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After spending 1.5 months traveling throughout Vietnam, Hoi An was one of my favorite places that I visited. It’s easy to see why many people fall in love with this city. It’s convenient to get to, whether you’re flying into Vietnam or traveling from elsewhere in the country. The city’s widely photographed yellow buildings and lantern-lined streets are beautiful both during the day and night. There’s also a variety of activities in and around Hoi An, so there’s something to interest everyone.
Whether you’ll only be in Hoi An briefly or staying for several days, this ultimate Hoi An travel guide provides a helpful starting point for planning your trip.
How to get to Hoi An
Hoi An can be reached by either bus/minivan, train, private car, plane, or a combination of these methods. In general, Vietnam is very well connected. Plus, since Hoi An is a major tourist destination, it’s extremely easy to reach. If you decide to travel by bus/minivan or plane, use 12Go.Asia to look up schedules and book your spot.
Bus/minivan
Taking the bus or minivan is one of the most direct ways to get to Hoi An. You’ll most likely be dropped off in the center of Hoi An where you can then either walk or use the Grab app to order a motorbike driver to get to your accommodation. Vietnam has a lot of transportation companies that operate buses and minivans, so you should be able to easily book one from your current location.
Train
The train is more comfortable than the bus, but it can be more expensive and slower. While Vietnam has an extensive train system, not every town or city has a train station. To take the train, first figure out if your location has a train station or one nearby. If it doesn’t, then you should look into one of the other transportation options. If it does, buy a train ticket to Da Nang, which is about a 40-minute drive to Hoi An. Because Hoi An doesn’t have a train station, Da Nang is the closest place that does. Once you arrive in Da Nang, use Grab to get a private car to Hoi An.
Private car
For the most comfortable and direct way to get to Hoi An, take a private car or taxi. Depending on how far the drive is, this option can be pricey. If you’re traveling with others though, you can split the cost to make it more affordable. You can book a private car/taxi through 12Go.Asia or ask your accommodation for help.
Plane
If you’re coming to Hoi An from another country or from a city in Vietnam that has an airport, you can fly. Hoi An itself doesn’t have an airport, so you’ll need to fly into the Da Nang International Airport, which is about a 40-minute drive to Hoi An. To get from the airport to Hoi An, you can either order a private car through Grab or you can book a shared minivan in advance. Taking a minivan is cheaper since you’ll split the cost with other travelers. But if your flight arrives late or it takes longer than you estimated to go through immigration, the minivan driver won’t wait around for you. As long as you’re staying in Hoi An’s city center and not by the beach, the minivan will also likely drop you off at your accommodation.
Get directions to Hoi An
When to visit Hoi An
Hoi An is warm year-round, as the temperature usually ranges between 67°F (19°C) to 93°F (34°C). In figuring out when to visit, it’s important to know when Hoi An’s wet and dry seasons are and when the coldest and hottest months are. You generally want to avoid the wet season, when there’s heavy rain and potential flooding, as well as the hottest months when it’s humid.
- Wet season: September to January
- Dry season: February to August
- Coldest months: December to February
- Hottest months: May to August
Given this, the best time to visit Hoi An is from February to May. You’ll enjoy clear skies, sun, low humidity, and cooler temperatures during this time.
How to get around Hoi An
The city center of Hoi An, which is where the Old Town is located, is small and everything from attractions to hotels are close together. For that reason, walking is the best way to get around. Some parts of Hoi An have sidewalks, but many streets do not. In that case, just walk along the edge of the road. If you plan on crossing the street, make sure you look both ways before crossing since some streets are busy with motorbikes.
While you can see and do a lot in the city center, Hoi An offers a lot if you venture outside of the center. In that case, the best way to get around is by renting a motorbike and driving. On a motorbike, you can easily get to the beaches and even the nearby city of Da Nang. If you don’t know how to drive a motorbike, you can use the Grab app to request a driver that will pick you up on a motorbike or in a car.
Alternatively, if you’re going to a popular tourist attraction, you can go with a tour. The tour company will take care of everything for you, including roundtrip transportation. They’ll also typically pick you up from and drop you off at your accommodation. Although booking with a tour is extremely convenient, you lose flexibility over your schedule and having a tour guide for some attractions is unnecessary.
Where to stay in Hoi An
The two areas that people tend to stay are the city center around Old Town and along Cua Dai Beach and An Bang Beach. Where you choose to stay should be based on what you plan on doing during your time in Hoi An. Choose the city center if you want to be immersed in culture and historical sites, try Hoi An’s well-known dishes and restaurants, and shop for custom tailored clothes. Choose the beach if you want to spend most of your time relaxing and plan on renting a motorbike to sightsee.
Best things to see and do in Hoi An
Walk through Old Town
Hoi An’s Old Town, also known as Ancient Town, is the center of tourist activity and what the city is most known for. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is filled with history, as it used to be a trading port that dates back to the 15th to 19th century. While there are museums and temples that you can visit in the Old Town, you can also simply walk around and take in the iconic yellow buildings and architecture.
For more guidance on what to see in the Old Town, take a look at my Hoi An itineraries.
Relax on the beaches
Since Hoi An is located along the eastern coast of Vietnam, you’re close to several beaches. If you’re staying near Old Town, it’s only a 12- to 15-minute drive to the two main beaches: Cua Dai Beach and An Bang Beach. There are also smaller beaches, like Hidden Beach, in the same area. If you travel north or south of Hoi An, you’ll find other beaches too.
Go shopping
Aside from its Old Town, Hoi An is known for its custom tailoring. If you’ll be staying in Hoi An for more than one day, you have time to get something custom made. While tailors typically have books filled with clothing designs that you can choose from, you can also show them a picture of what you want – there’s nothing they can’t make.
There’s plenty of other shopping in Hoi An too. The city is also known for its leather goods and colorful paper lanterns. Both make great souvenirs to take home. There are plenty of shops that are scattered throughout the city center, so you can easily look around at what your options are. Alternatively, you can meander through rows and row of stalls selling all types of goods in Hoi An Central Market.
Visit My Son Sanctuary
My Son Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that used to be the religious center of the ancient Champa kingdom, is a popular morning or afternoon trip from Hoi An. However, I recommend going in the morning – either on your own or with a guided tour – so that you can enjoy the temples with few tourists and avoid the afternoon heat.
Learn more about taking a morning My Son Sanctuary tour by reading my review.
Take a day trip
There are several great day trips that you can take from Hoi An. Plus, you don’t have to go very far, as most day trips take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2.5 hours to get to. Head to Cham Islands for lots of water activities and sand, Da Nang to see a variety of cultural attractions, or Ba Na Hills for a fun day at an amusement park. See all the best day trips from Hoi An and how to get there.
Hoi An itineraries
To help you plan your trip to Hoi An, check out the itinerary below that’s closest to the number of days you’ll be in Hoi An. These itineraries will help you optimize your time and make sure you see the best that Hoi An has to offer based on how much time you have there. At the same time, these itineraries are flexible so you can either follow them without doing additional research or simply use them for inspiration. Each itinerary also includes a map that shows every place mentioned.
Hoi An travel tips
- While Hoi An is very safe, you should still be aware of your surroundings and belongings. Some areas of Hoi An, like the night market, can get crowded. To avoid pickpockets, keep any valuables like your cellphone and wallet close to your body and preferably inside a zippered pocket.
- It’s not safe to drink tap water in Vietnam, so stick to bottled water for drinking and brushing your teeth.
- To make it through the hot and humid weather in Hoi An, especially from May to August, wear light, breezy clothing. Fabrics like linen, cotton, and rayon ensure that your clothing is breathable. If you end up not packing the right type of clothes, you can easily get some linen clothing custom made for you.
- Cash is widely used in Hoi An and the rest of Vietnam, so you should always have cash on you. There are many ATMs available in Hoi An that you can use.
More resources for traveling Vietnam
- 5 Best Day Trips From Hoi An and How to Get There
- How to Get From Da Lat to Hoi An by Bus, Train, Plane, Car
- How to Get From Hue to Hoi An: 4 Best Ways and Directions
- 5 Complete Itineraries to See North Vietnam in 7 Days
- How to Solo Travel Vietnam
