Hoi An is a historic port town in central Vietnam whose old town is a UNESCO site. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries it was an important trading port where Japanese, Chinese and Europeans met, and to this day wooden merchant houses, Chinese assembly halls and the Japanese Covered Bridge stand here. The town is famed for yellow houses, lanterns that light up over the Thu Bon river in the evening and hundreds of tailors who make a suit to measure in two days. Hoi An has two beaches, An Bang and Cua Dai, cooking classes, rice fields and bicycles on which you ride everywhere. It is one of the most pleasant towns in Vietnam, suits three to five days and is reached from Da Nang, thirty kilometres away. Czech citizens can enter Vietnam visa-free for 45 days. You pay in dong and prices are low. The best time is February to May; from September to December it rains and floods occur.
The places worth your time in Hoi An, and what to expect at each
centre
A preserved merchant town with yellow wooden houses, Chinese temples and narrow lanes, on the UNESCO list. The pedestrian zone is closed to cars. In the evening lanterns light up.
Tip: The monuments ticket costs about five dollars and is valid for five sites. Come early in the morning without crowds or in the evening for the lanterns.
centre
A wooden covered bridge from the end of the sixteenth century built by Japanese merchants and the symbol of Hoi An. Inside is a small temple. It also appears on the Vietnamese banknote.
Tip: Entry is part of the monuments ticket. Come early in the morning, when it is empty. Photograph from the bank at sunset.
centre
Colourful halls where Chinese merchants once gathered by origin, with dragon roofs, courtyards and altars. The loveliest is the Fujian hall. They are part of the old town.
Tip: Part of the monuments ticket. Come in the morning; the halls are calm. Observe dress; cover shoulders.
Thu Bon river
In the evening the Thu Bon river and the streets fill with thousands of coloured lanterns. You can go by small boat and float lanterns on the water. It is the loveliest experience in Hoi An, especially on the night of the full moon.
Tip: A boat ride costs about three dollars. The full moon is on the fourteenth day of the lunar month; the town then turns off its lights and only lanterns shine.
centre
In the town are over four hundred tailor workshops where a suit, dress or coat is made to measure in two to three days. Prices are low, quality varies. It is the tourists' favourite purchase.
Tip: Choose a tailor by recommendation and look at the fabric samples. Reckon on two fittings. A suit costs about a hundred dollars.
5 km from the centre
A long sandy beach five kilometres from the old town with bars, restaurants and loungers. It is calmer than Cua Dai and popular with locals. The sea is warm and in summer calm.
Tip: Rent a bicycle and ride out; it takes twenty minutes. A lounger is free if you consume. It is best in the morning or evening.
surroundings
A half-day cooking class that includes a market visit, a boat ride and preparing four dishes. You learn cao lau, bánh xèo and spring rolls. It is one of the best activities in town.
Tip: A class costs about twenty-five dollars; book in advance. Choose a class at a farm in Tra Que.
40 km from Hoi An
A complex of Hindu temples of the Champa kingdom from the fourth to thirteenth centuries, a UNESCO site, forty kilometres west of Hoi An. The temples stand in the jungle and many were destroyed in the war. It is the best historical trip.
Tip: Entry costs about seven dollars. Come in the morning, before the groups arrive. The trip takes half a day.
Cam Thanh
A village at the river delta where you ride in round basket boats among water palms. It is a popular fun trip for families. The ride takes half a day.
Tip: A ride costs about fifteen dollars. Bring a hat and sun cream. It is touristy, but fun.
Photos: Hoi An Old Town — Steffen Schmitz (more photos) (CC BY-SA 4.0) · The Japanese Covered Bridge — Chainwit. (CC BY 4.0) · The Lanterns and the Thu Bon River — Kuroczynski (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Tailors and Made-to-Measure Clothes — Vuong Tri Binh (CC BY-SA 4.0) · An Bang Beach — Song GK (CC BY 4.0) · A Hoi An Cooking Class — Benjamin Arnold (CC BY 3.0) · My Son Sanctuary — Chainwit. (CC BY 4.0)
Areas and districts, matched to the kind of trip you are taking
Best for: monuments and lanterns
The pedestrian zone with hotels, restaurants and tailors. Everything is at hand. Best for a first visit.
Best for: beach and calm
The beach district five kilometres from the centre with bars, hotels and resorts. It is calmer and by the sea. A good choice for families.
Best for: resorts and sand
A long beach with large resorts, pools and spas, a few kilometres from the old town. It is calm and luxurious. Suits a longer stay.
Best for: cheap accommodation
Districts across the river with homestays and rice fields. It is cheaper and calm. Suits budget travellers.
The nearest airport is Da Nang (DAD), thirty kilometres from Hoi An. From Prague you fly with a connection in Bangkok or Hanoi in fifteen hours. From Da Nang a taxi or transfer runs to Hoi An in forty minutes. A taxi costs about twelve dollars. A bus runs from Hue in four hours.
Da Nang Airport (DAD) · 30 km
The old town is a pedestrian zone; bikes are ridden. Bicycles are rented for two dollars a day. Taxis and Grab are cheap. A scooter is rented for five dollars. For My Son and Da Nang a car with a driver is used.
Useful apps: Google Maps, Grab, Be, Maps.me
Hoi An has a tropical monsoon climate. February to May is best: dry and warm, around thirty degrees. In summer it is hot, over thirty-five. From September to December it rains and floods occur. The best time is February to May.
Best time
February to May
What to avoid
September to December (rain and floods)
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 24° | 25° | 27° | 30° | 33° | 34° | 34° | 34° | 31° | 28° | 26° | 24° |
| Night | 19° | 20° | 21° | 23° | 25° | 26° | 26° | 26° | 25° | 24° | 22° | 20° |
| Rainy days | 100 | 40 | 30 | 40 | 80 | 80 | 100 | 130 | 380 | 600 | 500 | 250 |
| Sea | 24° | 24° | 25° | 27° | 28° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 28° | 26° | 25° |
Hoi An cooking is central Vietnamese: spicy, with rice noodles, herbs and seafood. A main dish costs two to five dollars. People drink fresh fruit, Larue beer and coffee with milk.
Cao lau
The speciality of Hoi An: thick noodles with pork, greens and crunchy crackers. The true noodles are made with water from a local well.
Bánh mì
A baguette with meat, vegetables and sauces, the famous one from Madam Khanh's stall. Cheap and excellent.
Bánh xèo
A crisp pancake with prawns and pork, wrapped in lettuce. Street food.
Spring rolls (nem)
Fresh or fried rolls with herbs and prawns. Served with peanut sauce.
Mì Quảng
Yellow noodles with broth and prawns or chicken, a central Vietnamese dish. Tasty and filling.
Vietnamese milk coffee
Strong coffee with condensed milk, served with ice. Sweet and refreshing.
Fresh fruit and coconuts
Mango, dragon fruit and coconut. Cheap on every corner.
Coffee
VND 30,000–50,000
Cao lau
VND 40,000–70,000
Lunch in a restaurant
VND 80,000–200,000
A beer
VND 30,000–60,000
Monuments ticket
VND 120,000
Cooking class
VND 600,000
3★ hotel (night)
VND 600,000–1,500,000
Made-to-measure suit
VND 2,500,000
Indicative prices that change over time — treat them as a guide, not a price list.
1 day
2 days
3 days
My Son
40 km · 1 hr by car
A complex of Hindu temples of the Champa kingdom, a UNESCO site. It suits half a day.
Da Nang
30 km · 40 min by car
A modern seaside city with the Marble Mountains, the Golden Bridge and beaches. It suits a full-day trip.
Hue
125 km · 3 hrs 30 min by car
The former capital of Vietnam with an imperial citadel. It suits a full-day trip.
Three to five days suffice for the old town, beach and a cooking class. For My Son and Da Nang add a day. Many people stay a week.
Czech citizens can enter Vietnam visa-free for 45 days. The passport must be valid for at least six months. Conditions change, so check before travelling.
February to May, when it is dry and warm. In summer it is hot, over thirty-five degrees. From September to December it rains and floods occur.
By plane with a connection in Bangkok or Hanoi to Da Nang in fifteen hours, then by taxi or transfer in forty minutes.
Quality varies; choose a tailor by recommendation. A suit costs about a hundred dollars and takes two to three days. Reckon on two fittings.
It is very cheap: lunch costs two to five dollars, a hotel twenty to sixty dollars a night. A cooking class costs twenty-five dollars.
Yes, it is a safe town. Watch for scooters and pickpockets. Bargain before buying and before getting into a taxi.
Cao lau, bánh mì and bánh xèo. With them Vietnamese coffee and fresh fruit. The best is street food.
Check the latest visa requirements for entering this country. Some nationalities may need to apply for a visa or e-visa before travel.
Check visa requirementsLanguage
Vietnamese
Currency
VND
Timezone
Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh
Dial Code
+84
Population
99.5M
Area
331,212 km²
Voltage
220V / 50Hz
Driving Side
Right
