10 things to do in Hoi An, Vietnam
Hoi An is a beautiful city in Central Vietnam. Known for its lanterns, bamboo boats and traditional architecture, this town isn’t popular with tourists for nothing.
After visiting Hoi An, I’ve written this list to tell you all about the top things to do. I’ve done most of the things on the list so can tell you what’s worth your time and what isn’t. Take your pick from the list and you’re onto a winner!
A brief introduction to Hoi An
Hoi An is a super touristy city. You’ll find it in Central Vietnam, around 1 hour’s drive from Da Nang (the biggest city in the region).
Tourists seem to flock to Hoi An. Before visiting, I wasn’t sure if it would be worth the hype, but I really enjoyed my time there!
Its long history as a major port town has allowed it to retain its traditional buildings whilst also taking influences from merchants from places like China and Japan.
What to do in Hoi An, Vietnam
1. Take a boat ride through the Coconut Forest
Hoi An’s position at the mouth of the Thu Bon River means that you’ve got to take a boat ride whilst visiting. One of the most popular is taking a trip through the Bay Mau Coconut Forest.
Here, you’ll find bamboo basket boats, which you can take on ride through a forest full of water coconuts. These round boats are found all around the coast of Vietnam and getting to take one is a treat.
The boat rides are super touristy and you’ll be surrounded by lots of other tourists doing the same experience. The boatmen can do all sorts of tricks, spinning the boat around. There was also karaoke on barges which looked so weird but also typically Vietnamese.
We paid 200,000 dong ($8 / £6) for a boat with two people, which our hotel arranged for us. It’s easiest to get your ticket in advance so you know exactly which company you are heading to and can avoid being scammed when you arrive.
Have extra time? There are other tours which you can take near the forest, such as crab-catching or cooking classes. We didn’t do these and to be honest I wasn’t that interested in doing them – I have no interest in fishing and thought it sounded quite touristy – but it’s an option for others.
2. Make a lantern
Many people like to take home a lantern from Hoi An, given how many there are. There are plenty of exquisite options you can buy. However, for me, it was much more fun to make my own.
There are numerous lantern-making classes throughout Hoi An, but we went with the Lantern Lady. A 20 cm lantern cost 90,000 dong ($4 / £3) to make with a pre-made frame, or 140,000 dong ($5 / £4) if you want to make the frame too. There are also 30 cm options which cost a little more. You can pick from a choice of four styles.
I’d recommend leaving lots of time for any lantern-making class. It’s advertised as taking 90 minutes for a full session, including making the frame, but we were there for around 2.5 hours! There was no expectation in terms of how long it would take, and we weren’t pressured to speed up at all.
Interested in making a lantern? I have written a longer account of my lantern-making class if you want more details.
3. Head outside the city to My Son Sanctuary
Outside the city you’ll find My Son Sanctuary, an ancient temple complex around one hour’s drive away. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, dating back to the 4th to 13th centuries, was an important centre for the Cham people.
I enjoyed looking around the different monuments. It was sad to see how damaged many of them are now, but it was inspiring all the same.
Compared to other attractions near Hoi An, a trip to My Son could work out a bit more expensive as you’ll need to pay for an entrance ticket as well as transport there and back. My guide on My Son Sanctuary tells you all you need to know about the logistics.
4. Release a lantern on the Thu Bon River
At night time in Hoi An, the river gets super busy with little boats lit up by lanterns. You’ll have seen the photos, for sure, as this epitomises the town at its finest.
People often release little paper boats containing a candle onto the river. I wonder how the candles don’t burn the wooden boats – I sure hope they have a fire-retardant coating!
You’re supposed to make a wish when you release the lanterns, but I can’t lie: I forgot.
Boat trips cost 150,000 dong ($6 / £5) for up to 3 people or 200,000 dong ($8 / £6) for up to 5. Many people will ask you as you walk towards the river if you want to take a boat, and that’s fine, but don’t go above this cost.
Alternatively, there’s a ticket stand right by the river. Make sure to buy your candle boats before you get onto the boat, so you can release them on the water.
Just don’t expect the river to look quite as pretty as on Instagram. It’s nice but when we were there there weren’t actually that many candle boats on the river!
5. Browse the Night Market
On An Hoi island, right by the river, there’s a market between 5 pm and 10 pm every night.
The Night Market is the place to go to get your fill of cheap snacks and souvenirs. It’s a nice market to wander around and soak up the atmosphere.
Most of the stalls sell the same items so make sure to compare prices and bargain, to avoid any scams.
6. Wander the Old Town
No visit to Hoi An would be complete without spending some time in the Old Town. It’s such a pretty area with interesting architecture. Check out the blend of traditional Vietnamese styles alongside buildings with foreign influences.
The Old Town nowadays feels aimed at tourists, with mostly souvenir shops filling its streets. There are also several beautiful temples and landmarks which you can enter for a set fee, as well as lots of cute cafes, restaurants and bars.
7. Visit the Thanh Ha Pottery Village
Not too far away from Hoi An, you’ll find the Thanh Ha Pottery Village. This village is a place where you can see and try making different pottery pieces.
I never made it here, simply because I didn’t have enough time. However, it sounded like a good experience and is certainly something else to tick off on your Hoi An bucket list.
8. Try some local dishes
Hoi An is home to a lot of great food. There are local dishes like cao lau and mi quang to try, and plenty of restaurants perfect for tourists to try them out.
The easiest way to sample these foods is to take yourself on a trip to a local restaurant. However, if you are short on time or want to try the best places, there are several food tours available.
Alternatively, there are several cooking classes in Hoi An, where you’ll get to make and eat local dishes. These classes are a good option for people wanting to eat good food but also learn how to make them themselves.
9. Chill at the An Dang Beach
An alternative day out from Hoi An is to go relax at the beach. The nearest one is An Dang, around 10 km away. I didn’t visit but have heard generally positive things.
Given how close the beach is, it should be achievable to take a taxi or even cycle there (for the daring). I’m not sure it would rank as a top thing to do when in the city, but it is a definite option.
10. Get some clothes tailored
Another thing Hoi An is known for is its tailors. It’s super popular for tourists to buy some tailored clothes when in the city.
I didn’t realise just how many tailors are located in Hoi An! It felt like half of the shops we passed in the Old Town were tailors – without even counting the tailors in the central market…
Getting clothes tailored in Hoi An is super nice. At many places, the clothes will work out at the same price or cheaper as any shop in a Western country. The difference is, when shopping at a Vietnamese tailor, you can pick exactly what you want and you know the exact source of the clothes you’re getting.
We used two tailors in Hoi An: The Tailory and Xu Thuy Bikini Tailors. The Tailory were friendly and can do pretty much anything, from suits to clothes to dresses; I had no doubts as to their expertise. I also liked that they don’t bargain, so I felt like I got a fair price from the start.
Xu Thuy Bikini Tailors, on the other hand, specialise in making swimwear, so they are great if you’re specifically looking for bikinis. The mother and son there were super friendly and we loved our new swimsuits.
Conclusion
There are a lot of things to do in Hoi An, from boat rides and classes, to relaxing and eating. It’s a great place to spend a few days at, if only to soak up the atmosphere.
What on this list appeals most to you? Let me know in the comments!
