Hoi An in a nutshell
Hoi An was a trading port in Southeast Asia, and its Ancient Town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. The historic core lies on the north bank of the Thu Bon River, close to its mouth. It covers about 30 hectares, with a buffer zone of 280 hectares around it. Most of the old buildings date from the 15th to the 19th century and show local as well as foreign influences.
This guide covers the town and what is close to it: the Ancient Town and its ticket, the lantern night, the night market, My Son, the Marble Mountains, An Bang Beach and the way from Da Nang. Basket boats, cooking classes and bike rides in the countryside have their own guide at Cam Thanh. This is an independent site, not run by the city, the heritage administration, a hotel or a tour operator.
What changed in 2026
Where older guides are out of date.
New fee for the old town
A decision dated 31 July 2026 sets a fee of VND 20,000 per person and building from 10 August 2026, the same for Vietnamese and foreign visitors. Packages priced at VND 80,000 and VND 120,000 were still described in March 2026, so ask at the counter which ticket applies on your day.
Ancient Town guide →No tourist bus to My Son
The tourist bus line between Hoi An, My Son and Dong Giang is suspended for six months from 15 September 2026. You need a tour, a private car or a taxi for My Son.
My Son guide →Coastal works at the beaches
Sea defences are being built near An Bang and Cua Dai. In mid-September 2026 about 75 percent of the concrete lining next to An Bang was done, with completion planned before 30 November 2026. Plans are not a finished result, so check conditions before you go.
An Bang Beach →Stage shows in a new hall
Since 7 March 2026 the traditional performances take place in a hall on the upper floor of the Song Hoai square, at 1 Cao Hong Lanh. They run daily at 10:15, 15:15 and 16:15, according to the heritage administration in March 2026.
Things to do →Our picks: Hoi An tours
An Ancient Town walk, a morning at My Son and the Marble Mountains.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Marble Mountains, Lady Buddha and Am Phu Cave
Hotel transfer, an English-speaking guide and admission to the Marble Mountains and Am Phu Cave. The elevator costs extra, and lunch depends on the option.
Check availability →
My Son morning trip from Hoi An and Da Nang
Hotel transfer, an air-conditioned vehicle, an English-speaking guide, fruit and water. My Son admission is extra on the option without a ticket, and the boat ride is only on the 7:30 tour.
Check availability →
Hoi An Ancient Town walk with a local guide
A small-group walk with an English-speaking guide, finishing with dessert or tea and local tips. Hotel transfer and personal expenses are not included.
Check availability →Hoi An tours and day trips
Old town walks, evening boat rides, My Son and the Marble Mountains, with live prices and availability.
Plan your trip
Start with the list of things to do, then pick the pages you need.
Things to do in Hoi An
Fifteen experiences, from the Japanese Bridge to My Son and the Marble Mountains.
Ancient Town
Tickets, the Japanese Bridge, old houses and walking hours.
Tours compared
Walks, boat rides and day trips, and what to check before you book.
Lantern festival
Dates for the lantern nights in 2026 and 2027, plus boats and candles.
Da Nang to Hoi An
Taxi, Grab, bus and airport transfers compared.
Where to stay
Old town, beach or the edge of town: which area suits you.
Day trips and places nearby
Ruins, caves, beaches and the evening market.
My Son Sanctuary
Cham temple ruins from the 4th to the 13th century, with fees and show times.
Marble Mountains
Caves, pagodas and an elevator, about 20 km (12 miles) from Hoi An.
An Bang Beach
Loungers, beach bars and the state of the coast in autumn 2026.
Night market
Food, lanterns and short boat rides on the Hoai River.
Weather and best time
Monthly climate figures and the flood months.
If you travel on along the coast, the imperial city and royal tombs of Hue lie north of Da Nang over the Hai Van Pass. Hue has its own guide to the pass and the town. If you want to see the rural side of Hoi An, the guides to basket boat tours and cooking classes cover it.
More independent Vietnam guides
Separate guides from the same team, each focused on one place.
Ha Long Bay
Cruises, caves and the quieter Bai Tu Long Bay.
Cat Ba Island
The island, its national park and kayaking in Lan Ha Bay.
Cam Thanh
Basket boats in the coconut forest near Hoi An.
Hue
The Imperial City, royal tombs and the Hai Van Pass.
Sapa
Treks through rice terraces, Fansipan and the Ha Giang Loop.
Nha Trang
Beaches, island trips and the Po Nagar towers.
Phu Quoc
Beaches, the Hon Thom cable car and island hopping.
Can Tho and the Mekong Delta
Floating markets, river towns and trips from Saigon.
Phu Yen
Basalt columns at Ganh Da Dia, quiet beaches and lagoons between Quy Nhon and Nha Trang.
Quy Nhon
Ky Co, Eo Gio, the Cham towers and island trips on the Binh Dinh coast.
Hoi An: frequently asked questions
Do I need a ticket for the Ancient Town?
Walking the streets and the riverbank is described as free by a local guide, while the old houses, halls and museums are charged per building. The fee rules changed in August 2026 and guides disagree, so ask at a ticket counter. The details are on the Ancient Town page.
When is the lantern night in Hoi An?
It falls on the 14th night of each lunar month. Local calendars list 23 October, 22 November and 22 December 2026. Treat the dates as planning dates and check them before you go. See the lantern festival page.
How do I get from Da Nang to Hoi An?
By taxi, Grab or bus. Grab publishes a route rate for Da Nang to Hoi An of VND 279,818 for the first 25 km in a 4-seater (July 2026), then VND 10,309 per km, and prices change with demand. The transfer page compares the options.
Do I need a visa?
It depends on your passport. For tourists, Germany is covered by a visa exemption of up to 45 days valid from 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028, and Switzerland by one of up to 45 days valid from 15 August 2025 to 14 August 2028. Austrians and US citizens need a visa, and an e-visa costs USD 25 for a single entry and USD 50 for multiple entries. Rules change, so check with your government's travel advice before you book.
When is the best time to visit?
Climate figures for the Da Nang station (1991 to 2020, not Hoi An itself) show February to April as relatively dry and October as the wettest month, with about 658 mm of rain. Floods hit Hoi An in October 2025. See the weather page.
Is visithoian.org run by the city or a tour operator?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to the city of Hoi An, the heritage administration, any hotel or any tour operator.