Hoi An - Top Things to See & Do

Located on the Thu Bon River in central Vietnam, Hoi An was an important trading port from the 16th to the 18th century, with traders from China, Japan and even Europe. Its status as a trading center declined however, as its harbor began to silt over and a new trading port emerged in Da Nang.

With most of its traditional architecture intact Hoi An retains its old world charm and could be called one of, if not the most, picturesque town in Vietnam. As such, the first thing to do on any trip to Hoi An is simply wander through the area known as the “ancient town”. This entire area of Hoi An is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore the little streets, amble past its yellow shops and houses, admire all the colorful lanterns, stroll across the covered bridge and check out some of its historic museums.

bicycle in front of little cafe with lanterns and Vietnam flag

old wood building tile roof — The Folk Culture Museum (on the left) and The History & Culture Museum (on the right)

yellow red old building — The Folk Culture Museum (on the left) and The History & Culture Museum (on the right)

folk costumes — Inside the Folk Culture Museum

shops and lanterns in ancient old town with foliage

yellow and red lanterns strung across street leading to river

The Japanese covered bridge in particular is one of Hoi An’s most prominent landmarks. It was constructed in 1593 by the Japanese trading community to link them with the Chinese quarter in the eastern section of the town.

Entrance to Hoi An’s ancient town typically requires an entrance fee. This fee costs 120,000 vnd for foreign tourists (around 5 dollars) and with it you get a ticket, which includes entry into five museums or historic sites like the covered bridge. Ticket booths can only be found on a few streets leading into the old town. Where exactly the old town begins and ends is not well defined. In reality you can often wander about for free especially on weekdays, as they only ask for the ticket in certain areas. But keep in mind it is important to help support the preservation of the town.

After you’ve taken photos to your heart’s content and had your fill of picture perfect scenes… What else is there to do in Hoi An?

#1. Handicraft Workshops

One of the great things about Hoi An is its handicraft shops. Two handicraft skills Hoi An is well known for are its handmade lanterns and handmade leather goods. You can find dozens of shops selling both. There are also a handful of artisan instructors with workshops where you can learn to make your own lanterns or leather goods. A few notable workshops include: lantern making with Lynn, lantern making with Thuy Tam, Phuong Chau lantern workshop, Blue Lotus Leather and Zen leather workshop.

adorable old yellow house rental with workshop downstairs

I took a full day leather working class with Blue Lotus Leather and it was by far my favorite experience in Hoi An.

purple leather purse workshop with tools

There are a few other skills related experiences available in Hoi An that one might enjoy, such as: sewing classes, wood carving, silk weaving, and traditional farming practices.

#2. Rent a Bicycle

Cycle through town or through the countryside past rice and vegetable fields. Cars aren’t allowed on most of the streets in Hoi An’s old town, only pedestrians and bikes. There are several bike rental shops throughout Hoi An.

riding bicycle through Hoi An past yellow buildings

#3. My Son Sanctuary

My Son is a little less than an hour’s drive from Hoi An. Dating from the 4th to 13th century the ruins at My Son are a collection of Hindu temples built by the Champa Kingdom. This ancient kingdom established by the Cham Civilization, in the area of modern day central and south Vietnam, were contemporaries and rivals of the Angkor empire to the east (modern day Cambodia). To the north the Champa kingdom vied with the Dai Viet kingdom, which would eventually come under the control of the Nguyen dynasty who would change the name from Dai Viet to Viet Nam.

#4. Boat Rides

The traditional boat ride glides through Hoi An past the “ancient town”. The prices are set and start at 150,000 vnd (around $6 dollars) for 1-3 passengers. The price goes up for more people and for the evening Lantern Boat ride. There are five official ticket points along the river and the Boat trips are officially set to last around 20 minutes but you can pay more for longer.

the walk along Hoi An's river in old town

Outside of old town there are also the popular basket boat rides through Bay Mau coconut forest.

#5. Tailor Made Clothes

I had clothes made for me at a couple shops, it was cool but not quite as much fun as I thought it would be. With multiple fittings, it took a lot more of my time than I had anticipated. Two fittings are standard but some of my clothes took three and even a fourth for a coat. It will depend on just how tailored you expect your tailored clothes to be 🙂 The seamstresses were fast but the fittings can break up your sightseeing schedule. You can pull it off with three days, but to be safe you should really give yourself four days in case you need one last fitting.

grey wool coat with toggle buttons and blue silk lining — From Shop: 45 Thu Tailor

yellow red white and black dress — I got this dress made from one of the stalls at the Fabric Market. I was hesitant to order from the Fabric Market stalls as some of the ladies were a little aggressive in their sales pitch, but I walked past this fabric and fell in love with it. I had no problems ordering from the small booth and I love the dress 🙂

Still More to Do:

You can visit An Bang Beach, the Tra Que Vegetable Village, Driftwood Art Villiage, or the Cham Islands, which are a half hour by speedboat (or an hour by ferry) from Hoi An.