Hoi An Old Town
Vietnam's most enchanting town - a perfectly preserved old trading port of lantern-lit lanes, wooden shophouses and a famous covered bridge, glowing with colour by night, a UNESCO site.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
UNESCO World Heritage
Hoi An is an unusually well preserved old trading port, and its UNESCO centre is a warren of narrow lanes lined with mustard-yellow wooden shophouses, ancient merchant homes, temples and the famous Japanese Covered Bridge. Once a bustling international port, it is now car-free and magical after dark, when thousands of silk lanterns and floating candles glow along the riverfront in a spectacle of colour.
What you actually see
- The lantern-lit old town - the glowing silk lanterns after dark.
- The Japanese Covered Bridge - the iconic covered footbridge.
- The merchant houses - the ancient wooden shophouses and assembly halls.
- The tailors and riverfront - the famous tailors and the candle-lit river.
When to go
February to April for the driest, mildest weather, before the summer heat and the autumn flooding season, as Hoi An can flood badly from around September to November. The town is at its most magical after dark, and the monthly full-moon lantern festival is special.
Honest expectations
It is very popular and can feel touristy and crowded, especially in the evenings, with relentless offers from tailors, shops and boat vendors. It floods badly in the wet autumn months. Its beauty is undeniable, but for quiet, wander the lanes early in the morning before the crowds and heat.
Nearby
The beaches near Da Nang, the ruins of My Son and the Marble Mountains are close.
What to pack for Hoi An Old Town
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
