Hoi An is much more than a beautiful Ancient Town.
Its old streets tell the story of a centuries-old trading port, while its food, tailoring traditions, craft villages and life along the river continue to shape the city today. For travelers who want to experience more than simply taking photos, spending time with these local traditions can reveal a very different side of Hoi An.
If this is your first visit, here are five of the best things to do in Hoi An, including trusted places and practical suggestions to help you plan your trip.
For a first trip to Hoi An, five experiences worth adding to your itinerary are:
Together, these experiences introduce you to Hoi An through its heritage, craftsmanship, food and local life, from the quiet streets of the morning to the lantern-lit river at night.
Best for: First-time visitors, photography, architecture and culture
Recommended time: Early morning or late afternoon
Area: Hoi An Ancient Town
The best introduction to Hoi An is also the simplest: explore it on foot.
Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hoi An Ancient Town is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a Southeast Asian trading port that flourished between the 15th and 19th centuries. Its architecture reflects a combination of local and foreign influences that developed through centuries of international trade.
Rather than rushing from one attraction to another, allow yourself time to walk.
Follow Tran Phu and Nguyen Thai Hoc streets, turn into smaller alleys, explore traditional houses and assembly halls, and eventually make your way towards the river.
Japanese Covered Bridge (Chua Cau)
One of Hoi An’s most recognizable historical landmarks and an important reminder of the Japanese community that once lived and traded here.
Fujian Assembly Hall
An impressive historical assembly hall with ornate architecture and an atmospheric courtyard.
Old houses along Tran Phu and Nguyen Thai Hoc
These streets are ideal for seeing the characteristic yellow façades, wooden buildings and narrow architecture associated with the old trading town.
Hoi An Central Market
For a livelier look at everyday Hoi An, walk through the market and the surrounding streets in the morning.
Early morning offers a quieter experience, particularly if you enjoy photography.
Late afternoon is another excellent time. The temperature becomes more comfortable, cafés and shops become livelier, and you can continue towards the river as the lanterns begin to illuminate the Old Town.
Local tip: Don’t plan every minute. Some of the most memorable corners of Hoi An are found simply by turning into a small street that catches your attention.
Best for: Travelers looking for personalized clothing, suits, dresses and special-occasion outfits
Allow: Ideally several days for consultation and fittings
Recommended: Book before arriving during busy periods
Tailoring is deeply connected to Hoi An’s modern identity.
Throughout the town, visitors will find tailors offering suits, shirts, dresses, trousers and other garments. But the experience is about more than how quickly something can be produced.
A good tailoring experience begins with understanding what you actually want: the occasion, preferred fit, fabric, details and how you expect the garment to feel when worn.
One established option is A Dong Silk, a Hoi An tailor founded in 1998.
At A Dong Silk, garments are individually cut and tailored to the customer’s measurements. After measurements are taken and the fabric is selected, the tailoring team marks and cuts the fabric specifically for the individual garment. Fittings are then used to refine the fit, proportions and details before completion.
This makes tailoring particularly interesting for travelers looking for:
If you are considering having something tailored during your trip, it is better to arrange your first consultation early in your stay rather than leaving it until your final day.
Planning tip: During busy travel periods, booking a tailoring appointment in advance gives the team more opportunity to organize your consultation and fittings around your itinerary.
Learn more: Explore personalized tailoring at A Dong Silk
Best for: Food lovers
When: Throughout the day
Don’t leave without trying: Cao lau
Hoi An’s history as an international trading port is visible not only in its buildings but also in its food.
Local cuisine reflects both Quang Nam traditions and the cultural exchanges that took place here over centuries.
Instead of choosing one restaurant and ordering everything at once, turn lunch or dinner into a small food journey through town.
If there is one dish closely associated with Hoi An, it is cao lau.
The dish combines distinctive noodles with pork, greens, herbs and crispy elements, creating a texture and flavor quite different from pho or other Vietnamese noodle dishes.
Places suggested by Vietnam’s official tourism website include:
These delicate steamed dumplings are another Hoi An specialty, named after their flower-like appearance.
One of the most established places to try them is:
White Rose Restaurant – 533 Hai Ba Trung
The restaurant is associated with the family traditionally specializing in these dumplings.
For something quick while exploring town, try a Hoi An banh mi.
Two well-known addresses are:
Look out for:
The goal isn’t necessarily to find the most famous restaurant. Small local eateries, markets and family-run establishments can be just as much a part of the experience.
Best for: Couples, families, photography and first-time visitors
Best time: After sunset
Location: Hoai River, Hoi An
Recommended: Arrange your boat and departure time in advance if you prefer a more organized experience
When evening arrives, Hoi An changes completely.
Lanterns illuminate the streets and riverfront, reflections appear across the water, and boats begin moving along the Hoai River.
A Hoi An lantern boat ride gives you a chance to see the Ancient Town from a different perspective.
Rather than watching everything from the busy riverbank, you can spend a short time on the water, enjoy the evening atmosphere and release a floating lantern onto the river.
Travelers have two main options: arrange a boat after arriving at the riverfront or reserve one with a local boat operator beforehand.
For travelers who prefer to know their arrangements before arriving, Tuan Hạnh Lantern Boat offers direct booking with the local boat owner.
The service focuses on pre-arranged lantern boat experiences, including:
Booking directly can be particularly useful for couples or families who would rather have their time arranged before reaching the busy riverside area.
Tuan Hạnh Lantern Boat
WhatsApp / Zalo: +84 377 934 290
More information: Hoi An Lantern Boat Tour – Tuấn Hạnh Lantern Boat
For first-time visitors, it can be.
The ride itself is relatively short, so it is best viewed as part of an evening in the Ancient Town rather than a standalone excursion.
A good itinerary is to have dinner, walk along the lantern-lit streets, take a boat ride and then continue exploring the Old Town afterward.
Tip for couples: A private boat is worth considering if you want a quieter experience or are celebrating an anniversary, proposal or another special occasion.
Best for: Families, children, crafts and cultural experiences
Distance: Approximately 3–4 km from Hoi An Ancient Town
Travel time: Around 10–15 minutes depending on transport
After exploring the busy center of Hoi An, spend a few hours discovering one of the area’s traditional craft communities.
Thanh Ha Pottery Village has a history stretching back around 500 years. Traditional pottery techniques continue to be practiced here, making the village more than simply a place where pottery is displayed for tourists.
The traditional craft of Thanh Ha pottery was recognized as National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2019.
Visitors can:
The hands-on element makes Thanh Ha particularly enjoyable for families traveling with children.
The village is only a few kilometers from the Ancient Town and can be reached by bicycle, motorbike, electric vehicle, car or boat.
Cycling can be especially enjoyable when the weather is comfortable, as the journey gives you another glimpse of life beyond central Hoi An.
You don’t need to squeeze all five experiences into one day.
For a more relaxed trip, spread them across two or three days.
Morning:
Walk around Hoi An Ancient Town while the streets are relatively quiet.
Late morning:
Visit your tailor for consultation, fabric selection and measurements if you plan to order clothing.
Lunch:
Try cao lau or another local specialty.
Afternoon:
Continue exploring the Ancient Town or attend your scheduled fitting.
Evening:
Have dinner, walk along the lantern-lit riverfront and take a lantern boat ride on the Hoai River.
Spend the morning at Thanh Ha Pottery Village before returning to Hoi An for more food, shopping or your next tailoring fitting.
This itinerary leaves enough flexibility to enjoy Hoi An instead of simply moving from attraction to attraction.
What makes Hoi An memorable isn’t one individual attraction.
The Ancient Town tells the story of its past as an international trading port. Local dishes preserve flavors associated with the region. Tailors continue a craftsmanship-focused industry for which modern Hoi An has become internationally known. Thanh Ha preserves a centuries-old pottery tradition. And every evening, life returns to the river as lanterns illuminate the Old Town.
Experiencing several of these sides of the city gives you a much better understanding of Hoi An than simply visiting its most photographed landmarks.
Take your time, talk to local people, try the food and leave some space in your itinerary for the unexpected.
That is often where the best Hoi An memories begin.
For first-time visitors, five experiences worth considering are exploring Hoi An Ancient Town, trying local food, experiencing Hoi An tailoring, taking a lantern boat ride on the Hoai River and visiting Thanh Ha Pottery Village.
Two to three days gives most travelers enough time to explore the Ancient Town, enjoy local food, visit a traditional craft village and experience Hoi An at night. If you are having clothing tailored, allowing additional time for fittings can make your schedule more comfortable.
Cao lau is one of the dishes most strongly associated with Hoi An. Other specialties include white rose dumplings, com ga, mi Quang, banh xeo and local banh mi.
It can be particularly worthwhile for travelers who want clothing personalized to their measurements and preferences. Choose a tailor based on workmanship, fabric options, communication, fitting process and the time available during your stay rather than selecting purely on speed or price.
The timeframe depends on the garment, design, fabric, fitting requirements and current workload. If tailoring is important to your trip, visit the tailor near the beginning of your stay and book ahead during busy periods.
For many first-time visitors, yes. A lantern boat ride offers a different view of the illuminated Ancient Town and can be combined easily with dinner and an evening walk through Hoi An.
The duration depends on the operator and service selected. Tuấn Hạnh Lantern Boat’s standard lantern boat experience is approximately 20 minutes.
Boats can be arranged around the Hoai River or reserved with a local operator beforehand. Travelers who prefer direct pre-arranged booking can contact Tuấn Hạnh Lantern Boat via WhatsApp/Zalo at +84 377 934 290.
Private boat options are available. This can be useful for couples, families or travelers who prefer to have their boat arranged in advance rather than organizing one after reaching the riverfront.
Yes, particularly if you are interested in traditional crafts or traveling with children. The village is around 3–4 km from central Hoi An and visitors can observe pottery-making and try working with clay themselves.
Early morning is ideal for quieter streets and photography. Late afternoon into evening is best if you want to experience both the daytime architecture and Hoi An’s lantern atmosphere after dark.
