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Hoi An

Vietnam travel guide

What to see in Hoi An

A merchants’ port full of lanterns, tailors and yellow houses by the river.

Updated 19 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • 5 must-see places
  • Best time: January and from March to August
  • Stay in Hoi An old town
  • Typical food: Bánh mì
Photo: Photo by Pham Quoc Hung. · Public domain

Hoi An highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. Japanese Covered Bridge

    The symbol of the old town, a 17th-century bridge.

  2. Old town by lantern light

    Lanterns and merchants’ houses along the Thu Bồn river.

  3. Central market

    Stalls of cao lầu, bánh mì and spices.

  4. An Bàng Beach

    A sandy coast close to town, less crowded.

  5. Pottery Island

    Traditional pottery workshops on the river.

Where to stay in Hoi An

The handiest areas for getting around and going out.

  • Recommended areas

    Hoi An old town · An Hội · Cửa Đại Beach

Day trips from Hoi An

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them, Bagintravel may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

When to travel to Hoi An

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Hoi An are January and from March to August. If you can, avoid October, November (torrential rain and typhoons).

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb with warnings
  3. Mar no warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun no warnings
  7. Jul no warnings
  8. Aug no warnings
  9. Sep with warnings
  10. Oct with strong warnings
  11. Nov with strong warnings
  12. Dec with warnings
  • February

    Lunar New Year (approximate dates)

    Millions of people travel at this time: trains and flights are full and expensive, and many shops and restaurants close for several days.

    What to do: Book transport weeks in advance and expect closures for the first three days.

  • from September to December

    Torrential rain and typhoons

    From September to December it rains heavily in the centre; in October and November there are floods (Hoi An floods almost every year) and typhoons.

    What to do: At that time of year, the north (Hanoi, Ha Long) or the south (Saigon, the Mekong, Phu Quoc) are better.

Typical food of Hoi An

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to Hoi An from your kitchen).

Bánh mì
Photo: Stu Spivack · CC BY-SA 2.0

Bánh mì

Vietnam’s sandwich, a legacy of the French baguette: crusty bread with pâté, meat, pickled vegetables, coriander and chilli. Hoi An makes the one many call the best in the country.

  • Serves 4
  • 40 min

Ingredients

  • 4 small crusty rolls
  • 400 g sliced roast pork or pork belly
  • 100 g pâté
  • Mayonnaise
  • 1 carrot and 1 piece of daikon radish
  • 50 ml rice vinegar and 2 tablespoons of sugar
  • 1 cucumber
  • Coriander, chilli and soy sauce

How to make it at home

  1. Cut the carrot and daikon into thin strips and leave them in the vinegar with the sugar and a little salt for 30 minutes.
  2. Warm the rolls in the oven so they’re crisp.
  3. Split them and spread with pâté and mayonnaise.
  4. Fill with the meat, a few drops of soy sauce, the drained pickles, cucumber strips, coriander and chilli.
  5. Serve straight away, while the bread is still warm.

The trick: Vietnamese bread is lighter than a baguette: look for one with an airy crumb and a thin crust.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: the phở stall. The dishes you can’t miss are in the Vietnam guide.

  • Morning Glory

    Old town

    Central Vietnamese cooking.

  • Cargo Club

    Old town

    Fusion and a terrace.

Frequently asked questions about Hoi An

What to see in Hoi An?

Japanese Covered Bridge, Old town by lantern light, Central market, An Bàng Beach and Pottery Island.

What to see in Hoi An in one day?

Don’t miss Japanese Covered Bridge, Old town by lantern light, Central market, An Bàng Beach and Pottery Island. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

Where to stay in Hoi An?

The handiest areas to stay are Hoi An old town, An Hội and Cửa Đại Beach.

What’s the best time to travel to Hoi An?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Hoi An are January and from March to August. If you can, avoid October, November (torrential rain and typhoons).

What day trips can you take from Hoi An?

Cooking class, My Son and Basket boat.

What is the typical food of Hoi An?

Bánh mì. Vietnam’s sandwich, a legacy of the French baguette: crusty bread with pâté, meat, pickled vegetables, coriander and chilli. Hoi An makes the one many call the best in the country.

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Guide reviewed 19 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.