Central Vietnam
Hoi An
A lantern-lit trading town, with herb gardens, rivers and craft villages all around.
About Hoi An
Lanterns, Rivers And Village Lanes
From the 15th to the 19th century, Hoi An was one of the busiest ports in Southeast Asia, where Japanese, Chinese and European merchants traded silk, porcelain and spices. Its old town of yellow merchant houses, assembly halls and the Japanese Covered Bridge is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The old town is beautiful, especially in the evening when it is lit by hundreds of silk lanterns, but it can be crowded. We like to visit early in the morning and spend the rest of the time in the countryside around it, cycling to herb gardens, rowing basket boats and visiting woodcarvers and boat builders.
Hoi An is also one of the best places in Vietnam to eat and cook. Cao lau noodles, banh mi and white rose dumplings are local specialties, and a cooking class with a family is a favourite part of many trips. The beaches of An Bang and Cua Dai are just a short ride away.
Best time to visit
February to April, for dry, warm weather. October to December can bring heavy rain and floods; summer is hot.
Getting there
Da Nang airport is about 45 minutes away. Hue is 2.5 hours north by road over the Hai Van Pass.
How long to stay
2 to 3 days.
Good for
Culture, food, cycling, families, beaches.
Highlights
What We Love About Hoi An
The old town at dawn
Merchant houses, assembly halls and the Japanese Bridge before the crowds.
Tra Que herb village
Organic vegetable gardens where farmers welcome you to lend a hand.
Basket boats in Cam Thanh
Round bamboo boats paddled through a water coconut forest.
Cam Kim island
Quiet lanes of boat builders, woodcarvers and mat weavers.
Cooking with a family
Market shopping and a hands-on class in a local home.
My Son Sanctuary
The Cham temple valley, about an hour inland.
Tours
Hoi An Tours
Countryside rides, My Son by boat and journeys that link Hoi An with Hue and the rest of Vietnam.
New Hoi An
Hue to Hoi An: A Slow Journey Through Central Vietnam
Five days from the royal city to the lantern town, over the Hai Van Pass.
New Hoi An
Hoi An Countryside by Bike: Herb Gardens and Basket Boats
Leave the old town behind for vegetable gardens, water coconut palms and island villages.
New Hoi An
My Son Sanctuary and Thu Bon River Boat Trip
Early morning among the Cham temple towers, then a slow boat back to Hoi An.
Plan Your Trip To Hoi An
Tell us your dates and interests. We will reply within 24 hours with a personal itinerary and a clear quote.