoi An ancient town is pretty small. The authority bans on using motor vehicles on the street, so tourists can only walk or use a bicycle, cyclo, or electric car for hanging out.

Most homestays, hotels, and resorts in Hoi An have prepared the bikes for free-use and motorcycles for rent. If you want to go further, far from the center of the ancient town, you can hire a motorbike or take a taxi.

Exploring the old town with a harmonious blend of opulent Chinese temples, a Japanese-designed bridge, ancient houses, and French-colonial houses will fulfill your trip. It's time for you to discover a unique architecture and enjoy the hustle and bustle daily life of local people in Hoi An.

Declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, Hoi An is famous for plenty of shops, namely countless tailors, souvenir stores, art galleries, restaurants, and coffee shops.

Do not forget to walk around the riverside area near the bank of Thu Bon River. There are a dozen restaurants, lively bars, and pubs where you can enjoy fresh seafood, specialties, beers, or any favorite cocktails, etc.

In the evening, hundreds of colorful diverse-shaped lanterns illuminate wooden bridges over the river as well as every corner of the street, making it incredible scenes for anyone who has once gone to this ancient town.

Pagoda Bridge, or Japanese Covered Bridge, back to the 18th century, is one of the most prominent spots in Hoi An ancient town. With a length of 18 meters, Pagoda Bridge is believed to be built by the Japanese residents living in Hoi An as a way to reach the Chinese street.

Crossing over the bridge, you'll see a temple dedicated to the Taoist God of weather where local people often pray to help control the weather. Today, it's well-preserved for tourists to visit and considered an iconic symbol of Hoi An.

Built around 1690, Fujian Assembly Hall, is now a symbol of Hoi An architecture and Fujian artists' talent. Built by people from Fujian, China, the hall was a meeting and socializing place for overseas Chinese in Hoi An in the former time.

It's worth taking your time here, especially in the Chinese festival, to see sophisticated and unique Chinese architecture and many statues, bronze bells, and drums carrying spiritual meanings as well as mythical creatures.

A 10-minute walking from Pagoda Bridge, Museum of History and Culture showcases the vestiges spanning 2000 years of the ancient town with many artifacts of residents, ceramics, and potteries.

The museum is located in one of the oldest pagodas of Vietnam: Quan Am Pagoda. It offers an out of ordinary insight into Hoi An's heritage, including traditional committal rites with authentic tombs and exhibitions depicting Hoi An throughout the ages.

Take your moment to visit and wallow yourself in a historical space within the ancient town.

Located in Hoi An's old quarter, the museum of trade ceramics is a sophisticated example of traditional Vietnamese artistry. There is a vast selection of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese ceramics found in the architectural digs, mainly from the 8th to the 18th centuries, and lots of impressive drawings on display showing distinctive architectural styles.

The museum is where you feel the ancient intangibles and hear the whisper of history. Visiting the museum will give you a cultural insight into the town's history and different relationships with other countries. For archaeology and history lovers, it is an ideal place for discovering when traveling to Hoi An.

Only a 15-minute drive from Hoi An ancient town, Cua Dai beach, is an incredible getaway for beach-seekers in Hoi An. Three-kilometer stretching of white sandy beach, gentle waves, and pristine water make it a perfect place for swimming, floating around, and snorkeling. It's worth heading to Cua Dai beach to cool off and relax, especially in the summer.

An Bang beach, 7 kilometers far from the ancient town in the North, is one of Hoi An's most beautiful beaches. Parts of the beach remain untouched with pristine beauty.
An Bang beach is a perfect choice for sunbathing and participating in plenty of seaside activities such as paddle-boarding, swimming, and surfing. For wanderlust people, the little-known place is a secret treasure hiding what you don't want to miss.

Situated in a 10-minute drive from Hoi An ancient town, Bay Mau coconut forest is not only known as a unique ecological area with a waterlogged forest system, but also the attraction that you can discover the local culture of people here.

You can ride one of the bamboo coracle boats through the forest and listen to history during the Vietnam war since it used to be a shelter of guerillas. You can also take part in a cooking class that residents will teach you how to cook some specialties like spring-roll, rice pancake, etc. It will become an unforgettable experience for you on your Hoi An holiday.

Handspan offers a Thu Bon river experience, a reward for those who get out of the bed early, witnessing how the day begins in Hoi An as we paddle towards the horizon on the beautiful Thu Bon River.

The local cuisine is something you can not miss when visiting Hoi An ancient town. With diverse finger-licking dishes such as Cao lau, chicken rice, crispy pancake ("Banh xeo"), banh my, etc., Hoi An deserves its brand "The kitchen of the world." Each dish carries its distinctive flavor and unique decoration.

Locals use fresh ingredients readily available in their gardens or fresh catch from the nearby rivers and ocean. All these fresh ingredients, together with grandma's recipes that pass through generations, create the local food's incredible and unique tastes.

As being the interfere of different cultures, Hoi An's gastronomy also reflects a harmonious combination of various culinary cultures like Chinese, Japanese, and French. Take your time to experience a variety of delicious dishes in Hoi An. Do not forget to try some favorite drinks like nuoc mot ("Nước Mót" in Vietnamese), which only has in Hoi An.