Hoi An
Hoi An is worth 2–3 days. Its UNESCO-listed Ancient Town is a compact, lantern-lit riverside district built for walking — no cars in the historic core — with preserved merchant houses, a Japanese covered bridge, and Vietnam's best-known tailoring scene (a suit or dress made to measure in 24–48 hours). Add a bike ride to An Bang Beach and a half-day trip to the Golden Bridge, about an hour away.
Hoi An is the slow-down stop on most Vietnam itineraries — a preserved old trading port with lantern-strung streets, a genuinely walkable historic core, and a pace that feels deliberately different from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. It also happens to be the easiest place in the country to have clothes made from scratch.
How many days in Hoi An?
Two to three days is comfortable: one for the Ancient Town on foot (best at dusk when the lanterns come on), one for tailoring fittings and a beach afternoon at An Bang, and a spare day for the Golden Bridge or a Thu Bon River boat trip. The full moon lantern festival, held monthly, is worth timing your visit around if your dates allow it — lights out, lanterns only, for one evening a month.
The Ancient Town
- The Japanese Covered Bridge — a 16th-century icon and Hoi An's most photographed structure, small but genuinely worth the stop.
- Old merchant houses (Tan Ky House, Phung Hung House) — preserved trading-family homes open to visitors, showing the town's centuries as a port between Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese traders.
- The riverside night market — lanterns, street food, and small boats you can hire to float a paper lantern down the Thu Bon River after dark.
Getting a tailored suit or dress
Hoi An has hundreds of tailor shops, and quality varies widely. Ask your hotel for a specific recommendation rather than walking into the first shop that flags you down, bring a photo of what you want, and budget two fittings over 24–48 hours rather than a same-day rush job if you want it to actually fit well.
| Item | Approx. cost |
|---|---|
| Custom tailored suit | $100–300 depending on fabric |
| Custom dress | $40–150 |
| Guesthouse, per night | $20–45 |
| Bike rental, per day | $2–5 |
Book your first tailor fitting on arrival, not your last day — a rushed same-day order is the most common source of disappointing results. Two days gives time for a proper second fitting and adjustments.
Day trips from Hoi An
- An Bang Beach — a relaxed, less developed beach a short bike ride from the Ancient Town, good for a half-day of sun after temple-hopping.
- The Golden Bridge, Ba Na Hills — the striking stone-hand bridge about an hour's drive away, best visited on a clear day and ideally on a weekday to dodge crowds.
- My Son Sanctuary — Cham-era temple ruins reminiscent of a smaller Angkor, roughly 45 minutes away, worth it for ancient-history enthusiasts.
What to skip
- Buying a "same-day rush" suit from the first tailor tout who approaches you on the street — quality is a lottery without a specific recommendation.
- Skipping the Ancient Town entry ticket system — a small entry fee funds several historic sites and is required to enter certain buildings; buy it at an official booth, not from a street tout.
Where to stay in Hoi An — hotels
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