Central Vietnam
Hoi An Travel Guide
Hoi An is a 15th-century trading port on the central Vietnamese coast, now a UNESCO-listed Old Town lit by silk lanterns at night. Two nights is the minimum — one for the Old Town, one for the beach or a cooking class — but three is better.
Hoi An is a 15th-century trading port on the central Vietnamese coast, now a UNESCO-listed Old Town lit by silk lanterns at night. Two nights is the minimum — one for the Old Town, one for the beach or a cooking class — but three is better.
Hoi An in 48 hours
- Evening 1 — walk the Old Town as lanterns come on. Float a paper lantern on the Thu Bon river.
- Day 2 morning — rent a bike, ride through rice fields to An Bang beach.
- Day 2 afternoon — cooking class or Cam Thanh basket-boat ride.
- Day 3 — My Son Sanctuary at sunrise (Cham temples, 1 hour away).
Day trips from Hoi An
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Cham Islands Day Trip from Hoi An: The Honest 2026 Guide
How to day-trip to the Cham Islands from Hoi An — speedboat vs wooden boat, snorkelling spots, costs in VND and USD, and whether it's worth the early start.
Hoi An Cooking Class Day Tour: The Honest 2026 Guide
Picking a cooking class in Hoi An — market tours, basket boats, which schools are worth the money, what you'll actually learn, and prices in VND and USD.
Marble Mountains Day Trip from Hoi An: The Honest 2026 Guide
How to visit the Marble Mountains as a day trip from Hoi An — timings, costs, combining with Da Nang city or Son Tra, and whether a half-day is enough.
My Son Sanctuary Day Trip from Hoi An (2026)
How to visit My Son from Hoi An — Vietnam's 4th–13th-century Cham ruins. Sunrise tour, standard tour, or DIY, and how to beat the heat and the crowds.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need in Hoi An?
Two to three nights. One night for the Old Town and lantern streets, one for An Bang beach or a cooking class, and optionally a third for a day trip to My Son.
Is Hoi An too touristy?
Yes, the Old Town is touristy — that's the trade-off for a UNESCO-preserved 15th-century port. Walk it at sunrise before the tour buses arrive, and stay outside the core in An Bang or Cam Thanh.
Should I get clothes tailored in Hoi An?
It's a Hoi An classic, but quality varies wildly. Stick to recommended shops (Yaly Couture, BeBe, A Dong Silk), allow 2–3 fittings over 48 hours, and don't expect Savile Row at $80.