Discover Hoi An: the best activities to do in the City of Lanterns!

This provides a list of all the best activities to do in Hoi An and includes accommodation recommendations for all types of travellers on different budgets!

Old Town Hoi An is among- and if not- the most beautiful places to visit in Vietnam.

Located in the Quảng Nam Province, about halfway up the east coast of Vietnam, this former trading port is packed with Vietnamese culture, yet also features prominent examples of international influence.

In fact, this town has so much cultural and historical significance that it has been registered since 1999 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Apart from the gorgeous historic Old Town, the true highlight of visiting Hoi An has to be seeing the vast array of lanterns that engulf the city at night! It is, therefore, no surprise that Hoi An has been nicknamed the ‘City of Lanterns‘.

The colourful lanterns cast a warm glow around the streets and the river, creating a romantic atmosphere- leaving no guesswork as to why Hoi An holds such a special place in the hearts of all those who travel there!

Need help planning your trip around Vietnam? Check out The 2-Week ‘Best-Of-Vietnam’ Itinerary For Adventurous Backpackers!

Unlike the North of Vietnam which has four unique seasons, Hoi An only really has two: dry or wet.

To avoid the risk of experiencing daily heavy rain while in Hoi An, make sure you are not visiting the town between September and January.

That being said, I visited Hoi An during October and experienced nothing but scorching sun… so it really just depends each year on how long the rainy season will be!

Dry season (which will also be peak season), is said to last between February and May.

It’s important to bear in mind that this period will be peak season. This means lots of travellers will be planning to visit Hoi An during these few months.

Therefore it is a good idea to book accommodation in advance to avoid missing out on the best places to stay!

Remember, if you visit during the rainy season, accommodation tends to be cheaper and the town will be less packed. However, making the best decision for YOU about when to visit depends on YOUR preference (I would still recommend visiting during the dry period!)

The ultimate location for lovers of partying! Bed Station is an awesome hostel with tons of activities to do (including a pool table, swimming pool, and bar) making it a great place to hang out when you’re not exploring Hoi An!

The rooms are so clean and spacious, and the breakfast is amazing too. Bed Station is the hostel I recommend all backpackers to check out!

To find your home away from home, stay at Cheerful Hoi An!

This welcoming accommodation features a small garden and offers a complimentary breakfast. It also is perfectly located in the heart of Old Town, guaranteeing that you become immersed in the Hoi An way of living.

My partner and I stayed at iHome during our latest stay in Hoi An and it was excellent!

Despite this private room being located in a hostel, the room is so spacious and you cannot hear any noise from outside.

The hostel itself is great- it’s very sociable and has lots of games and a bar (which are both useful tools to make new friends).

You can also grab a fabulous breakfast (that is often included in the price of your stay) that has loads of local and international cuisine options!

Experience first-hand the marvelous Old Town architecture by staying at La Charm Hoi An Hotel & Spa.

This extraordinary 4-star hotel features an outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre, and garden. You can also borrow their bikes at no extra cost to explore the town with ease during the day!

One of the most special activities you can do in Hoi An is to find a tailor or jeweler to make a custom-made item for you!

Many shops around the Old Town offer this service, so you won’t need to look for long!

Items you can get tailor-made include suits, dresses, bikinis, tops, shirts, sandals, necklaces and so much more!

Top tip: place an order with a shopkeeper the day you arrive since items can take up to a few days to make (and you don’t want to leave your unique creation behind!)

The night market in Hoi An is one of the most beautiful night markets that I’ve ever experienced.

This takes place every evening in the Old Town and here you can find many handmade and lovely trinkets or souvenirs at very affordable prices!

Top tip: don’t be afraid to barter for the goods- this is actually common practice in Vietnamese markets! However, at the same time remember that these locals live from the money they make at their stalls, so be considerate and above all else, respectful when using this practice.

Each night, many tourists will contribute to the spectacular scenery of the Old Town by releasing their own paper lanterns onto the Hoai River.

This particularly special moment allows you to take in the beauty of Hoi An while making wishes or praying for loved ones.

You can find locals selling these lanterns along the river. Each lantern will cost anywhere between 10,000 VND to 20,000 VND.

You will also need to hire a boat that will cost 150,000 VND (for 1-3 people) or 200,000 VND (for 4-5 people).

Hoi An is well-equipped when it comes to nightlife!

Along both sides of the river, you’ll find various restaurants, sports bars, and party bars- meaning there’s something for everyone!

The best part? When you’re finished partying, there will be food stalls just a few steps away from the bar, where you can grab a delicious street taco (these were my favourite!).

This tour is becoming a staple for many travellers in Vietnam- and for good reason!

This trip will take you to the famous Coconut Village, located in Cẩm Thanh (a short taxi ride from Hoi An).

You will discover the calming ambiance surrounded by coconut palms and enjoy drifting along the river with a local guide in small circular boats! Now that’s definitely something you cannot do at home!

The boats are made primarily from bamboo and give the illusion of giant baskets floating in the river.

As part of your tour, you will also receive a traditional Vietnamese hat- also known as the conical hat – to protect you from the scorching sun (which looks great for photos too!)

However, don’t expect peace and quiet for the entire duration of this tour. The guides will steer the boats towards small floating islands with large speakers where local employees host small ‘raves or parties’.

This is extremely entertaining and so much fun. You can even jump onto these little islands and join in dancing!

The local guides will also show off by spinning their baskets around extremely fast. This is super impressive, I can only imagine how much balance and coordination you’d need to pull this off!

For a small additional charge, the guide will spin the boats around with you on them- just make sure you’ve eaten a light breakfast since this is very much like a rollercoaster experience. Don’t say you haven’t been warned!

Learn how to recreate delicious Vietnamese meals at home by taking part in a cooking class!

This is a super fun and unique experience that also doubles up as a souvenir that will last a lifetime.

Take home a piece of Hoi An by creating your own lantern.

There are also so many colours of silk and lantern shapes to choose from, not to mention you’ll have the chance to sip on various delicious teas during the session.

These lanterns can be folded and fit into your suitcase, making them perfect gifts or souvenirs.

The best part? They will be a constant reminder of the special time you had in Hoi An. (I refuse to admit how many lanterns we bought back with us!)

This extraordinary tourist attraction is located in Da Nang, about a 1.5-hour drive from Hoi An.

The Golden Bridge is extremely popular and gets extremely busy, so I’d recommend visiting as soon as the ‘doors open’ for a more private experience (and of course for taking better photos too).

However, I will admit that this activity has a much larger price tag than others in Vietnam. The entry fee is at least 700,000 VND, without the cost of transport or lunch options.

If you’re eager to visit the Golden Bridge, why not look at tours that offer a combination of activities/ services, so you can get the most out of your money!

Renting a push bike to cycle and explore Hoi An is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have!

A short ride out from the Old Town will take you to immense ricefields, and beautiful landscapes. You’ll be guaranteed to return feeling at peace and to have fallen even more in love with Hoi An!

You can rent bikes for extremely low prices (~25,000 VND a day), and many hotels or hostels offer their own to their guests.

Top tip: it gets HOT, especially in the dry season. Therefore ensure that you’re wearing sunscreen, and go on your cycling adventure early or later in the day to avoid the blazing Vietnamese heat.

Just 5km away from Old Town Hoi An you can find the stunning beach of An Bang.

Along the beach you’ll find loads of great restaurants, bars, and beach clubs. You can also grab a massage or even try out beach yoga too!

The beach itself is very clean and the crystal clear waters are invitingly warm.

It would be silly not to check out An Bang beach while staying in Hoi An!

With Vietnam being such a large country, it’s with no surprise that you can find lots of new local dishes to try.

Our favouirte has to be ‘Cao lầu‘, a Vietnamese noodle dish that originates in Hoi An. Head to Nhà Hàng Solo restaurant for the best Cao lầu and other Vietnamese dishes for very affordable prices!

You also cannot visit Vietnam without trying out their other infamous meals like Phở and the Banh Mi, the latter of which pairs extremely well with a Vietnamese iced coffee!

As you can tell, I absolutely adore Vietnamese cuisine…

Discover more about international influences upon Hoi An’s architecture by visiting the Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky House, and Fujian Assembly Hall.

Reaching an impressive 400 years, the beautiful Japenese Covered Bridge indicates the strong association between Hoi An and Japan.

Tan Ky House, a former trading destination for agricultual products depicts through its exquisite architecture, a harmonious melange of Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese design.

The true pink beauty of Hoi An, Fujian Assembly Hall, was built by the Chinese for the goddess Thiên Hậu, who protected sailors from harm when out on the seas.

Even if history isn’t really your thing, it’s well worth visiting and feel humbled by these examples of extraordinary architecture that have been preserved for hundeds of years.

The quickest and easiest way to get to Hoi An is to fly from Vietnam’s major cities- Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh- to Da Nang Airport.

Da Nang is only around an hour drive to Hoi An, therefore you can book a reasonably priced taxi to get you to your destination.

To save on costs, you can always use sleeper buses as your primary means of transport. You can book bus transportation with local companies or if you prefer, use 12Go.Asia to book online!

Hoi An Old Town is small and easy enough to travel by foot. This also gives you time to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and window shop while wandering around.

Using a push bike is another popular way to travel around the town. You can rent these from many hotels and hostels. This is super fun, but be sure you’re careful since the streets can get pretty busy sometimes!

Although Vietnam is an amazing country to explore, you must always be careful of petty crimes like pickpocketing.

I was pickpocketed along Bui Vien Walking Street, resulting in my passport going missing and meaning I was stranded in a foreign country without any means of escape! You can read the full story here.

What To Do If Your Passport Is Lost Or Stolen In Vietnam

Pickpocketing or anything else going wrong is likely to happen, especially when you’re travelling to lots of different places over a long period. Therefore, it’s important to be prepared by taking out travel insurance before you leave.

I recommend Outbacker Insurance, which was the company I was using during the time my passport was pickpocketed.

When researching travel insurance, I found that Outbacker had great coverage at extremely competitive premiums. The best part for me was the very low excess that I would pay in the event of making a claim (which turned out to be pretty useful!).

For a more in-depth guide to finding the right travel insurance policy for you, check out The Best Travel Insurance For UK Backpackers 2024.

This post offers a travel guide to Hoi An, Vietnam. You explored all the best things to do and where to stay in Hoi An, as well as useful travel tips. Don’t forget to save for later!

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