Hoi An is the kind of place travellers fall unexpectedly in love with. A perfectly preserved 15th-century trading port on Vietnam's central coast, its Ancient Town is a maze of mustard-yellow shophouses, silk lanterns, hidden temples, and some of the best food in the country. Add a beach, a river, lantern-lit nights, and countryside full of rice paddies, and you have one of Southeast Asia's most magical small towns. Here are the 20 best things to do in Hoi An in 2026.

1. Wander the Ancient Town at Golden Hour

The UNESCO-listed Ancient Town is the heart of Hoi An. Go in the late afternoon as the light turns gold and the lanterns begin to glow. The whole quarter is pedestrian-friendly and made for slow, aimless wandering.

2. See the Town by Lantern Light

After dark, thousands of silk lanterns turn Hoi An into something dreamlike. The riverfront is the centre of the magic — come for the reflections on the water and the buzz of the night market.

3. Float a Lantern on the Thu Bon River

Buy a small paper lantern with a candle from a boat vendor, make a wish, and set it on the river. Touristy? A little. Beautiful? Completely.

4. Eat Cao Lau — Found Nowhere Else on Earth

Cao lau is Hoi An's signature dish: thick, chewy noodles with pork, herbs, and crispy croutons. Authentically, it can only be made here — traditional versions use water from a specific ancient local well. Our Hoi An food walking tour takes you to the best bowl in town.

5. Try the Famous White Rose Dumplings

Delicate translucent shrimp dumplings shaped like roses, made by a single family with a closely guarded recipe and sold to restaurants across town. Eat them at the source.

6. Queue for the World's Most Famous Banh Mi

Hoi An is home to banh mi made legendary by international food shows. The crackly baguette and layered fillings genuinely live up to the hype. Expect a line — it moves fast.

7. Take a Food Tour with a Local

Hoi An's food culture runs deeper than its three famous dishes. A guided walking food tour or motorbike food tour with a local takes you to the market stalls and family kitchens you would never find alone.

8. Get Clothes Tailor-Made

Hoi An is Vietnam's tailoring capital. Hundreds of skilled tailors can make a suit, dress, or coat to measure in 24–48 hours. Choose a reputable shop, allow time for a fitting, and bring a photo of what you want.

9. Cycle Through the Rice Paddies

Ten minutes from the Ancient Town, the countryside opens into brilliant green rice fields. Rent a bicycle and ride out past water buffalo and farmers for a completely different side of Hoi An.

10. Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge

The 400-year-old covered bridge is Hoi An's most iconic landmark, built by the Japanese community in the 1590s. It appears on Vietnam's 20,000 VND note.

11. Relax on An Bang Beach

Just 4km from town, An Bang is a relaxed stretch of sand with beach bars, fresh seafood, and sunset views. The perfect antidote to a day of sightseeing.

12. Explore the Tra Que Vegetable Village

A centuries-old organic herb-growing village between the town and the beach. Walk the gardens, meet the farmers, and taste how the herbs end up in your cao lau.

13. Take a Basket Boat Ride in the Coconut Forest

In the Cam Thanh water-coconut palms, local rowers spin round bamboo basket boats through the waterways — playful, scenic, and unlike anything else.

14. Browse the Central Market

Hoi An's market is a feast for the senses: produce, spices, fabric, and a food court serving cao lau and white rose at local prices. Best in the early morning.

15. Take a Cooking Class

Many classes start with a market tour, then teach you to make Hoi An classics from scratch. One of the most rewarding half-days in town.

16. Day Trip to the My Son Sanctuary

An hour away, My Son is a UNESCO-listed complex of ancient Hindu temples built by the Cham Kingdom between the 4th and 14th centuries — atmospheric and far older than the Ancient Town.

17. Visit a Historic Merchant House

Step inside the 200-year-old Tan Ky House or the Phung Hung House to see how Hoi An's trading families lived, with architecture blending Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese influences.

18. Watch the Sunset Over the Rice Fields

Find a countryside cafe or rooftop on the town's edge and watch the sun drop behind the paddies. Golden hour in Hoi An is genuinely special.

19. Take a Day Trip from Da Nang — or Stay Over

Hoi An is just 45 minutes from Da Nang, making it an easy day trip — though it rewards an overnight stay when the day crowds leave and the lanterns take over. See our Da Nang to Hoi An guide.

20. Simply Slow Down

Hoi An's greatest gift is its pace. Sit by the river with a Vietnamese coffee, watch the boats and the lanterns, and let the town set the rhythm. Not everything needs to be a checklist.

Plan Your Hoi An Experience

The best way into Hoi An's food and hidden corners is with someone who lives there. Explore our Hoi An walking food tour and motorbike food tour — small groups, local hosts, real stories.