15 Awesome Things to do in Hoi An
We stayed in Hoi An for five days to explore and relax before continuing our journey through Northern Vietnam. In those days, we were able to enjoy this busy but gorgeous town.
It was once known as a major trading port from the 15th to 19th centuries, but it has since become one of Southeast Asia’s most popular and romantic towns.
Old Town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a spot you’ll want to see. Despite being a smaller city in Vietnam, it’s filled with fun, and I want to let you know about all the fun things to do in Hoi An.
15 Awesome Things to do in Hoi An
Table of Contents
1. Check Out the Rice Fields
One of the best things about Hoi An is the beautiful rice fields just outside the city. In a matter of minutes, you can arrive by bicycle to explore the lush green fields.
We enjoyed cycling through and finding the local farmers collecting their harvest with their iconic Vietnamese hats on. You can bike on your own, or you can schedule a bike tour.
2. See the Lanterns
Walking the streets is easily one of the most romantic things in Old Town Hoi An because lanterns light up the streets with their beautiful glow.
During the day, the lanterns are colorful and compliment the rustic french inspired buildings of Old Town. It’s simply stunning, and you’ll want to photograph every corner!
3. Explore Old Town
Old Town is the primary spot to visit Hoi An. You’ll see a little bit of everything here, from delicious food to women selling and balancing fruits and vegetable baskets on their heads to old rustic colorful buildings. It’s a beautiful and busy scene full of organized chaos.
In Old Town, you’ll find boutiques, galleries, tailors, restaurants, lanterns, a Japanese Bridge, a river, lots of people, and so much more.
We visited every day we were there during different times of the day. The daytime was great for seeing and photographing the action, the nighttime for a romantic mood, and the very early morning for photographing the streets without people in them.
4. Stop by the Japanese Bridge
The Japanese Bridge or Cau Chua Pagoda is in the center of Hoi An, also in Old Town. It was constructed by the Japanese community of Hoi An in the 1590s. Now, it is one of the most popular tourist attractions and a symbol of Hoi An.
5. Ride a Basket Boat
Back in the day, when the French arrived in Vietnam, they began charging high taxes, including on boat ownership. This affected fishermen who depended on their boats to make a living.
Because they could not afford to pay taxes, they had an idea to create a type of boat which they referred to as thung chai-these basket boats you see today around central Vietnam. (We saw one person rowing a basket in Nha Trang.)
Vietnamese argued these were not boats but baskets because they were woven together from bamboo. It turns out their idea worked, and they didn’t need to pay taxes for them.
Today you will still see them in use, and in Hoi An, you can catch a ride through calm waters. We went with a less popular company, Ao Xanh, and were the only customers there. The ride was lovely and peaceful. The captain even made us a crown and flower from leaves.
We drove our bikes to the other popular company Coconut Tours and saw similar landscapes. However, it had many more tourists. We were happy to have gotten a place to ourselves. Ao Xanh is on the street going towards Coconut Tours, only 5 minutes before.
6. Shop at the Local Hoi An Markets
During the day, a few streets in Hoi An come alive with local people buying and selling products and produce on the streets. The ground is decorated with vegetables, fruits, herbs, and more while people stop to purchase food. It’s a busy scene but one that shows how the local people shop and sell.
7. Go on a Romantic River Cruise & Light Up a Floating Lanterns
Along the river in Old Town, there will be many boats taking tourists for a ride. In the past, they would have floating lanterns you could put in the lake and make wishes during the Full Moon.
Now you’re most likely to see it year-round because it attracts tourists. Valentine’s day happened to land while we were there and only a couple of days away from Tet (Vietnamese New Year).
We went on a ride and put our floating lanterns in the lake. Of course, one of our wishes was to travel more, but we’ll keep the other wishes secret.
8. Visit the Beach
Although Hoi An is popular for Old Town and rice fields, it also has beaches, such as An Bang. Unfortunately, the water was a bit too cold and wavy for us while we were there.
However, if you love beaches, you can easily find one on the east side of Hoi An. Just ride your bike there and go ahead and enjoy a coconut by the beach.
9. Ride a bike
The best way to explore all the things to do in Hoi An is by bicycle. Many hotels will provide free ones for you to use around the town. We used our bikes to get lost in the streets of the Hoi An and to get to the rice fields.
If you choose to ride them to Old Town during the busiest times, it can be a challenge, but you can park your bike and walk the rest of Old Town.
You can also schedule a free bike tour that takes you around the town and rice fields with students who want to practice English.
10. Drink Vietnamese Coffee
We quickly became fond of Vietnamese coffee when we arrived in this country. The coffee can be strong, but it tastes delicious! If you prefer your coffee sweet like us, ask for coffee with milk, and what you’ll get is coffee with condensed milk. It worked for me because I love condensed milk! So now, from time to time, I’ll sweeten my coffee this way.
11. Rent A Scooter and visit Da Nang
If you arrive in Hoi An by bus, we recommend renting a scooter for a day trip to Da Nang to see the Marble Mountains and explore the city.
We stayed two days in Da Nang, but a one-day visit would have sufficed. If you arrive by air or train, perhaps you can spend just one night there before transferring to Hoi An.
12. Visit the Night Food Market in Old Town
We had a blast tasting delicious food at the night market. You’ll find everything from banana pancakes to rice paper snacks and other tasty items located by Old Town. If you are into street food, this place is an ideal spot to try new things.
13. Take a Cooking Class
There are many cooking classes in Hoi An where visitors can learn how to make various dishes such as the famous dish cao lau, braised spiced pork noodles. It’s considered a signature dish of the city that you won’t easily see throughout other areas of Vietnam.
So far, Vietnamese food is one of the best throughout Asia. After Thai food, it’s my second favorite Asian food.
14. Get Tailored Clothes
Hoi An is famous for getting tailor-made clothes such as dresses, suits, and even wedding attire. The clothes are done in a matter of hours and with excellent quality material. There are so many places to choose from, so you may want to shop around.
The prices are great considering it’s tailor-made, but we didn’t get any made because we were traveling full-time. Had we visited this country alone, we would have gotten something made for us.
15. Spend Tet in Hoi An
If you are hoping to celebrate the Lunar New Year somewhere in Asia, Hoi An is the perfect place for it. Along the river in Old Town, the tourists and Vietnamese all wait for the firework show at midnight.
People are taking boat rides and releasing their wishes with floating lanterns. The streets fill up with color and New Year’s decorations. After midnight, families burn small offerings for their ancestors along the streets.
It was also beautiful to see how happy families were as they sat outside their homes, restaurants, hotels, and business, spending time together.
Just learn the phrase Chuc Mong Nam Moi (Happy New Year) and wish it back to everyone who says it to you.
How to Get to Hoi An
Hoi An does not have a direct plane or train. The closest airport in Da Nang is 25 minutes away. You can catch an Uber from there to Hoi An for a low price, or you can organize pick up with your hotel.
You can also arrive by train to Da Nang and do as mentioned above. The train is the preferred mode of transportation, but you must book early for a comfortable night bed.
The third option is to ride an overnight bus straight to Hoi An. It is the cheapest option, a long ride, but not the most comfortable.
Where to Sleep in Hoi An
We loved our stay at Golden Palm Villa. It has been one of my favorite boutique hotels in Southeast Asia. The owners and staff are all very welcoming and treat you extremely nice.
Golden Palm Villa is just outside Old Town, so you’ll be saving money and escaping the noisy crowds and streets. However, you’ll still be a short walk away. Plus, you free bikes to use to get around. The hotel was also spotless and beautiful and one I hope to go back to one day.
What to Pack
Are you planning a trip to Asia? Here are some of my favorite items I pack:
Awesome Things to do in Hoi An
Travel Booking Resources
Book Your Flight:
To find cheap flights, check Skyscanner and Google Flights. These search engines check airlines to find you the best deals. The more flexibility you have, the better flight deals available.
Book Your Accommodation:
Booking.com is my favorite booking site for hotels but it also shows great deals on hostels and apartments. Plus, when you reach Genius Level, you get special discounts, included breakfasts, and upgrades on some hotel rooms. Hostelworld is specifically for budget travelers who enjoy hostels. This is the best place for finding great options.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance and Visa Applications:
Travel insurance will protect you against theft, injury, illness, and cancellations. Sometimes unexpected things happen during a trip and protections will keep you covered. Two great options are: Safety Wing and World Nomads. Also, iVisa can help you get a visa if you need one.
Book Tours:
Sometimes the best way to see a place is through tours. I recommend checking out Get Your Guide for some fun and unique adventures wherever you go.
Check out my other travel resources to help you book your trip!
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15 Awesome Things to do in Hoi An
Vietnam has been on our list for a while, but we have not made it there yet. This certainly serves to entice us even more.
I love that you took a cooking class, we have found that is an awesome way to get immersed in the local culture and flavours.
Part of me wants to ride a basket boat and another expects I would end up swimming back to shore.
Thanks for sharing. Keep travel blogging. Adventure is better shared with friends!
I hope you make it there soon because the country is awesome. So much to see and do and the people are very kind.
Hoi An looks colorful, especially love the lanterns and the fact that you can get clothes tailored. I have seen the basket boats in India but never actually been in one. Bookmarking this and hoping to get to Vietnam one of these days!
It’s a very colorful and happy town. Hope you make it there one day. So much to see and do in such a small town.
I absolutely love Vietnamese food (especially phó). I would love to partake in a cooking class. I love cooking and Vietnamese food so it’s perfect for me!
We loved Pho too! We agree though, Vietnamese food is delicious.
Hoi An in Northern Vietnam sounds like the kind of place that I would LOVE! I love the Old Town in Hoi An with all of the shops, street food, and of course the hanging lanterns. The story of the Basket Boat is truly ingenious on the part of the locals at the time. That would definitely be a highlight to ride in one and see how they are made! What a perfect place to celebrate Tet as well! This is defintely getting added to my Vietnam Bucket List!
It was a great place to celebrate Tet and we loved everything about Vietnam. The food, the people, and the scenery. Hope you make it there soon.
The city of Hai An looks incredible and it’s filled with picturesque mountains, body of water, Vietnamese coffee, old towns, and lanterns. I would enjoy very much wandering through the markets and alleys on a bike and then have a sip at one of the amazing cafes! @ knycx.journeying
Ah yes! Vietnam is all of that. We truly loved everything about the country. 🙂
I’ve heard so many nice things about Vietnam lately, and your post just confirms it! That little basket boat is so lovely! I can imagine myself walking under the colorful lanterns, eating all that delicious food , and of course basket boating! 🙂
Vietnam really is special and everyone should visit. It became one of our favorite Asian countries. Hope you make it there one day.
Hoi An sounds like a wonderful place in Vietnam, I would really love to see the rice fields, and it’s a great idea to cycle through, how fabulous that you had the opportunity to stop and meet local farmers this way! The lanterns are beautiful, as is the Japanese bridge, and I would love to go for a ride in a basket boat – those are quite fascinating! The markets too I’ve heard are incredible in Vietnam, and everyone here in Australia seems to travel over there to get clothes tailored, so I might pick up a dress just because I can! Thanks for this list 🙂
Ha! Yes, I agree you should go get a dress. If you haven’t been already to Vietnam, it’s a must. Everything about it was great, the people, the scenery, the food!
I had no idea Hoa An old town was a World Unesco site. I’d love to see all the beautiful lanterns, too. It must have been wonderful to just explore and see the markets, too.
The town is too cute to miss! Hope you make it there soon.
Such a quaint lovely city. Loving the basket boat, though I am worried for its safety:) I love the balloons and the floating lanterns. The pictures are so lively and colorful. Thanks for sharing the “to-do” kind of list, pinning for later use! Cheers!
The boat doesn’t look too safe but thankfully our guy was good at steering haha. 🙂 Definitely a colorful city to visit though.
I keep hearing so much about Hoi An, I really need to visit. I would love to try out one of those basket boats! And I would probably buy a ton of lanterns to decorate my home:)
Hoi An is beautiful! I hope you make it there one day and try the baskets and everything else. The lanterns would definitely look great in your home.
I don’t know much about this part of the world, and from your descriptions and photos and I know I’d love it. I didn’t even know that basket rides were a thing! And, I’d love to take a cooking class as I always feel like I’m all thumbs when cooking Asian dishes.
Vietnam is amazing and I hope you get to visit one day. The honking drove us crazy, but everything else in the country is awesome. The food, the people, and the scenery.
Hoi An is an extremely cool place. I found the coffee knocked my socks off though! What were your highlights?
Ha! Agree about the coffee! I think our two highlights were Halong Bay and Sapa! You?
Our kids would love a ride in a basket boat. I love the feel of Old Town with the lanterns, galleries, and shops. Hoi An looks like a fun mix of Vietnamese and French cultures meeting to create a unique destination worth a visit.
They would have so much fun on them! But yes, the lanterns and everything is is beautiful. You would enjoy it a lot.
Visiting the Old Town would be first on my list. I love street food and eating my way through a new place so that night market has my name written all over it! Thank you for all the great suggestions and beautiful photos 🙂 Happy travels!
Hoi An is definitely a city you would like, especially to take a few days to relax and work your way around eating. Hope you make it there soon.
I would love to visit Vietnam and your post makes me want to go even more! I find myself particularly drawn to all the lanterns. The beaches, tailor-made clothes and food are obvious added bonuses!
The lanterns are beautiful! You would definitely enjoy seeing the town. Hope you make it soon and try all the delicious food.