Hoi An Ancient Town
Wander a lantern-lit UNESCO trading port of heritage houses, tailors and riverside cafés.
About Hoi An Ancient Town
Hoi An was a thriving 15th–19th-century trading port, and its mustard-yellow merchant houses, Chinese assembly halls and Japanese bridge survive almost untouched. By day it’s a UNESCO open-air museum; by night thousands of silk lanterns glow over the Thu Bon river.
What to see & do
- The Japanese Covered Bridge and old merchant houses
- Nightly lantern lighting and a river lantern-boat ride
- Same-day tailoring on the famous tailor streets
- A market-to-table Vietnamese cooking class
- Cycling out to An Bang Beach and the Tra Que herb village
🗓️ Best time to visit
February–April for warm, dry days. Time your visit with the monthly full-moon Lantern Festival, when the town switches off its electric lights.
🚆 How to reach
Hoi An is ~45 minutes by road from Da Nang International Airport (DAD). There is no train or airport in Hoi An itself, so most travellers fly into Da Nang and transfer by car.
💰 Cost
An ancient-town entry ticket is about ₹600 (covers five heritage sites). A lantern-boat ride is ₹300–₹600; a tailored outfit from ₹3,000.
Insider tips
- Explore at dawn or after dark to avoid the midday tour buses.
- Order tailoring on day one so there’s time for fittings.
- Try the local specialities: cao lau noodles and white-rose dumplings.
- Rent a bicycle — the old town is flat and largely car-free.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to experience Hoi An Ancient Town?
February–April for warm, dry days. Time your visit with the monthly full-moon Lantern Festival, when the town switches off its electric lights.
How do I get there?
Hoi An is ~45 minutes by road from Da Nang International Airport (DAD). There is no train or airport in Hoi An itself, so most travellers fly into Da Nang and transfer by car.
How much does Hoi An Ancient Town cost?
An ancient-town entry ticket is about ₹600 (covers five heritage sites). A lantern-boat ride is ₹300–₹600; a tailored outfit from ₹3,000.