Hoi An ancient town

Hoi An Ancient Town is one of those places that genuinely earns its reputation. The old quarter, centred around Trần Phú and Nguyễn Thái Học streets, is a beautifully preserved trading port where Japanese merchant houses, Chinese assembly halls, and French colonial shopfronts sit shoulder to shoulder along narrow, lantern-strung lanes.

Walking through it feels like stepping into a different century — right up until a tour group rounds the corner, which happens often.

The town is compact enough to cover on foot, but a bicycle is an even better way to move between the old quarter, the Thu Bon riverfront, and the quieter Cẩm Nam neighbourhood across the bridge. The main sights — including the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge — require a combined ticket (around 120,000 VND at time of writing), which grants entry to five attractions from a longer list.

It's worth buying early in the day before queues build. The covered bridge itself is genuinely photogenic but very small inside; don't expect to linger.

Crowds peak between 9am and 4pm, particularly on weekends when day-trippers arrive from Da Nang, just 30 kilometres north along the coast. The full-moon lantern festival, held monthly, is atmospheric but extremely busy. Early mornings are a different experience entirely — cooler, quieter, and far more photogenic. The streets flood during the rainy season (October to November), sometimes literally, so check conditions before you go.

Dress modestly if you plan to enter any temples or assembly halls — covered shoulders and knees are expected. Wear comfortable shoes; the old town's stone lanes are uneven in places. Go before 8am for the best light and the fewest elbows.