(Check entire Vietnam Travel Guide here. To read about my experience, check my My Son Travel Story.)
Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, became an accidental tourist spot when this centuries old abandoned port-town was preserved and converted for tourism. Known as the City of Lanterns, entire city is lit with lanterns every evening (more so during the monthly lantern festival), making it a dream destination. Availability of cheap but high-quality materials also makes it a shopping destination.
Contents
- What to do and Visit
- Suggestive two-day itinerary
- Travel Tips
Things to Do and What to Visit
For ease of travel and sightseeing, I group the locations into clusters, and places in a single cluster can be visited at one go.
| Cluster | Sight | Priority | Type | Rating |
| 1 | My Son | Must | Cultural | 5 |
| 2 | Heritage buildings | Must | Cultural | 5 |
| 2 | Walking street | Must | Lifestyle | 5 |
| 2 | Night market | Must | Lifestyle | 5 |
| 3 | Cua Dai Bridge | Optional | Natural | 3.5 |
My Son: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this site is full of ancient Hindu temples built between 4th-14th century, just like Angkor Wat of Cambodia, and mostly in ruins. A half-day visit including the journey, a visit in the second half will give a better view. (Rating: 5/5, Time needed: 2-3 hrs + 2 hrs in travel)
Heritage Buildings: Hoi An ancient town, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, is full of heritage buildings, from prayer halls to clan houses. While most of them are free to visit, there are 8-10 paid places. You can buy a combo ticket from the tourist center right next to the Japanese Bridge, that gives access to any 5 of the paid places of your choice. It will easily take a whole day to cover the area along with the irresistible shopping. (Rating: 5/5, Time needed: 6-7 hrs)
Walking Street: The street parallel to the river, after 5PM, becomes a walking street full of lanterns. Though the famous lantern festival is held only once a month (check the dates before planning a visit), rest of the days also are no lesser than a festival. With a city full of lanterns, it feels like walking in your dreams. Several activities are held in open areas. (Rating: 5/5, Time needed: 1-2 hrs)
Night Market: Right across the river from the ancient town, the other side of the city hosts a night market, full of street food stalls, a flea market at irresistible prices especially for souvenirs to take back home, along with cheap but beautiful restaurants. (Rating: 5/5, Time needed: 1-2 hrs)
Cua Dai Bridge: While one can always roam around the ancient town endless number of times, there is a sunrise/sunset viewpoints not far away from the city. If you can wake up early in the morning, you can take a ride to the Cua Dai Bridge to see the marvelous sunrise. (Rating: 5/5, Time needed: 1-2 hrs)
Suggestive Two-day Itinerary
- You’ll take an hour to reach Hoi An from Da Nang. Check in and cover the eastern part of the town. Have lunch at one of the beautiful cafes.
- Leave for My Son by 2, take stops for pictures and reach by 3.30. Visit for a couple of hours, until the Golden Hour. Reach Hoi An back by 6.30-7.
- Visit the walking street along the river. There are different activities held in the open areas and the river is full of lanterns.
- Cross the river and visit the Night Market. Try different street food and buy souvenirs.
- Sit at a river-facing table, sip cheap beer and try some local cuisine for dinner. Come back to Hotel by 11.
- Next morning, buy the combo ticket and follow the map given by the tourist center. Visit all the places and shop in parallel, get done by 3-4 PM. Experience the rickshaw if you want.
- Take rest, come back to the same street in the evening (not the street along the river, the other one having the clan houses) to see it transformed by the night.
Travel Tips
- Check the dates of Lantern Festival before making travel plans. The city is brighter and livelier on those days.
- Hoi An is known for quality fabric and leather products with quick delivery. If you want custom-made suit or leather shoes, order before lunch on Day 1 so that it is ready by next day.
- Do not hesitate no negotiate, the souvenir prices aren’t usually fixed.
- You need to rent vehicle only for one day, for My Son. Everything in Hoi An is in walkable radius, book your hostel near the walking street.
If you like the above itinerary or found any hidden gems I might have missed, let me know in comments. Click here for guides for other cities in Vietnam. Hope you have a safe and interesting travel.