Hoi An 2026: Vietnam's Best-Preserved Ancient Trading Town

Hoi An is a UNESCO World Heritage ancient trading town on the Thu Bon River in central Vietnam, 30km south of Da Nang. The 30km transfer from Da Nang airport takes 30–45 minutes; a pre-booked fixed-price airport transfer avoids the taxi negotiation on arrival. It has been continuously inhabited for over 2,000 years, and its old quarter — Japanese merchant houses, Chinese clan temples, French colonial facades, and a covered bridge — is the best-preserved pre-modern trading port in Southeast Asia.

Why Hoi An matters

Between the 15th and 19th centuries, Hoi An (then Faifo) was one of Asia’s most important trading ports. Japanese, Chinese, and European merchants established communities here, and their architecture remained standing because the Thu Bon River silted up in the 19th century, causing the port trade to shift to Da Nang — and with it, the development pressure that would otherwise have replaced the old buildings.

The result is a town where the old quarter looks largely as it did 200 years ago. Yellow plaster buildings with shuttered windows, wooden Chinese shophouses, the Fujian Chinese Assembly Hall, and the Japanese Covered Bridge (Lai Vien Kieu, built in 1593 by Japanese merchants) are all intact and in use.

The experience

Hoi An is overwhelmingly pleasant. The old quarter is walkable, the food is outstanding, the Thu Bon River at evening is one of the most photographed scenes in Vietnam, and the town has a concentration of tailors, artisans, and cooking school operators unlike anywhere else in the country.

It is also very popular and has been for years. The old quarter is heavily touristed during the day. The experience is better at dawn (06:00–08:00 before the tour groups arrive) and at night (from about 18:00 when the lanterns are lit). The tourist infrastructure is excellent — it is easy and comfortable to navigate.

An Bang and Cua Dai beaches

The old quarter entry ticket (₫120,000 — access to five heritage sites including the Japanese Covered Bridge and assembly halls) can be bought at the ticket office on Nguyen Thai Hoc street or in advance through Tiqets. Pre-booking is useful on busy weekends and full-moon festival nights.

Hoi An has beaches 4km east of the old town. An Bang Beach is the better option — slightly further than Cua Dai but cleaner and with a good selection of restaurants and beach bars. Cua Dai suffered from coastal erosion and is less recommended than it was historically.

Tailors and custom clothing

Hoi An has hundreds of tailors who will produce custom-made clothing to order. Suits, dresses, shirts, and shoes can be made in 24–48 hours at very competitive prices. The quality varies considerably — the better established tailors (Yaly, A Dong Silk, Bebe) charge more but produce consistent results.

Seasons

Hoi An’s climate matches Da Nang: March–August is beach season and dry. October–November brings significant flooding — the old town regularly floods during typhoon season, and some years the flooding is severe. January–February is cool and mostly dry. The lantern festival on the full moon of every month is worth planning around.

Costs

Hoi An is more expensive than the Vietnamese average — the tourist concentration has pushed accommodation and restaurant prices up. Budget: ₫350,000–600,000 ($14–24) per day. Mid-range: ₫600,000–1,500,000 ($24–60). Old Town entry ticket: ₫120,000 ($4.80) for access to five heritage sites.