A Complete Guide to Visiting Hoi An

Hoi An is one of my favorite places in Vietnam.  With its friendly locals, lanterned streets, charming coffee shops, and incredible mix of both local and international food choices; Hoi An should be a staple in every traveler’s Vietnam itinerary.  (I love the city so much I’ve been twice, spending a total of two weeks in Hoi An).

In this post you’ll find everything you need to know about visiting Hoi An, with my personal favorite recommendations!

 

BEFORE READING FURTHER, YOU MIGHT NEED A VISA TO VISIT VIETNAM – GET ONE HERE

 

Where is Hoi An, Vietnam?

Located in Central Vietnam, Hoi An is located on the eastern coast near the East Vietnam Sea just south of Da Nang.  Due to its central location, it’s a popular stop amongst travelers exploring the entirety of Vietnam, moving north to south (or vice versa).

Hoi An is 511 miles south of Hanoi and 534 miles north of Ho Chi Minh City; the two largest cities in Vietnam.

 

How to Get to Hoi An

By far, the easiest and cheapest way to travel around Vietnam is by bus.  While the journey can be long (seriously, I traveled 18-hours by bus in Vietnam), you can bus from just about anywhere to Hoi An.  Some of the most popular bus routes include…

• Hanoi to Hoi An – 15+ hours – book tickets here
• Ho Chi Minh City to Hoi An – 19+ hours – book tickets here
• Ninh Binh to Hoi An – 12+ hours – book tickets here
• Ha Long Bay to Hoi An – 16+ hours – book tickets here
• Nha Trang to Hoi An – 12+ hours – book tickets here

 

BOOK A BUS TO HOI AN, VIETNAM HERE!

 

If you’re not up for a long bus ride, you can also fly into Da Nang International Airport (DAD), which is only a 45-minute drive from Hoi An.  The easiest way to get from the airport to Hoi An is by requesting for your hotel to send you a taxi, hailing one when you arrive, or using the Grab app.  This should cost you around 300,000 VND.

I like to use this platform to search for flights.

 

IF YOU’RE TRAVELING FROM HANOI TO HOI AN, DON’T MISS:

• How to Spend 2 Days in Hanoi, Vietnam
• Everything You Need to Know About Hanoi Train Street

 

AND IF YOU’RE TRAVELING FROM NINH BINH TO HOI AN, DON’T MISS:

• The Best 2-Day Ninh Binh Itinerary

 

How Long Should You Spend in Hoi An?

Hoi An is a great place to slow down and take your time.  So if you’re planning to spend a ton of time in Vietnam (or traveling through Southeast Asia), it’s a great town for digital nomads due to its plethora of cute cafes and great wifi.  With that being said, if you do have the time to slow down – I would recommend spending 5-7 days here.

But if you’re limited on time, I would suggest 2-3 days in Hoi An.

 

The Best Time of the Year to Visit Hoi An

Generally, it’s best to visit Hoi An during dry season which is February-April, and not as attractive to visit during rainy season which is September-January.  October and November are particularly rainy and known to bring typhoons to the area.

The hottest month of the year is June, and the coolest is January.  “Cool” season generally lasts from late November until late February, but it’s still very warm at this time.

Lastly, peak tourist season in Vietnam is July and August.  You might want to consider avoiding these times if you’d rather not deal with the crowds and the higher prices.

My first time to Hoi An was in February and my second time in September.  In my experience, February brought many more tourists and September fewer.  It also rained quite a bit when I was there in September – something to keep in mind.

 

Where to Stay in Hoi An

If you’re visiting Hoi An, I highly recommend staying in the ancient town.  This area is incredibly charming with tons of bars and restaurants, water ways, night markets, and lanterns adorning the streets.

My top hotel recommendation for a stay in Hoi An is Em’s House Homestay.  Em’s House Homestay is in the heart of ancient town, has a pool, and has spacious, comfortable rooms.  The customer service was incredible too!

If you’d rather stay elsewhere, I recommend using booking.com to search for more hotel options.

 

BOOK YOUR STAY IN HOI AN HERE!

 

How to Get Around Hoi An

The ancient town of Hoi An is very walkable and easy to get around on foot.  If it’s too hot out or raining, you can also grab a taxi or motorbike to get you from place to place.  There are many people on the streets asking if you need a ride, making it easy to walk out of your hotel and quickly get a ride.  Or you can down the Grab app and order a taxi/motorbike from there.  Lastly, you’ll also notice many people biking around town.  Your hotel might offer free bikes to use (Em’s House Homestay does) or again, you can rent a bike off the street.

If you plan to do day trips outside of Hoi An or want a motorbike to get around, generally, your hotel can help you rent one.  As of 2023, the price of a daily motorbike rental was around 150,000 VND.  If you do get a motorbike, it is now law in Vietnam that you carry an international drivers license (although the hotel is unlikely to ask to see it).  You can get an international license here.

 

The Best Bars & Restaurants in Hoi An

As I mentioned earlier, Hoi An has some really incredible local and international food options.  When I was traveling through Vietnam and craved “western food”, the itch was never really scratched because the “western food” was never that great.  However, Hoi An scratched that itch every single time!

 

DINE LIKE A LOCAL!  BOOK A STREET FOOD TOUR HERE!

 

BOI COM HOI AN RESTAURANT & CAFE

If you’re looking for a fancier option, look no further than Boi Com Hoi An Restaurant & Cafe.  The reason I liked this restaurant so much was not only because the food (and margarita) was great, but also because they had a good mix of both western and Vietnamese food.  So if you’re traveling with someone and you can’t agree on where to eat, this would be a great choice!

 

CABANON – French

When I tell you that I ate the best cheeseburger of my life in Hoi An, it’s all thanks to Cabanon, a French restaurant in the heart of the ancient town.  Cabanon was a surprise find, as I was running through the rain trying to find somewhere for a drink, I ended up staying here for hours.  One bottle of wine and one cheeseburger later, I left a very happy person.

 

ELLIE’S CAFE HOI AN – Healthy eats

Ellie’s Cafe is the perfect breakfast/lunch spot if you’re craving some healthy eats.  I ended up here on four occasions and tried multiple things on the menu, and can guarantee you that it was worth it each and every time.

 

HEYDAY COFFEE

HEYDAY Coffee is a very cute, small cafe serving speciality Vietnamese coffee drinks.  Perhaps my favorite thing about this cafe is that you have a great view of the water.  It’s the perfect spot for a morning coffee with a side of people watching!

 

MADAM KHAHN – Vietnamese

Madam Khahn serves only Bahn mi sandwiches, and they do them REAL GOOD.  Also known as the Bahn mi queen, Madam Khahn is cheap, quick, and serves sandwiches to stay or take away.  After being in Vietnam for three weeks and having one disappointing Bahn mi after another, I was very relieved and happily surprised to find out I actually love Bahn mi – when it’s done right.

 

MEZCAL COCTELERIA – Mexican

This cocktail bar is such a fun escape in Hoi An.  Once you walk through the alley, up the stairs, and through the doors, you’ll be whisked away to somewhere other than Vietnam… (somewhere that speaks Spanish and serves strong mezcal and tequila drinks ;)).

Aside from the delicious drinks, you can also order amazing tacos here.  Both the pork and battered fish tacos were incredible.

 

NAMTO HOUSE COFFEE

Another great coffee spot is Namto House Coffee.  This shop is located on a busy street corner so there is a bit more traffic, but the inside is very elegant and well decorated with wooden tables and greenery.  If you visit, don’t miss trying the pink salted coffee!

 

QUAN CAO LAU BA LE – QUAN CAO LAU NGON TAI HOI AN

Quán Cao lầu Bá Lễ – Quán Cao Lầu ngon tại Hội An might be a mouthful, but it’s amazing.  I stumbled here one night and thought that it looked good, and I wasn’t wrong.  Not only is the famous cao lầu dish spectacular, but the white rose dumplings and spring rolls were great too!  If you want to try cao lầu and you don’t want to eat street food, this is a great restaurant option!

 

QUAN CAO LAU THANH – Vietnamese

If you want to try the star dish of Hoi An – cao lầu (and you do) – head to Quan Cao Lầu Thanh, a street food vendor serving up hearty bowls of the famous cao lầu dish.  Cao lầu is a noodle dish made of thick rice noodles (they become thick because they are soaked in lye water), pork, greens, bean sprouts, and herbs.  Cao lầu is the only dish served at this restaurant.

 

7 BRIDGES HOI AN CRAFT BEER TAPROOM

If you’re a beer person, you can’t miss visiting 7 Bridges where the star of the show is local craft beer from Hoi An and craft beer from other areas of Vietnam.  I’d definitely head here for a before or after dinner flight to start your night.

 

The Best Things to See & do in Hoi An

Hoi An is quite small, but it packs a big punch.  And aside from all there is to see and do in the ancient town, there’s also some great things to see and do outside of town.  Below you’ll find the best things to see and do in Hoi An!

 

DON’T MISS THIS MARKET TOUR, BASKET BOAT RIDE, & COOKING CLASS!

 

AN BANG BEACH

If you’re in Hoi An for a couple of days, I would definitely recommend renting a scooter and heading towards An Bang Beach.  (By law, you’re supposed to have an international drivers license for scooter rentals in Vietnam).  I should also mention, that you should manage your expectations when going here because it won’t be like those white sand beaches and crystal waters that you see in other parts of Southeast Asia, but it’s still a great beach getaway if you want to escape the heat.

I suggest going for lunch and eating at one of the restaurants on the beach.  (Make sure you pick a restaurant that will then allow you to have a free beach chair after you finish).  Then head to the beach and relax with a drink in hand!

By the way, if you’re heading to the beach, I’d make sure to bring a lock so that you can lock up your belongings and not worry about them getting taken while you’re in the water.  I also travel with a waterproof phone pouch where I store my phone, money, credit cards, and key and take it with me to the water.

 

BOAT ON THU BON RIVER

Although pretty touristy, taking a boat out on the Thu Bon River is a great way to get a different perspective of Hoi An.  This can be done during the day or at night when the town is lit up by lanterns.  I did this during the day and was able to negotiate my own price, at night it seemed like a ride was 150,000 VND and I’m not sure if it varies based on high vs low season.

If you don’t want to pay to get on the boat, head out to the river at nightfall and watch the boats go by!  It’s just as beautiful from land.

 

COOKING CLASS

By far a highlight of visiting Hoi An is participating in a local cooking class.  The great thing about the cooking classes in Hoi An is not only that you get to learn how to make delicious Vietnamese cuisine, but you also get to visit the market and see how things are done with a local themselves.

 

GET A TAILOR MADE OUTFIT

Hoi An is well-known for their tailor made clothes and from what I can tell this tradition goes back two decades.  While it’s overwhelming to pick a tailor (seriously, there are stores every few feet), a local told me that by far the best tailor in town is Tuong Tailor.  If you want a tailor made outfit, I suggest giving the shop at least 24 hours (although I’ve heard that it can be done in as little as four-hours) notice so that you’re able to pick your style, materials, get measurements, and have adjustments made if needed.  Prices of outfits vary on materials used and if you buy in bulk.

 

HAI VAN PASS

The Hai Van Pass is a scenic mountain pass that connects Hoi An to Hue.  (You can read about it here).  If you’re visiting Hoi An, I highly recommend hiring an easy rider to drive you through the pass – it’s one of my favorite things that I’ve done in Vietnam!  I recommend booking this tour (the maximum amount of people is four so it’s a very intimate tour), where you’ll start and end at the same point.  While the pickup point is in Da Nang, you should easily be able to get there or you can request a pickup in Hoi An.

 

HOI AN LUNE CENTER

One of the more underrated things that I did in Hoi An was see a show at the Lune Center.  I’m unable to describe just how incredible this acrobatic show was.  There was no talking so the story is told by action, music, and props.  It was a truly unique and amazing experience!

 

MARBLE MOUNTAINS

Another day trip to take from Hoi An is to rent a motorbike (don’t forget you need an international drivers license) and head north to Marble Mountains.  Marble Mountains is a cluster of five marble and limestone hills located about 30-minutes north of Hoi An.  It’s pretty touristy but the area is very unique.  The cost to enter is 40,000 VND/person and you also have the choice to add on the elevator ride (instead of walking uphill) for an extra 15,000 VND/way (you have to pay separately to go up and down).

You can definitely explore the area on your own, but if you want to join a tour and also add on Monkey Mountain, you can book that here.

 

SHOPPING

Aside from the multiple tailor shops around Hoi An, there are also some pretty great artisanal stores to explore.  Of course, there are touristy souvenir shops, but you can also find some great leather shops, embroidery shops, and more.  My favorite shops in Hoi An are…

• Blue Lotus Leather – Leather goods
• Cua Hang Qua Tang TO HOI AN – Gift shop
• Mui the Label – Clothing store
• 4U Souvenirs – Souvenir shop

 

 

2-Day Proposed Itinerary

Again, you could stay in Hoi An for a week and not tire from its beauty, but if you’re crunched for time I’d recommend a two-night stay to explore ancient town and beyond.

 

Day 1 in Hoi An

• Start your day with a Vietnamese coffee from HEYDAY Coffee
• Eat breakfast at Ellie’s Cafe
• Walk around ancient town popping into the cute shops along the way
• Stop by a tailor and get fitted for a custom outfit
• Grab a bahn mi at Madam Khahn OR book a cooking class
• Take a boat ride on the river
• Grab cocktails at Mezcal Cocteleria
• Have dinner at Cabanon

 

Day 2 in Hoi An

• Start your day with a pink salted coffee from Namto House Coffee
• Rent a motorbike and head to Marble Mountains
• Have lunch and relax at An Bang Beach
• Try local beer at 7 Bridges
• Eat cao lầu at Quán Cao lầu Bá Lễ – Quán Cao Lầu ngon tại Hội An

 

If you are planning to explore Vietnam further, consider a Vietnam tour led by a local tour guide!

 

Hoi An Travel Tips

Below you’ll find my tips for traveling to Hoi An, plus other things to know if you plan to visit Vietnam.

• If you plan to rent a motorbike to explore, make sure to get an international drivers license
• I highly recommend traveling with travel insurance to protect you in case anything were to go wrong
• Most tourists will need a visa to travel to Vietnam
• I don’t recommend drinking the water from the tap
• Hoi An is very hot and humid (even during cool season) so make sure to bring light, breezy clothing

 

Final Thoughts:  Is Hoi An Worth Visiting?

I would absolutely recommending visiting Hoi An if you’re traveling in Vietnam.  Not only is it worthy of a stop on its own, but it’s also convenient if you’re traveling by land from north to south (or vice versa) as it lies between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

I absolutely love the town of Hoi An and I truly can’t imagine not visiting each time I travel to Vietnam.  Its beauty is unmatched, and the kindness of the people is perhaps the best in all of Vietnam.

 

Vietnam Essentials – What You Need & Need to Know About Visiting Vietnam

 

IF YOU’RE TRAVELING THROUGH VIETNAM, DON’T MISS:

• The Ultimate Packing List for Vietnam
• Everything You Need to Know About Planning a Trip to Vietnam
• Everything You Need to Know About Trekking in Sapa, Vietnam
• A Complete Guide to Vietnam’s Ha Giang Loop
• From Sa Pa:  Visiting Cat Cat Village – Is it Worth it?

 

---

For more information on things to see and do in Hoi An, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel by searching “#ppinvietnam” or under my highlights for “Vietnam”; alternatively, head to my TikTok and search for the saved “Vietnam” highlight

---

 

Pin Me!

Disclosure:  This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my link, at no cost to you.  Passports and Preemies is also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees.