Hoi An Travel Guide
A lantern-lit UNESCO ancient town of riverside merchant houses, master tailors, and quiet beaches — the most charming stop in central Vietnam.
Hoi An is the postcard of Vietnam: a perfectly preserved 15th–19th-century trading port, its Ancient Town glowing with silk lanterns after dark. Add bespoke tailors, a famous food scene, rice paddies, and easy beaches, and it’s no surprise this is many travellers’ favourite place in the country. There’s no airport — you arrive via Da Nang, 30 minutes north.
Top things to do
- Ancient Town — the UNESCO-listed old quarter; buy a ticket to enter the heritage houses.
- Japanese Covered Bridge — the town’s 400-year-old emblem.
- Lantern-lit nights & the Thu Bon River — release a paper lantern from a boat.
- Get clothes tailored — suits, dresses, and shoes made to measure in 24–48 hours.
- An Bang & Cua Dai beaches — a short cycle from town.
- Tra Que vegetable village & a cooking class — Hoi An is a food capital.
Day trips
- My Son Sanctuary — UNESCO Cham temple ruins, ~1 hr.
- Da Nang — beaches, the Golden Bridge, and the airport.
Where to stay
The Ancient Town fringe keeps you walking distance from the lanterns. An Bang Beach trades the bustle for sand and boutique stays, an easy bike ride or taxi from the old town.
Best time to visit
Like the rest of the centre, Hoi An is best February–August. October–November can bring flooding, when the river occasionally rises into the old town. See the best time to visit Vietnam guide.
Getting there
Fly to Da Nang International (DAD) and take a 30–45 minute Grab or private transfer south. Many visitors combine Hoi An and Da Nang in one trip.
Pairing Hoi An with a treatment
Hoi An itself is a leisure town rather than a clinical hub — but it’s the ideal recovery base. Stay beside the beach in Hoi An and pop up to Da Nang for modern dental clinics, or build the trip around Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi.
Want a trip that mixes lanterns, beaches, and a treatment? Get a free assessment.