📅 Updated: 29 July 2026
This guide covers tickets, hours and the sights you should not miss. If you wanta full day plan and when the lanterns come on, read our Hoi An Ancient Town one-day route.
Hoi An Ancient Town is central Vietnam's best-known UNESCO World Heritage site, famous for its ochre-yellow shophouses, Chinese assembly halls, the Japanese Covered Bridge and the lanterns after dark.The streets themselves are free to walk, but entering the designated heritage buildings needs a ticket — 120,000 VND (about US$4.60) is the standard rate for foreign visitors. Arrive in the afternoon and stay into the evening: 4–6 hours is about right.
Blue hour is the moment when you can capture the ochre walls and the lit lanterns in the same frame.
Hoi An Ancient Town hours, address and tickets
| Item | Details | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| The old town streets | Public streets are walkable at any hour | Traffic is restricted in the pedestrian zone, and shops and heritage houses each keep their own hours. |
| Address | Hội An Ancient Town, Hội An | You can enter from the Japanese Covered Bridge, Hoi An Market or around Tran Phu Street. |
| Entrance ticket | 120,000 VND for foreign visitors (about US$4.60) | It admits you to designated heritage sites; the price, the number of sites you may choose and the valid dates are set at the ticket office. |
| Time needed | 4–6 hours | Arriving in the afternoon lets you take in dusk and the lantern-lit evening in one visit. |
What to see in Hoi An Ancient Town
- Japanese Covered Bridge:Hoi An's defining landmark, and much easier to photograph early in the morning.
- Fujian (Phuc Kien) Assembly Hall:A richly decorated Chinese assembly hall; normally requires the heritage ticket.
- Tran Phu Street shophouses:The densest run of yellow walls, wooden doors and old trading houses — a street to walk slowly.
- The Thu Bon River and night market:After sunset the lanterns come on; take a boat or wander the Nguyen Hoang night market.
- Hoi An Market:Best by day, for everyday life and local street food.
When is the best time to visit Hoi An?
February to Aprilis the driest stretch and the easiest for long walks. May to August is hot — avoid the middle of the day and bring sun protection. Rain increases from September to January, and in October and November in particular, keep an eye on typhoons, river levels and local flood notices. Lantern festivals usually fall around the 14th day of the lunar month, which brings both atmosphere and crowds; confirm dates locally.
Getting from Da Nang to Hoi An
Hoi An is about 30 km from central Da Nang, roughly a 45-minute drive. The usual options are a private car, Grab or taxi, and shuttle buses. Grab works well for a one-way trip on the day; if you want to stay for the lanterns and then return to Da Nang, a private car lets you fix the return time in advance, which matters most with children, older parents or a larger group.
A half-day route through Hoi An
Arrive 14:30 → Japanese Covered Bridge → the Tran Phu shophouses → Fujian Assembly Hall → Hoi An Market → dinner by the river → lantern streets and the night market after sunset → head back around 20:30.For empty streets, come at dawn instead; for atmosphere, afternoon into evening is unbeatable.
Hoi An Ancient Town FAQ
The public streets are generally free to walk. A ticket is needed to enter the heritage houses, assembly halls and cultural sites covered by the scheme.
After 16:30 the light softens; sunset into blue hour lets you catch the old houses and the lanterns together, and the evening is when the town is liveliest.
Usually about 45 minutes from the city centre, depending on your hotel, rush-hour traffic and the weather.
You can still visit, but rain is heavier from September to January, and in October and November it is worth watching typhoon, river and flood notices closely.
Hoi An Ancient Town location map
Related guides in central Vietnam
These places are usually combined with Hoi An — useful if you are still filling out the route.
- Best Things to Do in Da Nang Top sights and 2–3 day itineraries
- Hoi An Ancient Town One-Day Route Lantern-lit evenings and the order to walk in
- Hoi An Basket Boat Guide Prices, transport and what to watch out for
- Da Nang to Hoi An Private car, Grab and shuttle bus compared
- My Son Sanctuary Guide Tickets, opening hours and the Cham ruins
