How to plan a trip to Hoi An? Read our Hoi An travel guide to know the must-visits, how many days to spend in Hoi An and some suggestions for Hoi An itineraries.
If you ask on any forum or page about what are the most livable cities in Vietnam and you will get many answers. It could be Hanoi, the capital city with a perfect mixture of modern life and traditional customs, or Nha Trang, a beach destination with white sands and plenty of sunshine or Sai Gon, Vietnam's most vibrant city but the list cannot miss Hoi An, a small town in the central coast.
Hoi An ancient town is distinctive from the gorgeous yellow-coloured houses, the mossy tile "yin-yang" roofs, protecting the towns from the heat and the downpours, the streets lit by the hundreds of lanterns in the evenings, the Thu Bon River sparkling from the lights from the lotus-shaped paper lanterns, its super appetising local cuisine. In addition, Hoi An is home to a very charming countryside surrounded by craft villages, a coastline with wild beaches, clear water,... The city captivates any person whether you travel alone, in a group or with family, Hoi An makes you feel completely at home.
When searching for a suitable Hoi An itinerary, you may get confused because there are many to compare. In reality, not all of us have enough time to experience everything. Many people ask how many days to stay in Hoi An? Spending 1-3 days in Hoi An is enough, therefore we will suggest the activities to do accordingly. If you would like more relaxation, a longer stay is recommended,
Do you only have one full day in Hoi An? It's really not that much time, but if you can plan well, you can experience the best in the city.
If you also want to combine a few hours of beach relaxation in this trip, although time will be a bit limited, it is not an impossible thing. In this case, you can consider visiting the charming ancient town of Hoi An in the morning, discovering the tiny constraints, temples, old houses, the local market, the harbour and hidden corners of the town. If you like to make a made-to-measure dress, the time in the morning is ideal if you are short of time here. There are express services that make the perfect dresses for you in a short time, even 2-3 hours because Hoi An is also the town famous for the best tailors in Vietnam. The trip to the ancient town can take half a day, certainly depending on your personal pace.
Hoi An 1-day itinerary
In the afternoon, you can move to a wild beach located only 5-7 km from the centre of Hoi An. We suggest Cua Dai beach or An Bang beach in this case, these are the beaches closest to the centre of Hoi An, offering you white sand, totally clear water and gentle waves. A few hours of swimming and having a beer by the sea will take away all the stress of normal life.
In the evening, nothing is more interesting than a walk along the Thu Bon River, which fascinates everyone with a vibrant but no less traditional rhythm. For those who enjoy typical Vietnamese art, the performance of "Bai choi" - a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage is performed right on the left bank. For those who want to spend time at the bar, at the night market, do not forget to cross the central bridge to the right bank.
In case you also want to make a stop in the Hoi An countryside? Honestly, to discover all the most typical villages, it takes even a day or even 2-3 days. In this, I recommend you visit Tra Que village or Cam Thanh village in the morning when the sun is not yet too strong and you can better see the farming activities and life of the local people. A half day learning to work like a farmer, picking the freshest vegetables at Tra Que artisan village, using them in a cooking class or taking a basket boat trip in the palm nipa jungle to the serene Cam Thanh village, tasting sweet soup from the palm nipa fruit will leave you with unforgettable memories in your heart.
Take a boat on your Hoi An 1-day itinerary
You continue your Hoi An 1-day itinerary with a trip to Hoi an Old Town in the afternoon and a leisurely walk in the evening to the Thu Bon River.
>> See more: Basket boat trip, a unique experience in Hoi An
What can you do with 2 days and 1 night in Hoi An? If you have more time in this city, certainly Hoi An offers you more interesting experiences.
The first thing you can think of right away, why don't you combine 2 options of 1 day mentioned above for your own classic itinerary. In fact, it is not a bad idea:
>> See some suggestions for Day 02 here:
If the sea is your endless love, then why not take more time to visit a very beautiful island that is listed among the most beautiful islands in Vietnam - Cu Lao Cham Island. From April to August, the weather is really fabulous for an inland day on the island where you can do the sightseeing, snorkelling, walking under the sea or just swimming in the natural environment.
Beach relaxation on your Hoi An 2-day itinerary
It should be noted that so far you can only do this excursion in the day. Click here for the detailed schedule.
In case you travel to Hoi An in the weather less favouring for beach activities, what can you do? Then instead of the sea, you can take a bike ride behind history, discovering a famous relic of the Champa Kingdom with an archaeological site - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - the My Son sanctuary? If so, your Hoi An 2-day itinerary could be:
A Hoi An 3-day Itinerary will allow you to explore all the most beautiful aspects of the town: a flourishing past of a forgotten empire, distinctive architecture complemented by the most famous cultures in the far east: Vietnam - China - Japan, the idyllic life of the friendly local people, traditional crafts and the sea. Within 3 days, you will also have enough time to enjoy the specialties of this country as well - refined but very simple cuisine. Don't forget to write in your note Banh mi Hoi An, Mot tea, Com ga - rice chicken, Cao lau, Banh vac - white rose cake,... Hoi An cuisine can awaken all your taste buds.
Tasty local cuisine to enjoy in Hoi An 3-day itinerary
A Hoi An 3-day itinerary most appreciated by our clients is to combine between sightseeing and relaxing time by the sea.
If you have more days in Hoi An, what can you do? First of all congratulations for having more time to experience and feel the real beauty of the city, peaceful and completely quiet. Then we will give you some travel ideas in case you have more days in Hoi An.
Go Noi village is located in Dien Phong commune in the north of Quang Nam province. The development of sustainable tourism in Go Noi village is reflected in many different activities, including the preservation and promotion of the value of historical-cultural relics, agriculture-based tourism, etc. sustainable agriculture and rural areas. For those who want to explore more typical Hoi An life, Go Noi village is a must-visit place to discover local culture.
Discover our tour: Authentic living experience in Go Noi village
A day in Da Nang is also a wonderful idea if you wish to visit another destination during your stay in Hoi An. Da Nang is one of the most modern cities in Central Vietnam located north of Hoi An at a distance of about 30 km (around 45-minute drive). From Hoi An, you can take a ride to Da Nang to discover this city: the marble mountains, Son Tra peninsula,... or go to Bana Hills amusement park, which is most famous for the Golden Bridge with two hands supporting a bridge overlooking the Nui Chua mountain.
See more details on these links:
>> Danang City Tour
>> Excursion to the Golden Bridge and Ba Na Hill from Hoi An
To feel the peaceful and poetic beauty of Hoi An, tourists often choose to walk. But to have a more interesting and new experience, you can rent a bicycle to get around the old town. Note that some hotels offer you free bicycles to take a trip to the ancient town.
The cycle (rickshaw) is a very popular means of transportation in Vietnam in the early 20th century. Now it is used as a tourist means to discover certain cities, including Hoi An, with which you can quietly enjoy the old town without worrying about driving or thinking about traffic. Interesting, isn't it? In case you want to make a reservation, you can go to a random shop on the Phan Chau Trinh street, the price is about 150,000VND/hour/person.
Since the old town is quite small, you can walk but only in the pedestrian area. If you want to take a street food tour, go to the beach or other famous attractions such as Bay Mau nipa palm forest, Thanh Ha pottery village, Tra Que vegetable village, Kim Bong carpentry village, etc. You can rent a scooter. This means of transportation is perfect if you have an international driver's licence. The rental price ranges from 120,000 - 150,000VND /motorcycle/day, price without oil.
The Thu Bon River flows through the town of Hoi An before it flows into the sea, so people here have long been accustomed to travelling on the river by boat. In a small boat, you can visit many places such as Kim Bong carpentry village, Bay Mau nipa palm forest or admire the poetic Thu Bon River. Boating in Hoi An is a unique experience, especially when the sunset starts to set, the river and boats become the main protagonists in a beautiful picture.
The taxi system in Hoi An is quite dense, with familiar taxi companies, you may notice some trusted companies:
In case you want to move simply to take a walk or go to the beach, you could go by motorcycle taxi. This means of transportation in Hoi An is suitable for short trips, especially if you are travelling alone. Taking a moto-taxi in Hoi An is extremely easy, you just have to go to any intersection, you will immediately meet a moto-taxi driver.
As you can see in the map, hotels in Hoi An are located in 2 main areas: at the old town and along the coast. So how can you choose accommodations in Hoi An?
Staying at the Hoi An Old Town, you can well enjoy the ancient air of one of the most fascinating old towns in the world. The Old Town is also a place with many good quality restaurants with a treasure trove of super delicious street food. This area is also very vibrant in the evening. However, it takes you a distance to the beaches.
Some recommended accommodations:
Seaside accommodations in Hoi An are generally quiet, away from mass tourism. The only minus point is that there are fewer restaurants and street food.
Some recommended accommodations:
We believe that after reading this Hoi An travel guide, you already have some Hoi An itinerary ideas for your next trip and can't wait to go. Also read other articles to know more about this beautiful city.
>> The best restaurants in Hoi An: a definitive guide for food lovers looking for traditional flavors
>> Where to find the best Banh Mi in Hoi An?
>> The best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Hoi An
>> The 11 best things to do in Hoi An: the local guide to truly memorable experiences
>> Best time to go to Hoi An: weather, festivals and seasons
