24 hours in Hoi An, Vietnam | Travel Guide
Looking for some fun things to do while passing through Hoi An in Vietnam? Or perhaps deciding on where to stay, places to eat, etc… If so, then I got you! 😉
We’ve been travelling in Vietnam recently and got a chance to spend time in Hoi An. If you’re in the region and have 24 hours to spare, a visit is highly recommended.
When to visit Hoi An
Hoi An, Vietnam has its hottest period between June and August, when temperatures can soar to 38C, and September to January is rainy season when floods are common. The best time to visit would be between February and May, when the temperature hovers around 25C.
How to get to Hoi An
A UNESCO heritage site on the central coast of Vietnam, Hoi An is not on any air or railway routes. However, it is easily accessible by road from Da Nang which has daily flights to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The drive from Da Nang to Hoi An is about 45 minutes.
Where to stay in Hoi An
Hoi An has options for every budget. Rooms in hostels start at $27 / night and fancy hotels cost around $200 / night.
There are hundreds of options available through booking.com, hostelworld.com and AirBnB, so you can definitely find a great place within your budget.
BEST Daytime Activities
Breakfast at a local café
Visit one of the most popular cafes in Hoi An for breakfast. Ms Ly, Rosie’s Café and The Espresso Station are all hugely popular spots for a morning meal. Though it’s likely if you are staying in a Hotel, you will have breakfast included.
Explore Central Market
Central Market is located by the Thu Bon river, and you can explore the best of local produce here.
Haggle with hawkers over prices of mangostenes and papayas or try out some of the Vietnamese street food!
You’ll find some fabulous handicraft and fabric stalls here, and the tailors running them can have customized clothes ready for you in a few hours. If you can’t resist a bargain, you may want to come with an empty suitcase!
Go on a street food walking tour
Sign up for a street food walking tour through the Old Town with an English-speaking guide. Sample local food at food stalls and restaurants off the beaten track to get a real feel of Vietnamese and Hoi An cuisine.
Or
Explore Old Town on your own
Walk around the Old Town and take in the ancient Chinese assembly halls, cross the Chua Cao Japanese Bridge and enjoy folk musical performances at the Hoi An Handicraft Workshop at different times during the day.
Remember to take a tour of the old houses in the area while you’re here!
Hungry for lunch?
Take a break from sightseeing at any of Hoi An’s cafes that are serving Vietnamese and fusion food. For those who prefer a familiar meal, pizzas and steaks are available at some restaurants.
Tour the Silk Village
Take a 45 minutes tour of the Silk Village, located within a 4* resort. The Silk Village sells fabric and stitched garments at higher rates than elsewhere in Hoi An, but they’re definitely worth the price!
Side note: If worms don’t gross you out, check out the silk worm farm!
Indulge the Master Chef in you
Many restaurants in Hoi An offer cooking classes! If there’s a budding chef hidden within you, let him / her loose! Sail down the river to the Red Bridge Cooking school and spend half the day learning Vietnamese cooking or sign up at one of the many options in town.
We did it. First, they took us through the market to purchase all of the ingredients before cooking. It was great!
Take a look at this video if you’re interested: It will start at 6.48 to get right to the point 👍
Walk on the seabed
If seeing ancient relics and shopping isn’t your idea of a holiday, head across to the Cham Islands 15 km off the coast of Hoi An. This is a UNESCO Biosphere reserve and a tourist hotspot!
Side Note: The Cham Islands are accessible only between June and August as the sea is too rough to cross during the rainy season.
Licensed tour operators take you 15 – 20 m underwater off the coast of Cu Lao Cham Island to experience the amazing sea life. Tourists of all ages and skill-levels can opt for this. Once done with a walk along the seabed, you can hop across to the neighboring Hon Lao Island for beach-centric activities like sunbathing, swimming and water sports. There are plenty of small shops selling local food if you want to grab a bite to eat before heading back to Hoi An.
BEST Evening Activities
The night scene in Hoi An is surprisingly hip! Night markets, bars and restaurants dot the city and you won’t be short on choices.
Take a ride down Thu Bon River
A nighttime view of Hoi An from a canoe? Yes, please!
If you are walking the streets at night you will find hundreds of fellow tourist taking boat rides up and down the river. Prices are about 50,000VND (2.20USD) for a 30min ride.
You can also drip a floating candle onto the river for good luck… Though doing this has left piles of rubbish down stream so I opted out of that one.
Head to the Hoi An Night Market
The night market along the Thu Bon River is one of the most popular markets in Vietnam for a reason!
The street is lit with hundreds of lanterns and if you happen to be there on a full moon, you’ll enjoy it all the more as shops turn off the lights and rely on candlelight. This street is perfect for pictures to post on social media!
Sip a sundowner at a bar and lounge while looking out at the river. Enjoy the food, live bands, DJs and traditional Vietnamese performances at these venues.
Alternately, you could stroll around sampling local cuisine from the many food stalls dotting the street. MUST try the Cao Lau … Thank Me Later
Side note: There’s plenty of trinket stalls here if you’re looking for cheap souvenirs!
Opt for pricier options to get away from the crowds
Sundowners at Shore Club
Located on the An Bang Beach, the Shore Club has been dubbed by some as “Ibiza-style”. Shore Club boasts two beach-front bars and restaurants staffed by English-speaking locals. The bars are well-stocked, and the restaurants serve fusion food with Mediterranean accents.
It’s ideal place to enjoy a drink while watching the sunset, then the club-like atmosphere after dusk.
Night owl alert: If you’re up to it, the club claims to have amazing sunrise views!
Fine dining
If too much of local food isn’t your cup pf tea, indulge yourself at any of the fine dining restaurants in the city. Aubergine49, The Temple Restaurant and The American Garden serve Continental / American cuisine and are highly recommended by locals and tourists.
Convinced yet? Start planning, the best season to visit is almost here and trust us, you won’t regret a moment spent at Hoi An!
More Reading & Resources:
- Don’t forget to visit Da Nang, Vietnam
- Additional travel guides, locations, tips and tricks
- How I Earn A Living While Traveling Full-Time
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