Hoi An Travel Guide 2026: Things to Do, Where to Stay & Insider Tips

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If there’s one place on our entire 100-day Asia trip that felt like it was pulled straight out of a dream, it was Hoi An. Lantern-lit streets reflecting off the Thu Bon River, tailor shops on every corner, basket boats spinning through coconut palm forests — Hoi An is the kind of place that makes you wish you’d booked an extra night.

We spent two days here during our Vietnam loop and honestly? It wasn’t enough. Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your time in one of Southeast Asia’s most magical towns.

Why Visit Hoi An
How Many Days Do You Need?
Getting to Hoi An
Top Things to Do in Hoi An
Where to Eat in Hoi An
Where to Stay in Hoi An
Getting Around Hoi An
Practical Tips
Perfect 2-Day Itinerary

Why Visit Hoi An {#why-visit}

Hoi An is unlike anywhere else in Vietnam — or Southeast Asia for that matter. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ancient Town that has somehow managed to preserve its character while becoming one of the most visited destinations in the country.

What makes it special isn’t any single landmark. It’s the cumulative effect of everything: the yellow-washed merchant houses, the Japanese Covered Bridge, the lanterns hanging over every street at dusk, the smell of cao lầu drifting from tiny restaurants, the sound of sewing machines from tailor shops staying open late. Hoi An is an experience you absorb rather than tick off a list.

It’s also remarkably walkable, genuinely affordable, and — unlike a lot of Southeast Asian hotspots — still beautiful even when it’s busy.

How Many Days Do You Need? {#how-many-days}

Minimum: 2 days. You can cover the Ancient Town highlights and do one activity like the basket boat tour in two days, but you’ll leave wishing you had more. This is exactly what happened to us.

Ideal: 3-4 days. This gives you time to explore the Ancient Town properly, get something tailored, visit An Bang Beach, take a cooking class, and consider a day trip to My Son Sanctuary without feeling rushed.

If you have more time: Hoi An rewards slow travel. A week here staying in a guesthouse, eating your way through the market stalls, and watching the lanterns come on each evening is a genuinely wonderful way to spend time in Vietnam.

Getting to Hoi An {#getting-there}

Hoi An doesn’t have its own airport, so most people arrive via Da Nang (about 30km away).

From Da Nang:

Grab (rideshare): The easiest option. A Grab from Da Nang airport or city centre to Hoi An costs around 200,000–250,000 VND (~$12 CAD) and takes about 45 minutes. This is what we did and it was seamless.
Private transfer: Your hotel can usually arrange this for a similar price with the convenience of someone waiting for you.
Local bus: Bus 1 runs between Da Nang and Hoi An for around 20,000 VND (under $1 CAD) — great for budget travellers with time to spare.

From Hue: About 3-4 hours by bus through the Hai Van Pass — one of the most scenic drives in all of Vietnam. Take the bus with a window seat on the ocean side.

From Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City: Fly into Da Nang, then Grab to Hoi An. Both cities have frequent flights to Da Nang on Vietnam Airlines and VietJet.

Staying connected: We used Airalo for our entire 100-day Asia trip — grab a Vietnam eSIM before you land so you have data from the moment you arrive. Get 10% off with our link here.

Top Things to Do in Hoi An {#things-to-do}

1. Wander the Ancient Town

This is the heart of Hoi An and where you’ll spend most of your time. The Ancient Town is a living UNESCO World Heritage Site — people actually live and work here alongside the tourism, which gives it an authenticity that’s increasingly rare in Southeast Asia.

The entry ticket (120,000 VND / ~$6 CAD) gives you access to five heritage sites of your choice, including the Japanese Covered Bridge, traditional merchant houses, ancient assembly halls, and the Museum of Folk Culture.

Go twice. Once during the day to see the architecture, and once after 5:30pm when the lanterns come on and the whole town transforms. The Ancient Town at night is an entirely different and deeply magical experience — it’s the version that stays with you.

2. The Coconut Basket Boat (Thung Chai)

This was one of the most genuinely joyful things we did in all of Vietnam. The coconut basket boat — a traditional round woven bamboo boat called a thung chai — takes you through a water coconut palm forest just outside Hoi An. The boatmen spin the baskets in circles, dance to music, and basically ensure everyone on board is laughing the entire time.

It sounds like a tourist gimmick. It absolutely is a tourist experience. And it is also completely brilliant.

Tours typically last about an hour and include the basket boat ride through the coconut forest, a demonstration of traditional crab and fish catching, and the famous spinning boat dance. Most tours pick you up from your hotel and cost around 150,000–200,000 VND per person (~$8–10 CAD).

You can book easily through Klook here.

Tip: Wear clothes you don’t mind getting splashed. The boatmen are enthusiastic.

3. Get Something Tailored

Hoi An is famous throughout Southeast Asia for its tailor shops — there are hundreds of them, and they can produce custom-made clothing in 24-48 hours at prices that seem almost impossible compared to back home.

From suits and dresses to traditional Vietnamese ao dai to casual linen sets, the quality varies by shop so it pays to do a little research beforehand. Well-regarded names include Yaly Couture, A Dong Silk, and Bebe Tailor. Visit on your first day so there’s time for fittings and adjustments before you leave.

Budget tip: Expect to pay $30–80 CAD for a well-made dress or shirt, more for suits. Prices are negotiable but don’t lowball — quality tailoring takes genuine skill.

4. Watch the Lanterns on the River

On the 14th day of each lunar month, Hoi An holds its Full Moon Lantern Festival — electric lights in the Ancient Town are switched off and the streets are lit entirely by lanterns and candlelight. It is one of the most beautiful things you can witness in Southeast Asia.

If your dates don’t align with the full moon, Hoi An releases lanterns on the Thu Bon River every evening. Buy a paper lantern, make a wish, and float it on the river for around 10,000–20,000 VND. The glow of hundreds of lanterns on the water at night is something you won’t forget.

5. Eat Your Way Through the Market

Hoi An’s local specialties are some of the most distinctive in all of Vietnam — and several dishes are unique to this town specifically:

Cao lầu: Thick noodles with pork, greens, and crispy rice crackers. The noodles are supposedly made with water from a specific ancient well in Hoi An, which is why you can’t replicate this dish elsewhere.
White Rose Dumplings (Bánh Bao Bánh Vạc): Delicate steamed shrimp dumplings, a Hoi An original.
Bánh Mì Phương: Widely considered the best bánh mì in Vietnam. There’s usually a queue and it is absolutely worth it.
Cơm Gà Hội An: Hoi An-style chicken rice — simpler than it sounds, deeply satisfying, and everywhere.

6. Day Trip to My Son Sanctuary

If you have a third day, My Son Sanctuary — a collection of Hindu temples built by the Cham civilization between the 4th and 14th centuries — is about an hour from Hoi An and makes for a fascinating half-day trip. It’s not as dramatic as Angkor Wat but it’s historically significant and far less crowded than anything in Cambodia.

Book a guided tour through Klook here — a good guide makes an enormous difference at this site.

Where to Eat in Hoi An {#where-to-eat}

Bánh Mì Phương — The most famous bánh mì in Vietnam, at 2B Phan Châu Trinh. Go before 10am. Around 40,000 VND (~$2 CAD) and worth every cent.

Morning Glory Restaurant — A beloved local institution on Trần Phú Street serving Hoi An classics in a beautiful open-air setting. Try the white rose dumplings and cao lầu.

Hoi An Central Market (Chợ Hội An) — Head upstairs to the food stalls for cheap, authentic local meals eaten at plastic stools next to locals. The best value cao lầu and chicken rice in town.

White Rose Restaurant — The original home of the white rose dumpling, made by one family and distributed to restaurants across Hoi An. Eating them at the source is worth it.

The Cargo Club — A riverside café with great views over the Thu Bon River. Perfect for a slow breakfast or afternoon coffee.

Where to Stay in Hoi An {#where-to-stay}

Budget: Homestay Vinh Khang

This is where we stayed and we’d recommend it without hesitation for budget travellers who want genuine local hospitality. Homestay Vinh Khang is a family-run guesthouse that offers clean, comfortable rooms at prices that still feel almost too good to be true by Canadian standards.

What makes a homestay like this special is the human element — a family that genuinely cares whether you’re having a good experience, local tips on where to eat that you won’t find on any travel blog, and a warmth that no hotel chain can replicate. It’s exactly the kind of accommodation that makes travel feel like a real adventure.

Best for: Budget travellers, couples who want an authentic local experience, anyone who’d rather spend their money on food and activities than a fancy room.

Search current availability and rates on Agoda.

Mid-Range: Boutique Hotels in the Ancient Town

For a step up in comfort while staying within walking distance of everything, Hoi An has a wonderful selection of boutique hotels in the $60–120 CAD per night range. Look for properties on or near Trần Phú Street for the best location.

Browse mid-range Hoi An hotels on Agoda.

Luxury: Beach Resorts

For a luxury experience, the stretch of resorts along An Bang and Cua Dai Beach (about 3-5km from the Ancient Town) offers some of Vietnam’s most beautiful properties — infinity pools, spa treatments, and private beach access. You’ll need a bicycle or Grab to get into town but many guests find the tradeoff worth it.

Browse luxury Hoi An beach resorts on Agoda.

Getting Around Hoi An {#getting-around}

Walking: The Ancient Town is entirely walkable and cars are actually restricted in the historic centre during peak hours. Your legs are your best tool here.

Bicycle: Hoi An is one of the best cycling cities in Vietnam — flat, scenic, and charming. Most guesthouses rent bicycles for 50,000–80,000 VND per day (~$3–4 CAD). This is how we’d explore next time.

Grab: For longer distances — getting to the coconut forest, the beach, or the airport — Grab works reliably and is predictably priced.

Practical Tips {#practical-tips}

Ancient Town entry: 120,000 VND (~$6 CAD) for access to five heritage sites. Buy at ticket booths near the Old Quarter entrances and keep your ticket — inspectors do check.

Cash: Hoi An is still very much a cash economy at market stalls and small restaurants. Withdraw VND from ATMs near the Ancient Town. Agribank and Vietcombank typically have the lowest fees.

Timing: The Ancient Town gets very busy between 10am and 4pm. Go early morning or after 5:30pm for the best experience. Evening is when Hoi An is most magical.

Weather: Peak season is February to April — dry, warm, and perfect. October and November bring heavy rains and occasional flooding in the Ancient Town. We visited in December which was warm and mostly dry with the bonus of Christmas decorations throughout town.

Tailoring: Visit a tailor on your first day. Most shops need 24-48 hours minimum for a first fitting and adjustments.

Safety: Hoi An is one of the safest tourist destinations in Vietnam. Keep bags on the side away from traffic to avoid motorbike bag snatching, and be confident walking past touts near the Ancient Town entrances.

Perfect 2-Day Hoi An Itinerary {#itinerary}

This is roughly how we spent our two days — adapted for anyone working with the same timeframe.

Day 1: Ancient Town & Evening Lanterns

Early morning (7–9am): Walk to the Ancient Town before the crowds arrive. The Japanese Covered Bridge at 7am with morning mist on the river is something we genuinely won’t forget. Use your entry ticket to visit 2-3 heritage sites before it gets busy.

Mid-morning (9–11am): Stop at Bánh Mì Phương for breakfast — yes, bánh mì for breakfast is completely acceptable and you should do it. Then wander the tailor street and if you want something made, arrange a fitting now so it’s ready before you leave.

Lunch (12–1pm): Head to Hoi An Central Market upstairs for a cheap and authentic bowl of cao lầu or chicken rice. Under 50,000 VND and genuinely delicious.

Afternoon (2–5pm): Rest during the hottest part of the day (this is what the locals do), or take a Grab to An Bang Beach for a swim if the weather is good.

Evening (5:30–9pm): Return to the Ancient Town as the lanterns come on. Walk slowly, buy a river lantern, eat dinner at Morning Glory or a riverside restaurant, and just absorb the atmosphere. It really is as beautiful as every photo you’ve ever seen.

Day 2: Coconut Basket Boats & Slow Morning

Morning (8–9am): Slow breakfast at your guesthouse or a riverside café.

Mid-morning (9–11:30am): Coconut basket boat tour. Most tours depart around 9am and return by noon. Bring your sense of humour, expect to get a little wet, and prepare to laugh a lot.

Lunch (12–1pm): White Rose Dumplings at White Rose Restaurant on Hai Bà Trưng Street — the original. A Hoi An essential.

Afternoon (2–5pm): Pick up your tailored items if you ordered something on Day 1. Browse the craft shops along Nguyễn Thái Học Street and visit any Ancient Town heritage sites you didn’t get to on Day 1.

Evening: One final walk through the Ancient Town at dusk, or dinner at The Cargo Club with river views as a proper send-off.

Final Thoughts

Two days in Hoi An was not enough. We said it at the start of this guide and we mean it at the end. If you’re building your Vietnam itinerary and trying to decide how long to spend here — add a day. Add two.

The Ancient Town at dusk, the basket boats spinning through coconut palms, the best bánh mì of your life floating in a pool of flavour — Hoi An has a way of making you want to stay just one more night. And then one more after that.

It’s firmly on our list to return to and spend a full week. For us, that’s the highest recommendation we can give a place.

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