One Day in Hoi An • An itinerary for exploring the ‘Lantern City’

Is one day in Hoi An enough? I only had a day to explore this beautiful ancient city, and in all honesty I could have happily spent at least two more there! But when time is of the essence, here’s my suggested, and very much tried-and-tested itinerary for spending one day in Hoi An.

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Skip straight to the one day in Hoi An itinerary

The English translation of ‘Hoi An’ is ‘peaceful meeting place,’ and that came as no surprise to me whatsoever. Somehow, despite the busy streets of the old town on the day I arrived, it did indeed seem completely peaceful- in fact, it almost felt like I was stepping back in time. Maybe it’s the lack of cars, or perhaps it was the pretty houses and shops strung with magical lanterns; in fact, probably a combination of both.

Whatever it was, I was instantly completely enchanted.

The city is a hodgepodge of different time periods, cobbled together and intertwined like a very complex but exquisitely beautiful embroidery. The preservation of all this elegant old architecture is actually quite a rarity in Vietnam; it’s a quickly-developing nation which has been on a sprint to catch up with the world after suffering so much war and destruction. High-rises and futuristic architecture are springing up across the land, but Hoi An sleepily rolls along at a much slower pace.

And we all know I’m a fan of the slower-paced places.

Although there are always tourists wandering open-mouthed up and down the tiny lanes, there are still plenty of locals to be found; children giggling on their way home from school, old women in conical straw hats selling fruit and vegetables on the pavements, and people on bicycles winding through the hubbub. It’s all just rather lovely.

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Ten Days in Vietnam: Our Itinerary

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A potted history of Hoi An

Hoi An is located smack bang in the middle of Vietnam’s coastline, and for centuries it was one of the most important trading ports on the South China Sea. And you know what comes with port cities, pals? A fusion of as many different cultures and nationalities that settle there. The architecture is a melting-pot of indigenous, Japanese, Chinese, and European influences, painted in mustard yellows and earthy reds, with ornate temples, pagodas and bridges dotted on every corner.

Hoi An prospered as a port all the way up until the 1800s, when Emperor Minh Mang declared that the only port European ships could trade at, was the nearby city of Da Nang. Unsurprisingly, the majority of trading activity move on over to Da Nang, and life in Hoi An slowed as the trade ships left.

Time wore on. The French marched in, took over, and (eventually) were booted out. The Americans flew in, blasted a lot of things to smithereens, and flew out. And then after that war ended, a Polish man turned up. Kazimierz Kwiatkowski was an architect whose job it was to save the fading, slightly crumbling buildings of Hoi An, on behalf of UNESCO and for the good of the people of Vietnam and indeed, the world. He breathed life, and a little bit of pixie dust, into the city’s narrow lanes, and revived it to its former elegant glory. The city was so grateful they even built a statue of Kazimierz to say thanks.

Now don’t get me wrong, pals: being put on the UNESCO World Heritage isn’t just an honour, it can really do a lot to help a place out. After Hoi An was given UNESCO status, tourism boomed like never before; but perhaps it boomed a little too much. There’s no denying the city can get incredibly overcrowded, and like many tourist destinations it can sometimes feel as if the scales are tipped too far towards welcoming tourists and not enough towards maintaining life for the locals.

Somehow, Hoi An retains its charm despite the crowds, but as a truly honest tale-teller, I’m letting you know now pals: this town can get rather packed.

How to get to Hoi An

The closest airport to Hoi An is Da Nang, and it takes about 40 minutes by road to drive between the two.

The closest train station to Hoi An? That would also be in Da Nang. If you’ve only enough time to spend one day in Hoi An, Da Nang really is the best place to base yourself.

There’s currently no public bus to Hoi An, but you can easily book a taxi using the Grab app, or read my guide on traveling from Da Nang to Hoi An for more details.

My itinerary for one day in Hoi An

When I first arrived in Hoi An, I had come directly from the airport and was feeling extreeeemely exhausted, but very eager to explore. As a result, this one day in Hoi An is actually a fairly relaxed affair; I definitely didn’t want to be running here there and everywhere, cramming in a thousand activities having not slept for almost 24 hours.

My itinerary focuses mainly on food and good vibes.

However, I appreciate that if you’re a little more well-rested or generally more full-of-beans, you might want some more. So here and there I’ll slot in a few extra ideas, for those who might want a more jam-packed one day in Hoi An itinerary. I’ve got you, pals.

Grab some Vietnamese Coffee

First and foremost, you’re going to need a coffee to fuel your day. Head to Uncle Huan Coffee, which is right on the edge of the old town. The location means that a taxi can drop you very close by (cars can’t enter the actual old town streets), and aside from that it’s just a really cute, very Vietnamese coffee shop. The coconut coffee is delicious (although so is just about everything on the menu), the staff are super-friendly, and the decor is downright brilliant. It’s impossible to miss the fish tank TV at the bar.

Stroll through the streets

With only one day in Hoi An, you definitely need to dedicate at least a couple of hours to just having a wander. (Especially if you’re a people-watcher and a photo-taker, like me.) Make sure you take a walk over the 16th century Japanese Bridge, and at least wander past one of the many temples; the Quan Gong Pagoda is a beautiful Chinese temple, or the Ba Mu Temple Gate with its stunning circular detail are both must-sees.

To enter any historic building or temple in Hoi An (including the Japanese Bridge), you must have a Hoi An Old Town ticket, which you can buy from one of the yellow ticket huts located around the town. The current cost (2024) is around €5. This post details the ticket booth locations.

If you’d rather explore Hoi An with a guide, this ‘Hidden Gems of Old Hoi An’ walking tour looks incredible. Your guide will take you to meet and talk with locals who live in the city, to learn about life in Hoi An and then to try some delicious locally-made food and drinks. (If you’ve not tried it yet, Vietnamese food is wonderful.)

Eat Bánh Mì

Bánh Mì didn’t originate in Hoi An, but I’m including it on this itinerary because the vegan banh mi I ate here was the best one I have ever had; it’s also the first place I’d ever tried it.

Basically a Vietnamese sandwich, these are a taste sensation.

During French colonial rule in the 1800s, the locals were introduced to the humble baguette. However, as a French invention, they were forbidden from changing the way it was eaten. That is, until around the 1950s, when the Le family put their own twist on the baguette, turning it into a very affordable food option. The light, airy baguettes are usually filled with a variation of ingredients, but normally Vietnamese ham, pate, Laughing Cow cheese or mayonnaise, cucumber, coriander, chillis and spring onions. And the best place to get one is from an aluminium street cart with a few plastic stools scattered around.

We tried some delicious vegan bánh mì from this roadside cart. It’s clearly a popular place as just after lunchtime the owner had run out of bread; she had to hop on her bike to the bakery to re-stock for our sandwiches. (My pal Chris had even had one for breakfast, then returned at lunchtime for round two. If that’s not a seal of approval, I don’t know what is.)

Pick up a juice

Street food is everywhere in Vietnam, and I’m a firm believer that sampling the street food is one of the best ways to see a country. But if you need something to wash it down with, I highly recommend picking up a juice from one of the roadside vendors.

Sugarcane juice is hugely popular, but I preferred an icy cold freshly squeezed pomegranate juice to cool me down on what was an incredibly hot and sticky day. Also, I was absolutely loving the fact that it only cost about the equivalent of 50p. What a joy.

Admire the lanterns (and maybe make your own)

Hoi An is famous for its pretty paper lanterns, which were introduced by the Japanese centuries ago, and now are an important craft in Hoi An. The colours of the lanterns have different meanings depending on their colour, and there’s an entire street in the old town which is completely lit with a myriad of lanterns swinging above the road.

A lantern is a great souvenir from Hoi An, but if you want something more unique, you could try your hand at a lantern-making class.

My pals Chris and Polis had already been to a lantern-making workshop in Hoi An which they absolutely loved, and had I been there that morning I’d definitely have joined them. (Alas, my flight arrived a little too late!) With a full day in Hoi An, you can definitely fit a lantern-making class into your schedule.

This is one of the top-rated lantern workshops on Viator, where you’ll create your own lantern out of bamboo and silk, then get to take it home with you.

Get a drink in a riverfront bar

There’s a seemingly infinite number of bars, restaurants and coffee shops along the Thu Bôn River which flows through Hoi An, and as golden hour arrives one of these little spots make a great setting for a drink and a spot of people-watching.

We sat outside a cafe overlooking the boats lined up on the river, where a row of rickshaw drivers also sat, scrolling on their phones while they waited for their next passengers. The crowds of the day begin to thin around this time, and it was altogether a very chilled atmosphere (despite the occasional hassle of a hawker trying to sell to us.)

If you’re not ready to relax quite yet, you could head off on a Secret Cocktail Tour of Hoi An. A local guide will take you to several different cocktail bars to enjoy craft-cocktails which nod to the towns fusion of cultures.

Watch the sunset from a Hoi An river boat

A sunset boat ride along the Thu Bôn River is a downright marvellous way to draw your one day in Hoi An to a close, and this experience just reiterated to me how peaceful Hoi An really is. We clambered onto the wooden boat with the help of our lovely boat driver, and then glided away from the waterfront for a serene hour-long ride just as the sky was turning a pinky-orange hue.

The boats are strung with lanterns which start flicker on like magic all along the river as the sun vanishes beneath the horizon.

We booked our lantern boat ride directly with a boatman on the day, but if you prefer you can book ahead of time. This tour includes your pick-up and drop-off, a lantern boat ride, and a nighttime tour of Hoi An.

Browse the night market

It’s probably largely down to the weather, but in England we just have no evening culture for families; once it gets dark, you’re either going home or going out for a crazy night on the town. I’m so jealous of countries like Vietnam which have a very normal culture of being out and about- whatever your age- after dark.

Maybe if night markets were a thing in England, I wouldn’t have such a strong urge to hibernate in the winter. Who can truly say?

Finish your one day in Hoi An with a walk along the river to see all the colours of the lanterns glowing and reflecting off of the inky black water, and then head to the night market to have a browse of the souvenirs and a final taster of some of Hoi An’s street food.

So, I’ll be honest: one day in Hoi An is probably not quite enough, despite the city’s teeny-tiny size. If you have time to spare, I’d definitely suggest an overnight stay here. But if like me you’re on a tight schedule, I’d still say it’s very much worth making the trip to this unique, beautiful place.

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