13 Things to Do in Hoi An: Ultimate Travel Guide for Your First Time in Hoi An

Hoi An is one of the most popular destinations in Vietnam, and for good reason. Located in central Vietnam, it’s an easy and worthwhile stop when traveling between the north and south. Known for its lantern-lit streets and rich history, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most unique towns in the country. I could have spent weeks there, it’s such a beautiful mix of culture, history, nature, and city.

There are so many incredible things to do in Hoi An, from exploring ancient architecture and temples to relaxing on nearby beaches and trying some of the best food in Vietnam.

Whether you’re into culture, adventure, or just slowing down and soaking it all in, Hoi An truly has something for every traveler. It has cemented it’s place in top 10 cities in the world for me, that is how much I loved being there.

Use this Hoi An travel guide to help plan your trip, including the best things to do in Hoi An, where to stay, how to get around, and the top places to eat.

Things to do in Hoi An:

1. An Bang Beach

An Bang Beach is a beautiful spot to relax and go for a dip in Hoi An. If you are staying in or near the Old Town, it’s about a 20-minute bike ride.

This beach is beautiful with nice water to swim in. You can see Da Nang from the beach and the nearby mountains. Plus, there are tons of cute cafes along the beach for food and/or drinks.

Tip: Get a beach lounge chair and umbrella for free by buying something from the restaurant they are in front of. We laid on cushions lounge chairs with just the price of a Bia Saigon — which it’s Vietnam, so that’s basically free because beers here are so inexpensive.

2. Walk around Hoi An’s Ancient Town

I seriously could have walked around this town all day and not gotten bored because it is that beautiful. It’s full of old buildings, markets, street food, lanterns, and a gorgeous river. Hoi An is just so aesthetically pleasing.

The best part is that at night, it feels like a completely different place when the lanterns are lit up. The town is just so vibrant and colorful. No pictures do it justice. They close down the streets near the river and open up a night market that makes for something new to do at night.

3. Ride a lantern lit boat along the river

When all the lanterns light up at night, they also have boats go down the river with lanterns on them. While it’s a super touristy activity, it’s also very unique so I think it’s something you should do while there.

Sometimes things are touristy for a reason, you’ll see why this has become one of the top things to do in Hoi An.

It can also be a cute little romantic date if you’re there with a partner!

Tip: Don’t pay more than 50,000-100,000 VMD per person

4. Get tailor-made clothes

The go-to thing to do in Hoi An is to get tailor-made clothing. I’m not going to lie, I told myself I didn’t need to spend money on it but I got talked into it. It ended up being one of my favorite experiences in Vietnam.

You can bring a picture of ANYTHING and not only will they make it, but they will literally have it ready in less than 24 hours for your first try-on. AND whatever you get will likely be so much cheaper than what you can buy at home, depending on where you live. And the experience is so much fun.

I got linen pants, linen shorts, a linen shirt, and a linen dress all for about 86 USD. Men can get a suit with a matching shirt for about 90-120 USD. If you want to go wild and get a new wardrobe, you can ship items home!

Recommendations on shops: Here are a few places that were recommended to me by the hostel I stayed at (including their Google Maps location): Blue Gecko Tailor and LiMe Store for linen. I got clothes made at Milan Linen and Clothes and had an amazing experience. The lady was incredibly kind and lovely, and the clothes turned out great! I definitely recommend Milan Linen if you are looking for some linen items.

Tip: If you are planning on getting tailor-made clothes (which you absolutely should be), you should plan on being in Hoi An for at least 2 nights. They will get it done overnight, but then you’ll have your first fitting and if alterations need to be made, then they may need another night.

5. Try all the amazing food

Hoi An has GREAT food. The signature dish in Hoi An of Vietnam is Cau Lao so you must get it here! It is a noodle dish with pork, greens, bean sprouts, and croutons. There are also vegetarian options around town if you are not a meat eater.

The Bahn Mi here is also fantastic. There seem to be two front runners of the city: Madam Khanh Bahn Mi and Bahn Mi Phuong.

Bahn Mi Phuong was made famous by Anthony Bourdain who said it was the best Bahn Mi he had in all of Vietnam, but it seems that the locals tend to lean towards Madam Khanh Bahn Mi. So you should definitely check out both and pick your favorite. Then let me know which one you preferred!

If you are looking for a quick break from Vietnamese food, here are some great Greek options: Greek Souvlaki and MIX Greek Restaurant.

The hostel I stayed at, SnapStay, also has a little cafe on the main floor that many locals and expats frequent. The smoothie bowl here is SO good! Really refreshing and a great way to start the day.

6. Ride a bike through the Tra Que Vegetable Village

A great sunset activity in Hoi An is riding a bike through Tra Que Vegetable Village. There are little trails throughout that make it an easy ride. The sun looks beautiful on the water and the greenery. You will see some of the Vietnamese farming while you’re riding through. In fact, I even saw a father and son fishing. Plus, tons of water buffalo bathe in the water.

I did this while riding my bike back from the beach. You pass by it on the way to and from the beach in the Old Town. So my recommendation is to head out to the beach for the day, then ride through these fields while on your way back.

Such a simple activity that is just so relaxing and enjoyable.

7. Take a lantern making class

There are tons of lantern-making classes while you’re in Hoi An. If you are looking to craft and learn more about the culture, check out one of these classes!

8. Take a cooking class

A popular tourist activity in Hoi An is a cooking class. I was unable to do one while I was here but I heard great things about them from friends. Cooking classes are one of my favorite things to do to experience and learn about a new culture. Plus, you get to bring home a new skill with you! I would definitely check out doing one of these if you have the time!

9. Go on a basket boat ride

Okay, so those funny videos you see of people volunteering to give themself motion sickness by spinning around in a boat in Vietnam — that’s in Hoi An! And it’s a BLAST. These rides seem like they are going to be this relaxing and tranquil way to experience nature but really they take to you to this party on the water. Full of dance parties, karaoke, and little shows.

While it is super touristy, it’s super fun. I definitely recommend heading to the Basket Boat Cafe (google maps linked here). It’s a cool spot to hang and you can get a basket boat from here! Also, the people at this cafe are SO kind!

10. Walk around the night market

As I said above, at night Hoi An’s Old Town closes down the streets by the river. They set up markets full of street food and souvenirs that you can purchase. This is also where everyone comes to get the classic Hoi An Instagram picture in front of the lanterns. It’s a fun walk-through!

11. Check out My Son Temple

My Son temple is like the Angkor Wat of Vietnam, in a way that it looks like ancient ruins. It’s an old abandoned Hindu temple just outside of Hoi An. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s about an hour outside of Hoi An. So it would make for an easy day trip, but you would definitely have to either book a guide, call a taxi, or rent a scooter to get there!

12. Take a trip to Monkey Mountain

If you are just passing through Da Nang to get to Hoi An, there are a few things that Da Nang has that make for a good day trip. Plus, it’s so close! If you are not templed out, check out Monkey Mountain. This is a temple that is on Son Tra Mountain. There are beautiful spots to see around the mountain and a temple inside the mountain!

13. Visit the famous hand bridge on Instagram AKA The Golden Bridge

I don’t personally recommend this one and I chose not to go. However, this is definitely a popular spot people go to when visiting Vietnam. The bridge is actually located inside of a theme park in Da Nang — so if you are staying in Hoi An you can easily go visit this bridge. It’s a popular Instagram photo destination. I’ve heard it gets extremely crowded and overly touristy, so that didn’t pique my interest but it definitely makes for a cool photo. If I were heading there, I’d get there early in the morning to try to beat the crowds.

For day trips or experiences, you can book through a hostel if you would like. If you’re not staying at a hostel, definitely consider booking with Viator.

The trips and activities offered are cheap and you can sometimes do a lot of the things on this list with one booking.

Where to Stay in Hoi An

When visiting Hoi An, I highly recommend staying at SnapStay Hoi An Hostel. It’s clean, welcoming, and has a super cool rooftop that’s perfect for meeting other travelers.

The owner, Ernest, is phenomenal and truly makes this place stand out. He goes out of his way to ensure everyone feels welcome and connected, and he’ll send you a curated list of recommendations when you check in. What I love most is that he only suggests places he’s personally tried—so you know you’re getting the best of the best. Honestly, many of my favorite spots in Hoi An came from his recommendations.

While many travelers book hostels last minute, SnapStay is one you’ll want to reserve in advance. Thanks to its consistently high ratings on Hostelworld, it often sells out quickly. I think about this hostel and the people that I met there often, it’s a special place!

Beautiful, Luxurious Options in Hoi An:

• The Signature Hoi An is more of a luxurious stay. It’s in walking distance to the Old Town, which I recommend over the beach stays because the Old Town offers so much. You can easily get a taxi or ride a bike to the beach from the Old Town.
• If you are looking for more of a beach stay in a beautiful little spot, check out Pao Homes – An Bang Beach Stone Villa.

How do you get to Hoi An?

There are a few different options for getting to Hoi An:

• Fly to Da Nang airport and take a taxi or a city bus to Hoi An.
• Take a sleeper bus to Hoi An
• Take a train to Da Nang and take a taxi or city bus to Hoi An.

I recommend flying if you are coming straight from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh. It’s a long journey and it’s worth the extra bit of money because flying within Vietnam is not too much more expensive. However, if that isn’t in your budget then a sleeper train or a sleeper bus is an option!

How to get around Hoi An

• Rent a bicycle. I rented a bicycle directly from my hostel and used that to ride from the Ancient Town to the beach and then around the Tra Que Vegetable farm. The ride was about 20 minutes and the roads were pretty easy to ride on as soon as you got a little out of the town.

• Rent a scooter. Hoi An is very easy to get around on a scooter as well. Keep in mind that within Ancient Town the streets are a little busier but still much calmer than in the larger cities in Vietnam.
• Hoi An’s Ancient Town is extremely walkable. If you are staying around that area and want to explore the city for the day, you can easily walk.
• Call a taxi.
• Ride on a rickshaw (pictured left). A rickshaw is a bicycle where you sit on a seat attached to the front and the person drives you that way. There are tons of these around the Ancient Town.

Don’t miss this incredible city when visiting Vietnam! There are so many unforgettable things to do in Hoi An, from wandering lantern-lit streets to eating some of the best food in the country. It’s easily one of the most memorable stops on any Vietnam itinerary.

If you’re planning your route, check out my two-week Vietnam backpacking itinerary to see how to fit all the best things to do in Hoi An into your trip.