A Quick Travel Guide to Hoi An – Everything you need to know when planning your trip
In this quick travel guide to Hoi An, we will tackle all the practical information you may need to plan an awesome trip to one of Vietnam’s most charming towns! Find out how to get to Hoi An, where to stay, essentials you should bring as well as what highlights not to miss out on while there! So, let’s get travel planning!
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Complete Travel Guide to Hoi An, Central Vietnam
Hoi An is definitely among the more popular destinations within Vietnam and rightly so. Personally, we think that no trip to Vietnam would be complete without spending at least one day in Hoi An – although we highly recommend staying longer if your Vietnam Itinerary allows you to!
In this quick travel guide, you will find out how you can easily plan your own perfect trip to Hoi An, as we answer the most frequently asked questions related to travelling Hoi An. So, without further ado, let’s get started!
Is Hoi An worth visiting or is it overrated?
With all the hype that surrounds Hoi An for being THE top travel destination within Vietnam, it is only natural that you may ask yourself: Is all that hype justified? Is Hoi An truly worth visiting or is it simply overrated?
One thing you should definitely be aware of before going to Hoi An is the fact that, yes, Hoi An is extremely touristy. In fact it was probably the most touristy place we visited in all of Vietnam. Nonetheless, we enjoyed our time there immensely and, if given the opportunity, we would go back in a heartbeat.
Hoi An is filled with charming streets, unique shops, lovely restaurants and cafés and, last but not least, thousands of colourful lanterns which light up the streets each night. It is a great place to spend a few more relaxed days in, in-between all the excitement and adventure that a trip to Vietnam is usually filled with.
So, yes, Hoi An is very much worth visiting! And, while it may be busy, we definitely do not think that it is overrated. You can still find those small local gems all over Hoi An. Additionally, there are definitely ways to escape the crowds for a while. But, for more information on that, you’ll have to read our magical Hoi An Itinerary;).
How many days are enough for Hoi An?
If you are strictly in Hoi An for sightseeing, then you will notice that one full day is likely enough to see most of the sights Hoi An has to offer. However, that way you are going to miss out on some of the awesome workshops, beautiful scenery and unique experiences you can have in and around Hoi An with only a little more time!
As such, we would personally recommend staying in Hoi An for at least 3 full days. In our perfect 3-Day Hoi An Itinerary, we tell you all about how to spend 3 magical days in Hoi An and what experiences not to miss out on!
Note: Having 3 days in Hoi An is also ideal if you wish to get yourself some custom tailored clothing (which Hoi An is famous for). Make your order on your first day in Hoi An, go back for a try-on and potentially some alterations on day 2 and then pick up your custom made clothing on day 3!
⛅ When is the best time to visit Hoi An?
Hoi An is located in Central Vietnam and thus rainy season occurs in-between September and December. Additionally, during these months the coast of Central Vietnam has a heightened risk of being hit by typhoons.
Dry season occurs from January to August. However, temperatures during dry season do vary quite a bit. As such January to March are way more pleasant with on average ~26°C, while April to August are hotter with ~31-35°C.
Personally, we visited Hoi An at the end of September (i.e. during rainy season) and the weather was for the most part absolutely fine. This can however be hit or miss. For instance, during our time in Hue, which is also located in Central Vietnam, it ended up raining each and every day.
How to get to Hoi An?
The best way to get to Hoi An depends on where you are travelling from. Are you travelling from within Vietnam or from abroad? And, if you are visiting from abroad, are you getting there from close-by or further overseas? Let’s take a closer look at your best options!
A good resource for getting a first idea of your options, plus their associated price and travel time, is the 12 Go Asia website*. In general, 12 Go Asia is the go-to website for booking transportation around Southeast Asia. We certainly booked all our transfers within Vietnam through their site.
✈️ Travel to Hoi An by plane
If you intend to travel to Hoi An by flying, then your journey is first going to lead you to Da Nang. The latter is where the airport closest to Hoi An is located.
Quick Intermission: How to get to Hoi An from Da Nang
Subsequently, getting to Hoi An from Da Nang is roughly a 45 minutes drive, which can be done quite easily by booking a ride via Grab.
Never heard of Grab before? Grab is basically the Southeast Asian equivalent of Uber. Great for getting take-away food deliveries or organising single rides from A to B! We usually rely on it quite a bit when travelling Southeast Asia!
Direct flights to Da Nang can be found from Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, the Philippines, Cambodia and/or Japan. And, last but not least, from numerous destinations within Vietnam!
If you are travelling from further overseas, e.g. from Europe, Australia or North America, then you will likely have to travel either via Hanoi or any of the other destinations mentioned above.
Flying is a very popular way to get around in Vietnam and therefore also a popular choice for getting to Hoi An. Especially so, if you intend to travel directly from e.g. Ho Chi Minh City in Southern Vietnam or Hanoi in Northern Vietnam and don’t have time to spare on a 10+ hours bus or train ride.
🚉 Travel to Hoi An by train
Similar to travelling by plane, getting to Hoi An by train will require you to first make a stop in Da Nang where the closest train station to Hoi An is located. Getting from Da Nang Train Station to Hoi An will roughly take 50 minutes by car. Again, the most convenient option is probably to book a ride via Grab.
Personally, we travelled to Hoi An by taking a Sleeper Train in Ho Chi Minh City. It was quite a unique experience, one we had on our bucket list prior to coming to Vietnam and we are really glad we were able to tick it off! Now, would we recommend you do the same?
If you are travelling from Ho Chi Minh City as well, then yes we can definitely recommend taking a Sleeper Train to travel to Hoi An. Do know though that, as I am writing this, 2x Sleeper Cabins (which is what we had booked for this trip) are not available on this specific journey. If that is something that bothers you, then I would probably leave the Vietnamese Sleeper Train experience for one of the many other recommended train journeys;).
Learn more about popular Sleeper Train routes, things to watch out for + what essentials you should bring:
🚌 Travel to Hoi An by bus
Finally, you can also travel to Hoi An by bus. The latter option has the advantage that you do not have to go through Da Nang first. Rather you can travel directly to Hoi An and save yourself the hassle of a transfer.
Travelling to Hoi An by bus is especially convenient if you are travelling from anywhere in Central Vietnam (e.g. from Hue). It can however also be done from further away (e.g. from Nha Trang).
If you intend to travel to Hoi An directly from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, we would suggest prioritising looking at flight and train connections. Why? Because, flights will reduce your travel time significantly and while Sleeper Trains won’t do that, they at least allow you to move around more freely than bus travel does. Which, trust me, is a blessing on a 15+ hour journey.
Bus travel will likely always be your cheapest travel option though.
ℹ️ Quick Overview of the Best Travel Options to Hoi An
Travelling to Hoi An from …
- Ho Chi Minh City? Either take a Sleeper Train (Travel Time: 19h in a 4x Sleeper Cabin) or book a flight*.
- Nha Trang? Either book a Sleeper Bus (Travel Time: 9h) or a flight*.
- Hanoi? Either book a Sleeper Train (Travel Time: 16h) or a flight*.
- Hue? Easiest transfer by bus/van (Travel Time: 3h)*.
- Da Nang? Book a ride via Grab.
💼 Hoi An Travel Essentials
🛂 E-Visa. If your country is not on the Visa Exemption List (which most aren't), then you will need to get an E-Visa via the official E-Visa Website.
🦟 Mosquito Repellent. While having mosquito repellent with you is in general a good idea when travelling the tropics, Hoi An has the added disadvantage of being quite rural and very close to water. Needless to say, mosquitos will be there.
🛜 Get a SIM Card or eSIM. In case you prefer physical SIM Cards - either get a Vinaphone SIM Card (DAD Aiport Pick-up) via Klook* or buy one directly at a local Viettel store. For eSIM we recommend the Viettel eSIM obtainable via Klook*.
Note: Generally Viettel SIM Cards/eSIM are best for Vietnam - but find out more about that in our Vietnam Checklist.
📱 Essential Apps for Vietnam: WhatsApp & Grab. Grab for getting around. WhatsApp because often times in Vietnam the communication with tour or transportation operators is done via WhatsApp.
🚌 Book your transportation around Vietnam via 12 Go Asia*.
🔌 Power Plug Adapter. In Vietnam you will find power plugs of the type A, C, F and sometimes even G. To be on the safe side, bring an adapter!
First time travelling to Vietnam? Prepare for your upcoming trip with our
🛏️ Where to stay in Hoi An
When it comes down to finding a suitable accommodation in Hoi An, you mainly have two options. Either you are going for one of the bigger resorts, located a little outside of Hoi An, or you are choosing one of the smaller but endlessly charming hotels in the centre of Old Town Hoi An.
Personally, we would recommend choosing an accommodation in the Old Town of Hoi An itself. That way you are close to attractions, shops and cafés and can wander into the streets of Hoi An at your own leisure at any time. Especially in the evenings this will come in handy. We made it a point to take a walk through the streets of Hoi An at least once every night!
Hotel Recommendations for Hoi An Old Town:
🛏️ Chillax Old Town Villa*. A lovely hotel, located in the heart of Hoi An. We stayed here and really loved it! The owners are super friendly and helped us not only with organising a day trip to the Ba Na Hills, but also rented us bicycles for the day. Plus, breakfast is included! Price: ~25€/28$ per night.
🛏️ Emerald Hoi An Riverside Resort*. This hotel gives you the best of both worlds! For one you get your riverside resort with a pool and great views. But also, once you step outside the front door of the hotel, you are still very much located inside Old Town Hoi An. Breakfast is included as well. Price: ~40€/46$ per night.
🛏️ Ngo Homestay Hoi An*. This one is great for the more low budget travellers among you! A lovely homestay, offering clean private rooms with an ensuite bathroom inside Old Town Hoi An for as little as ~15€/17$ per night.
What is the best way to get around?
Hoi An is in fact quite small and large parts of the Old Town are mostly pedestrian streets. Knowing this, it will probably come as no surprise to you when I say that getting around is done most easily by foot.
On the rare occasion that you do wish to venture a little further outside of Hoi An city centre, renting a bicycle is actually a great option. A lot of accommodations in Hoi An will have bicycles you can rent or alternatively, look for the nearest bike rental shop. If all else fails, Grab is always an option as well;).
🌟 Hoi An Highlights NOT to Miss!
Since this post focusses mostly on the planning part of your trip to Hoi An, we will not go into too much detail on what to see and do while there. More information on that can be found in our separate 3-Day Hoi An Itinerary! Nonetheless, down below, you can find a quick overview of experiences you should not miss out on while in Hoi An!
🖊️ Hoi An Must-Do’s
🏮 Walk Hoi An's streets at night. One of our favourite things to do while in Hoi An. Simply walk the streets after sunset and marvel at all the colourful lanterns illuminating the streets! Truly magical!
✂️ Lantern Making Class. And, why not learn how to make your own lantern while you're at it? Head to Tieng Vong Pho's Lantern Workshop*, where you get to make your very own Vietnamese lantern! And the best part: the workshop costs only ~9€/10$ p.P. and you get to take your lantern home with you!
👗 Custom-made clothing. Hoi An is famous for its many tailors and subsequently well-known as THE place where you can get yourself a custom-made piece of clothing that won't break the bank! Highly recommend!
🥤 Try Mót Iced Tea. For only 10.000VND (~0,33€/0,38$), try a cup of delicious iced tea from Mót Hoi An. They have become somewhat of a tourist magnet, however we still managed to snatch ourselves a cup here and there without having to stand in line!
🚲 Rent a Bicycle. If you've had enough of Hoi An Old Town itself, rent a bicycle and go explore the stunning rice fields! Hoi An's surroundings are very rural, which makes them perfect for a relaxed bicycle ride.
🥥 Experience a Basket Boat Ride. You may have seen one of those videos before, where people sit in a boat that looks like a basket and get spun around? Well, these are the boats we are talking about. Basket Boats (or Thung Chai) are unique Vietnamese fishing boats and in Hoi An, you can ride one! Whether you choose to only do a Basket Boat Tour* or combine your boat ride with a cooking class* is up to you!
Find out how you can experience Hoi An’s highlights with our perfect 3-day itinerary!
Quick Travel Guide to Hoi An: Final Thoughts
Hoi An is most definitely going to be one of the highlights of your Vietnam trip! It for sure was among ours. Do make sure to plan enough time in Hoi An. While on the surface it may look like a destination you can see in a day, once you truly start exploring, you’ll realise just how many hidden gems and unique experience can be had in Hoi An!
In this quick travel guide to Hoi An, we went over everything you may need to know while planning your own trip. We talked best time to go, how to get there, where to stay, how long to stay, and so on! If there are still questions that remain unanswered, do not hesitate to leave them in the comments down below!
Save this post for later if your trip isn’t for another while! And, finally, we wish you safe and happy travels!🍀
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