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Hoi An was our favourite city in central Vietnam, far better than Da Nang. Our only regret is that we gave it one day instead of two.
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Getting there
From Da Nang it's about 35–40 minutes by Grab.
Start with the coconut basket boat
We made the mistake of going to the Old Town first. Do the coconut boat first: it's about 5.5 km from the Old Town. Search "coconut boat tour" in Grab and you'll arrive at a row of operators all selling rides.
- Quotes ranged from 90,000 to 150,000 VND per person. We went with an operator with good TripAdvisor ratings at 90,000 per person.
- Included: watching the boat spinning, a net-fishing demo and crab catching. Spinning yourself costs 100,000 extra.
- Go late afternoon, because midday is hot and humid.
The round boats and the coconut forest are a genuinely different experience. Even if you've done the Trang An or Tam Coc boat rides in Ninh Binh, do this.
The Ancient Town
Walk it rather than taking a buggy (buggies cost a few hundred thousand dong). The Old Town is small, and wandering at your own pace is the best part. Come towards evening.
- Japanese Covered Bridge: Hoi An's most famous landmark, linking two cultures.
- Lotus tea at Mot: on the way to the bridge. Expect a long queue. About 20,000 VND.
- Rice paper cake: chicken or vegetarian, about 10,000 VND.
- Coconut ice cream in the shell, which comes with free coconut juice.
Lantern boat at night
The most famous thing in Hoi An. Wait until dark, when the river glows.
- Fixed price: 220,000 VND per boat (we were four). No bargaining.
- About 20 minutes.
Shopping & tailoring
- Leather bags: genuine leather, about US$30–150. Many shops quote in dollars because of all the foreigners.
- Custom shoes and clothes: Hoi An is famous for made-to-measure suits and dresses. They need at least 24 hours, so stay overnight.
- Bargain hard: start at 50%. We were quoted 350, offered 150 and paid 200.
- Buy bags here, not in Da Nang.
Where to stay
If you can, stay one or two nights in Hoi An. There's good food, good vibes and good shopping. See our Da Nang 3-day plan for how it fits together.
Live Agoda prices. Book on Agoda at the same price, and we earn a small commission.
Open Agoda →Our picks for Hoi An
FAQs
How much is the Hoi An basket boat ride?
We paid about 90,000 VND per person after comparing a few operators. Boat spinning cost 100,000 VND extra.
How much is the lantern boat in Hoi An?
A fixed 220,000 VND per boat for our group of four, for about 20 minutes. There's no negotiation.
TAGS: HOI AN · VIETNAM · BASKET BOAT · LANTERN BOAT · SHOPPING
💬 Questions & answers
NO QUESTIONS YET. ASK US ANYTHING ABOUT THIS TRIP.
Prashant & Sunaina
A travel couple from Pune with Kashmiri Pandit × Maharashtrian roots, 8+ countries and counting. Every rupee shared.
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