Hoi An

Charming Lanterns and Timeless Streets

Hoi An is a small town in central Vietnam known for its well-preserved ancient architecture and lively riverside markets. The town’s old quarter features wooden buildings with intricate designs, many still standing from centuries ago. Local artisans craft lanterns and silk products that line the streets during festivals. Nearby beaches provide quiet spots to relax after exploring historic sites. The area is popular for food lovers, offering fresh seafood and traditional dishes like cao lầu noodles. Its relaxed atmosphere makes it easy to discover culture without feeling rushed.

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Town in Vietnam

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 6.2

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	5
Accessibility:	3
Tap water:	1

Read details

4/5

English is widely spoken in tourist areas, particularly in hotels, restaurants, and shops. You should have little trouble communicating with locals when exploring the main attractions.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Hoi An Summary

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Excellent for lantern-lit streets and cultural charm. Walk historic riverside lanes, visit temples, try local food and relax on nearby beaches.

Place score

8.0

Best at:

Cosy towns

Walkable

Architecture

Crafts shopping

Local cuisine

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

🛡️ 9

Travel Beginners

👩 9

Solo

Vietnam – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	220 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type A , Type C Type A: Type C: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Vietnamese Dong (VND) £1 ≈ ₫34,381
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted in Vietnam, especially in larger cities and tourist areas. Cash is still commonly used in rural areas. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not customary in Vietnam, but small tips are appreciated for good service in restaurants, taxis, and hotels.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally allowed in Vietnam, but drinking in certain public spaces, like parks, may be regulated.
Public smoking:	Smoking is allowed in outdoor public spaces, but there are smoking restrictions in some indoor public areas.

Independence Day (2 September)	Celebrates Vietnam’s independence from France
Tết (January/February)	The most important holiday in Vietnam, typically in January or February

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 113 (Police), 115 (Ambulance), 114 (Fire)
Taxi apps:	Grab
Other:	Vietnam is famous for its vibrant cities, historic sites, and stunning landscapes like Ha Long Bay and the Mekong Delta, offering a rich and diverse travel experience.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Hoi An, Vietnam

☀️

Jan

☀️

Feb

☀️

Mar

🔥

Apr

🔥

May

🌦️

Jun

🔥

Jul

🌦️

Aug

⛈️

Sep

⛈️

Oct

⛈️

Nov

🌦️

Dec

High season:	Feb. - Aug.
Shoulder season:	Jan., Sep., Dec.
Crowdedness:	9 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Old town floods and typhoons are most likely October to November, with the river streets often navigated by boat

Full Moon Lantern Festival on the 14th of each lunar month: old town lit by lanterns, traffic banned

Tet (Lunar New Year), late January to mid February: many shops and restaurants close for several days

Don't miss

🏘️ Stroll through UNESCO-listed Hoi An Ancient Town
🏮 Witness vibrant lanterns glowing at night
🏖️ Relax on scenic An Bang Beach nearby
🌉 Explore the historic Japanese Covered Bridge
🤿 Take a snorkeling trip to Cham Islands

You've been here?

Why travel to Hoi An?

Hoi An is a dream for history lovers and culture enthusiasts. The Ancient Town, with its well-preserved architecture, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is also famous for its tailor shops, where you can get custom-made clothes at great prices. Don’t miss the colorful lantern festival that lights up the streets. It’s a place where culture, history and charm come together beautifully.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese Congregation
2 Quan Cong Temple
3 Hoi An Old Town
4 Cam Pho Temple

🎡Places for activities

1 Kim Bong Carpentry Village
2 Thanh Ha Pottery Village
3 Lune Performing Center

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Marble Mountains
2 Cham Island
3 Cua Dai Beach
4 Shore Club, An Bang Beach
5 Thu Bồn River
6 Hai Van Pass
7 Terracotta Park

🛍️Shopping

1 Night Market
2 Reaching Out Arts and Crafts

🎈Events

Hoi An Lantern Festival
Mid-Autumn Festival
Tet Nguyen Dan (Vietnamese New Year)
Hoi An International Food Festival
Full Moon Festival
Cau Ngu Festival
Traditional Craft Festivals
Tra Que Village Vegetable Festival
Cultural and Heritage Days
Vietnamese Boat Racing Festival

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Visit early morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds and heat.
Dress modestly while exploring temples and riverside streets, especially during festivals.
Rent a bicycle to explore nearby rivers, rice fields and lantern-lit alleys at your pace.
Try the local tailor shops; Hoi An is renowned for quick, quality, custom clothing with same-day pickup.

How to travel to Hoi An

The nearest airport is Da Nang International Airport (DAD), about 30 km away. From there, you can take a taxi, shuttle bus or private transfer to Hoi An. Da Nang is also well‑connected by train and bus if you are traveling overland.

Access summary

From Da Nang Airport (DAD): Taxi or shuttle, usually 40–60 minutes.
From Da Nang city: Bus, shuttle or taxi, about 45–75 minutes.
From Hue: Scenic coastal bus or car via Hai Van Pass, 3–4 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Hoi An

Hoi An offers a range of accommodations, from budget hostels and charming homestays to luxurious riverside resorts. The Ancient Town area is perfect for culture enthusiasts, while An Bang Beach offers a more relaxed vibe.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Bel Marina Hoi An Resort

9.2

RiverTown Hoi An Resort & Spa

9.3

Grand Sunrise Palace Hoi An

9.8

La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa

9.5

Hyatt Regency Danang Resort And Spa

8.9

Allegro Hoi An . A Little Luxury Hotel & Spa

9.4

Almanity Hoi An Resort & Spa

9.2

Shilla Monogram Danang

9.1

Silk Sense Hoi An River Resort

9.3

Grandvrio Ocean Resort Danang

9.2

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Hoi An

Hoi An is best explored on foot or by bicycle, especially in the Ancient Town where motorized vehicles are restricted. Taxis, motorbike taxis and cyclos are available. Renting a scooter is an affordable and flexible option for exploring nearby areas.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-77 %

Daily expenses in Hoi An are around 77% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-12 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to VND) is 12% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£21	£48	£130
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£11	£30	£75
🍝 Food per day	£9	£16	£46
🚕 Transportation per day	£1	£2	£9

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£7
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£1.50
🍟 Fast food combo	£2.90
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£3.30
☕ Cappuccino	£1.20
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£0.90

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.17
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£6
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.60

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£2.20
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£24
🤧 Cold medication	£1.20
💇 Basic haircut	£1.90

Safety information overview

General safety

Hoi An is generally safe for tourists, with low crime rates. However, watch out for pickpockets in crowded markets and be cautious when riding motorbikes.

Health & Medical

There are good healthcare facilities in nearby Da Nang, with pharmacies in Hoi An. Bring any prescription medicines with you. Mosquito-borne illnesses are present, so take precautions.

Accessibility

The Ancient Town has cobblestone streets and narrow paths, which might be challenging for those with mobility issues. Modern hotels and some attractions offer better accessibility.

Tap water

Tap water is not safe to drink. Stick to bottled water, which is widely available and affordable. Many hotels provide complimentary bottled water.