10 Unique Things to Do in Hoi An on Your Next Trip!
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UPDATED March 3, 2025
Because I spent four years living in Ho Chi Minh City, I’ve visited Hoi An quite a few times over the years. And although this town is small, I’m always surprised at all of the unique things to do in Hoi An that are completely different from what you’d find anywhere else in Vietnam.
If you’re Vietnam-bound and looking for cool things to do in Hoi An, here is my insider’s guide to all of the must-see attractions and activities, from what to eat to how to discover this city’s hidden gems.
Heading to Vietnam? You might also be interested in these posts:
- An Expat’s Guide to Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City
- 15 Unique Things to Do in Danang
- Is Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island Worth Visiting?
- A Traveler’s Guide to the Con Dao Islands in Vietnam
- 8 Fun Things to Do In Nha Trang, Vietnam
Hoi An Travel Tips
Get there affordably: Buy your plane, train or bus tickets from elsewhere in Vietnam with 12GoAsia.
Arrange your eSIM before you land: Airalo is my go-to when purchasing eSIMS for my travels, and they have plenty of different options for Vietnam so you can be connected the moment you land.
Airport Pickup: If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of getting a taxi at the Da Nang Airport, you can easily arrange for a driver to pick you up at the arrivals area and whisk you away to your hotel in Hoi An (rates starting at $11).
Where to stay in Hoi An: If you want to stay in ultimate luxury, the Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai is the best 5-star hotel in town (rooms starting at $950); for a luxe mid-range option in the heart of the Ancient Town I love Hoi An Historic Hotel (rooms starting at $75); for those of you looking for something more budget-friendly, my go-to is always Green Apple Hotel – modern rooms, free breakfast, and a lovely pool (rooms from $17).
10 Unique Things to Do in Hoi An
1. Wander around the Ancient Town
For those who read my blog, you know that my favorite way to explore any new city is by walking, walking and walking. Because cars aren’t allowed to drive in the Ancient Town, the area is prime for exploring on foot.
This is one of the top things to do in Hoi An. And sure, it is very touristy, but I always love marveling at the old buildings, snapping photos of the postcard-perfect alleyways, sampling street snacks and popping into all of the little shops – you honestly never know what gems you’ll stumble upon in Hoi An’s historic center. The people-watching is pretty great too!
If this is your first time in Hoi An, I do highly suggest doing a walking tour of the Ancient Town. You’ll get a way better insight into the history, people and hidden gems of the area.
2. Ride a bicycle to temples, rice paddies and the beach
Want to see rice paddies, Buddhist temples, beaches, water buffalos and their egret bird friends? Hoi An’s got you covered.
Getting the chance to take in Hoi An’s magical scenery from a bicycle is one of my all-time favorite Hoi An activities. Cycling is big in Hoi An and it’s an incredible way to check out all of the city’s beautiful temples, verdant rice paddies and everyday street scenes.
I highly suggest biking from the Ancient Town to An Bang Beach if you’ve got the time. While the main road heading to An Bang Beach from Hoi An is busy and not quite as atmospheric as I would have liked, it’s relatively straightforward. There’s literally a bike lane, so for anyone who’s nervous, you’ll be just fine! You can also veer off the main road onto little dirt paths and bike around the rice paddies, which is pretty cool.
3. Take a dip at An Bang Beach
After biking around for a couple of hours, An Bang Beach (another one of the top Hoi An attractions) was a sight for sore eyes. We were super ready to take a dip and drink a beer so we took a walk to the northern end of the beach and just kind of plopped ourselves down on some lounge chairs.
What can I say, the place had beer and we were thirsty. Plus, the lounge chairs were free with the purchase of a drink or food. What’s not to love?
An Bang Beach is lovely and well worth adding to your list of Hoi An activities!
4. Get Tipsy at a Cocktail Bar
I’m always impressed at how hip Hoi An’s cocktail bar scene is and I always like to hit up new places every time I’m in town. There are always new cocktail bars popping up onto the scene!
If you want to have an elevated night of bar hopping, I absolutely love this Hoi An Secret Cocktail Experience. You’ll get led around town by a local guide who will take you to four “secret” (and seriously cool) cocktail bars that you’d never find on your own.
Trust me, this city takes its cocktail game very seriously, so if you love going to cool cocktail bars, this tour is a must. I do, however, suggest doing it at the beginning of your trip because you’ll want to return to these places to try more of their cocktail creations!
5. Sample Hoi An’s famous dishes
If you’re wondering what to do in Hoi An as a foodie, you’re in luck! Eating your way through this city is incredible. Vietnamese food is complicated and it varies wildly from city to city and region to region. But trust me, the food in Hoi An is something special!
If you’re in Hoi An, it should be a goal of yours to do all the eating possible. Hoi An’s most famous dishes are cao lau, mi quang (turmeric-infused noodles topped with broth, meat and herbs) and banh xeo (a crispy “pancake” stuffed with everything from shrimp to pork to mushrooms). But there’s so much more to eat than just these things.
If you’re wondering where to go to try some of Hoi An’s most famous dishes, Morning Glory in the Old Town is always a crowd-pleaser. Try the cao lau!
6. Take a food tour
I highly suggest doing a food tour while in Hoi An to really get an understanding of the cuisine. I’ve heard great things about this Evening Walking Food Tour with Viator, which takes you around the city to sample regional specialties, like Hoi An banh mi and white rose dumplings.
And if you happen to be a vegetarian, check out my post all about where to find vegetarian food in Hoi An.
7. Shop (or people watch) at the Night Market
Every night you’ll see streams of people heading over the bridge from Hoi An’s Old Town to the An Hoi Peninsula. The Night Market is one of the top things to do in Hoi An, so it does get busy!
Here you’ll find plenty of riverfront bars and restaurants as well as a ton of vendors selling everything from elephant pants to quirky foods to all manner of touristy trinkets.
I didn’t actually buy anything at the market but I really enjoyed wandering around and people-watching. It’s definitely worth venturing across the bridge to check out all the mayhem.
7. Get sunset drinks along the river
If you’re looking for a sunset cocktail but want to escape the crowds you can actually head to the end of the Night Market on An Hoi Peninsula (where the pier is that takes you to the Cham Islands) and grab a beer or cocktail at one of the makeshift bars.
Basically, they both sell drinks from modest stalls and you can sit on a tiny plastic stool and look out over the river as the sun goes down. I kind of liked this side of the peninsula because there were very few people there.
8. Go temple hopping
It’s no secret that seeing the temples is one of the top things to do in Hoi An. There are dozens of incense-filled temples all around this city. But my favorite find was the Ba Mu Temple (pictured above), which dates back to 1626 and is located in the Old Quarter.
But during my time in Hoi An, I spotted dozens of temples. You can buy a pass in the Old Quarter, which gives you entry to some temples, among other attractions.
But there are also a handful of temples and pagodas located outside of the Old Town that are stunning and totally free to enter.
Day trips from Hoi An:
9. Wander around the Marble Mountains
When it comes to things to do in Hoi An, visiting the Marble Mountains is a must. They are located 18km from Hoi An and are a super easy half-day trip from Hoi An or Danang. You can easily take a Grab there for about $10 or join a tour.
The Marble Mountains is definitely touristy but I’ve been there multiple times and it never disappoints. The main mountain is called Thuy Son. It’s filled with stunning caves, lovely pagodas, and ornate temples, and if you hike to the very top, you get killer 360-degree views of Danang and its endless beach.
It’s well worth spending a few hours at the Marble Mountains. Timing is everything so try to go into the more popular caves (like An Phu Cave) when the large tour groups are just leaving. Also note that walking around the Marble Mountains can get hot, especially around midday, so it’s best to visit in the early morning if you’re heat-averse!
10. Visit the My Son Ruins
Checking out the My Son Ruins is easily one of the coolest Hoi An activities. The My Son Sanctuary is located about an hour from Hoi An. If you’ve never experienced the region’s ancient Cham architecture before, I’d recommend heading out there if you have the time.
As someone who’s seen a lot of ancient ruins in the region, including Angkor Wat, they weren’t the most magnificent or well-preserved temple complexes I’ve seen.
It’s also worth noting that the complexes are in pretty bad shape and were heavily damaged during the Vietnam War. There are currently only 20 temples left. Sadly two-thirds of them are gone. Even still, I do recommend visiting if you have an interest in the ancient structures and the history of the region.
We booked a driver through our hotel for about $18 and went for sunrise. If you are going to My Son for sunrise, do note that the ticket booth doesn’t open until 6 am. Once we made it to the actual ruins, it was already light outside.
There are a few perks to visiting early though: the temperature is pleasant and there are barely any visitors at that time. Literally, there were six other people there when we visited. I do, however, wish we would have had a tour guide. We would have learned a lot more about the ruins had we had a guide.
I highly suggest this early morning tour with Viator if you’re looking to visit the ruins with a guide. It has stellar reviews and you won’t have to worry about arranging transportation or missing out on My Son’s fascinating history. Plus, you’ll get a traditional lunch of Hoi An’s famous mi quang noodles!
Where to stay in Hoi An
Hoi An is chock full of amazing boutique hotels. It’s almost impossible to choose! After a lot of research, I went with the Green Apple Hotel. We were trying to stick to a budget but our minds were boggled by what we got for a mere $26 a night.
Located a 10-minute walk from the Old Town, this place had a pool, an enormous buffet breakfast, spacious rooms with balconies, comfy beds, tons of amenities, free bikes, and the most amazing customer service ever…I could go on. It’s a steal and I highly recommend it.
That being said, Hoi An’s hotels were made for splurging. If you’re in town for a special occasion, like a honeymoon, and you’re looking for luxury, the Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai is your best bet. Although rooms here don’t come cheap!.
For a more affordable option with boutique vibes, Hoi An Historic Hotel is another incredible option that puts you right in the Ancient Town. Plus, you can take advantage of cool amenities like an outdoor pool, complimentary morning yoga classes, and lavish buffet breakfasts.
