The centre
Hoi An
Tailors, lanterns, river evenings.
photo: lantern street after rain
Hoi An made its living from trade: assembly halls from the Chinese guilds, a covered bridge from the Japanese traders, and a river that carried the goods.
The old town is compact and free of cars in the evenings, which suits slow days: tailors measure in the morning, the lanterns come on after dark, and the beach is a short bike ride east.
Where to stay
Old townIn the lanes: guesthouses and small hotels, tailors, and the riverfront all on foot.
An HoiThe peninsula across the bridge: the night market, restaurants, and a calmer sleep.
The beach sideAn Bang and the coast, a bike ride east: seaside stays and slow mornings.
Tra Que and the fieldsVegetable gardens and rice fields within cycling distance, for the far side of the traffic.
When to go
FebMarApr
Hoi An is warm most of the year, and the drier stretch runs through February to April. Autumn can bring flooding to the lower streets; the town cleans up and reopens quickly once the water drops.
Tours that start here
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Getting there
AirDa Nang (DAD) is the nearest airport, about 45 minutes south by car.
RailTrains stop in Da Nang; the last stretch runs by car or shuttle.
RoadThe drive from Hue over the Hai Van pass is the well-known way to arrive from the north.
Questions, answered.
Can the old town be seen in a day?A day covers the highlights; two days let a tailor finish a fitting and give the evenings room to slow down.
What happens on the lantern nights?The streets light up every evening; on the 14th day of the lunar month the old town switches the electric lights off and keeps lanterns only.
Is the beach walkable from the centre?It is a bike ride rather than a walk: about four kilometres east to An Bang, on flat roads.