# Hoi An Central Market > Hoi An Central Market (Chợ Hội An) is the town's everyday market on the eastern edge of the Old Town, by the river: fish and herbs at dawn, and a food hall in the yellow entrance building on Tran Phu Street serving cao lau. It's free and open daily from about 5:00 to 18:00. Allow 45 minutes and bring cash. Web page: https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/hoi-an-central-market - City: [Hoi An](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an), Vietnam - YesGo score: 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 45 min - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free — no ticket or gate - Hours: Every day, roughly 5:00–18:00; busiest before noon - Time needed: 30–60 minutes; about an hour with breakfast - Where: 19 Tran Phu Street — the block between Tran Phu, Bach Dang riverside, Tran Quy Cap and Tieu La, opposite Quan Cong Temple - Food hall: Most dishes roughly 25,000–50,000 VND, prices on the menu boards - Payment: Cash in dong, small notes; stalls don't take cards - Old Town ticket: Not needed for the market; for Old Town monuments it's 80,000 or 120,000 VND, valid up to 3 days - Coordinates: 15.87680, 108.33136 - Facts checked: 05.11.2026 ## Key facts - **Free** — to enter the market — there's no ticket (source: hoiandaytrip.com; backpackandsnorkel.com) - **≈ 5:00–18:00** — daily; fish and produce early, food hall and shops later (source: Da Nang tourism portal (approximate); hoiandaytrip.com; localvietnam.com (unofficial)) - **≈ 25,000–50,000 VND** — a dish at the food hall: cao lau, mi Quang, banh xeo (source: goodmorning-hoian.com; localvietnam.com; hoiandaytrip.com (unofficial)) - **Around 1848** — the market moved to its present site (source: Da Nang tourism portal; hoiandaytrip.com; goodmorning-hoian.com) - **Le Loi Street** — the market's earlier site, by the Hoi An Communal House (Đình Ông Voi) (source: Da Nang tourism portal; hoiandaytrip.com; localvietnam.com) - **Early 1900s** — the look of the yellow entrance hall dates from the French colonial period (source: hoiandaytrip.com; localvietnam.com) - **4 streets** — frame the market block: Tran Phu, Bach Dang, Tran Quy Cap, Tieu La (source: Da Nang tourism portal; hoiandaytrip.com) - **From 4–6 hours** — rush tailoring in Hoi An; complex pieces 1–2 days (source: Nhân Dân newspaper; Da Nang tourism portal) - **Cash** — food stalls and market stalls don't take cards (source: hoiandaytrip.com; Da Nang tourism portal) - **80,000 / 120,000 VND** — the two Old Town ticket types — for monuments, not the market (source: Hoi An World Cultural Heritage Conservation Center, notice No. 125; Da Nang Department of Tourism) > **Go before 9 a.m.** This market is a morning place. From **first light until about 9:00**, fish comes off the boats by the river, farmers from the surrounding villages lay out herbs, eggs and fruit, and the shoppers are local cooks, not tour groups. By noon the produce rows thin out and the food hall gets hot — there are only fans under that roof. A bowl of cao lau here is the best breakfast in town. ## Hoi An Central Market hours and best time to visit There's no official timetable. Da Nang's tourism portal suggests **roughly 5:00 to 18:00 every day**, and guides range from 5:00–16:00 to 6:00–19:00 for the food hall. The market doesn't close on any day of the week. That's why the hours here are marked checking. **Early morning (5:00–9:00)** is the real market: fish and shrimp are sold right by the riverside and trading is at its busiest. **From 9:00 to 15:00** the food hall and shops are in full swing — good for lunch. **After 16:00** the produce rows pack up, though some food stalls carry on, and in the evening a small night market sets up on Bach Dang and Tran Quy Cap streets next door. In the rainy season — in central Vietnam roughly September to December — the riverside by the market sometimes floods, and the waterside stalls may not trade. Ask at your hotel on wet days. ## Where is the Central Market? It fills a whole block on the **eastern edge of the Old Town**: **Tran Phu Street** to the north, **Bach Dang** riverside to the south, Tran Quy Cap Street to the west and Tieu La to the east. The main entrance is at 19 Tran Phu, at the corner of Nguyen Hue Street, facing [Quan Cong Temple](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/quan-cong-temple). You can't miss it: the Tran Phu side is a long **yellow building** with a tiled roof and "Chợ Hội An" across the front. The food hall fills this first building; behind it are rows of spices, coffee and kitchenware, and on the river side, open-air fish, herb and fruit sellers. It marks the edge of the heritage zone. Walk west along Tran Phu and you pass the assembly halls and old merchant houses, with the [Japanese Covered Bridge](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/japanese-covered-bridge) at the far end — which makes the market a natural starting point for the [Old Town](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/hoi-an-old-town). ## The food hall: what to eat The food hall is a long room in the first building off Tran Phu: dozens of stalls, each with its own speciality, plastic stools, and menus with photos and prices in dong. The dish to order is **cao lau** — chewy noodles with pork, herbs and crunchy croutons, a speciality you only really find in Hoi An. Also look for **mi Quang**, broad yellow noodles from Quang Nam province served with just a little broth; **banh xeo**, crisp pancakes you wrap in rice paper with herbs; **white rose dumplings** (banh bong hong trang), steamed rice-flour parcels; **com ga** chicken rice; **banh mi**; and sweet **che**. Most dishes run **25,000–50,000 VND** going by local guides (unofficial). Prices are fixed, so there's no haggling over food. Order where the price is printed on the menu, and pick stalls full of Vietnamese diners — usually in the side aisles rather than the main walkway. Vegetarian choices are limited. ## What to buy - **Coffee** — ground, whole-bean and instant, plus the small metal phin filters and cups for Vietnamese drip coffee. - **Spices and sauces** — Hoi An chilli sauce, pepper, star anise, fish sauce, and dried cao lau and mi Quang noodles to cook at home. - **Sweets** — mung bean cakes, sesame candy, coconut biscuits. Check the packaging and dates if you're flying home with them. - **Tea, nuts and jams** — easy, light gifts. - **Souvenirs** — silk lanterns, fabric bags, woven baskets, and wood, rattan, bamboo and ceramic crafts. - **Leather goods, conical hats and scarves** — in the rows around the main hall. - **Fabric and tailoring** — cloth stalls and small tailors inside the market and at the cloth market next door. ## Tailors and the cloth market Hoi An is famous for made-to-measure clothes, and the market is an easy place to start. There are small **tailoring counters inside the market itself**, and a block east, by **Hoang Dieu Street**, the **cloth market (Chợ vải)** puts fabric sellers and tailors under one roof — dresses, ao dai, shirts, trousers and suits. Timing: the Vietnamese newspaper Nhân Dân puts rush tailoring for visitors at **4–6 hours** depending on the piece, while Da Nang's tourism portal says some items take **24–48 hours** and recommends one or two fittings. Order on your first day, not your last. Agree the price before you're measured, and write it down. Market tailors are cheaper than the shops on Tran Phu and Nguyen Thai Hoc, but quality varies — look at finished pieces on the rail and feel the fabric before committing. ## Bargaining and paying Haggling is **expected** for souvenirs, fabric, bags and clothes: open at about half the first price and meet in the middle. If it doesn't work, walk on — the next stall usually has the same thing. Food and labelled groceries aren't haggled. Pay in **cash**. Carry small notes of 10,000–50,000 VND, since change for big notes is scarce at the stalls. Foreign Visa and Mastercard work in hotels and larger restaurants, not here, and Grab can be paid in cash or with a card linked in the app. Ask for fragile buys like ceramics and lanterns to be wrapped well. In the morning crush around the fish rows, keep your phone and wallet zipped away. ## How to get to Hoi An Central Market 1. **From the Japanese Covered Bridge on foot** — 8–10 minutes: walk east along Tran Phu Street past the assembly halls to the corner of Nguyen Hue Street; the entrance faces Quan Cong Temple. Bach Dang riverside is a pleasant alternative. 2. **From a hotel outside the Old Town** — take a Grab or taxi to the edge of the walking zone (Tran Hung Dao or Phan Chu Trinh Street), then walk 5–7 minutes down Nguyen Hue to Tran Phu. 3. **By bicycle** — handy from outlying hotels and An Bang beach; leave the bike at a paid parking spot by the market, as you can't wheel it through the aisles. 4. **From Da Nang** — about 30 km: 40–50 minutes by Grab, taxi or shuttle bus to the edge of the Old Town, then on foot. 5. **From Da Nang airport (DAD)** — Hoi An has no airport or railway station; the airport is about 30 km away, 40–50 minutes by car. ## Do you need a ticket, and is it worth it? **No ticket is needed for the market** — there's no booth. The Old Town ticket (80,000 or 120,000 VND, valid up to three days) is for the zone's monuments: assembly halls, old houses and museums. If you're exploring the Old Town anyway, buy it at the nearest booth; it doesn't change anything at the market. Is it worth it? **Yes, if you're into food and everyday local life**: this isn't a showpiece, it's where Hoi An does its shopping. But be ready for a real Asian wet market — cramped, a wet floor by the fish, strong smells, and meat on open counters without refrigeration. If you're after pretty photos and souvenirs, the evening [night market](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/hoi-an-night-market) on An Hoi islet suits you better. Kids usually enjoy it, but the fish rows are slippery and crowded early on, so keep small ones close. Allow 45 minutes, or about an hour with breakfast. ## Central Market vs Night Market | | Central Market | Night Market | | --- | --- | --- | | Where | Eastern edge of the Old Town, Tran Phu Street | An Hoi islet, Nguyen Hoang Street | | When | Dawn to early evening, best in the morning | Evenings, from about 17:00 | | Best for | Produce, the food hall, fabric and tailors | Lanterns, souvenirs, street snacks | | Who shops | Locals and visitors | Mostly visitors | | Entry | Free | Free | They're 10–15 minutes' walk apart: the Central Market in the morning, the night market after dark. ## Before you go - [ ] Cash in small notes - [ ] Arrive before 9:00 while the fish rows are trading - [ ] Skip the hotel breakfast — eat at the food hall - [ ] Closed shoes: the floor by the fish is wet - [ ] Want clothes made? Go on day one - [ ] A zipped bag for phone and wallet ## Hoi An's markets: compare and choose Markets in Hoi An scored by YesGo. - [Hoi An Central Market](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/hoi-an-central-market) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free entry - [Hoi An Night Market](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/hoi-an-night-market) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free entry ## An Old Town morning: market to Japanese Bridge Breakfast at the market, Quan Cong Temple across the street, then west along Tran Phu to the Fujian Assembly Hall and Tan Ky House, ending at the Japanese Covered Bridge. Add it to your route and YesGo will set the timings and walks. 1. [Hoi An Central Market](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/hoi-an-central-market) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free entry 2. [Quan Cong Temple](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/quan-cong-temple) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Old Town ticket, 80,000–120,000 VND 3. [Fujian Assembly Hall](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/fujian-assembly-hall) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Old Town ticket, 80,000–120,000 VND 4. [Tan Ky Old House](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/tan-ky-old-house) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · One Old Town ticket coupon 5. [Japanese Covered Bridge](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/japanese-covered-bridge) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Old Town ticket: 80,000–120,000 VND ## Don't mix it up This is Hoi An Central Market (Chợ Hội An) on Tran Phu Street. The night market on An Hoi islet is a separate place across the river, and Da Nang's Han Market and Con Market are 30 km away. ## Tips - Arrive at 6:00–8:00: the fish is out and the tour groups aren't. - Cao lau at the food hall makes the best breakfast in Hoi An — order where prices are on the menu. - Sit in the side aisles of the food hall, where Vietnamese diners eat. - Bargain from half price on souvenirs; never on food. - Getting clothes made? Order on day one to leave room for one or two fittings. - Ground coffee and a metal phin filter make a light, useful gift. - It's hot under the roof at midday: eat before 12:00 or after 15:00. ## Questions ### What are Hoi An Central Market's opening hours? Daily, roughly 5:00 to 18:00, with the food hall open until about 19:00. There's no official timetable — this is the guide given by Da Nang's tourism portal and local guides. ### Where is Hoi An Central Market? On the eastern edge of the Old Town: the main entrance is at 19 Tran Phu Street, opposite Quan Cong Temple, and the market backs onto Bach Dang riverside. It's 8–10 minutes' walk from the Japanese Covered Bridge. ### What is the best time to visit? Early morning, before 9:00, when fish and produce are sold by the river and locals do their shopping. Late morning is good for lunch at the food hall. ### Do I need an Old Town ticket for the Central Market? No, the market is free. The Old Town ticket (80,000 or 120,000 VND, valid up to 3 days) covers the zone's monuments, not the market. ### What should I eat at the Central Market food hall? Cao lau, mi Quang, banh xeo, white rose dumplings, chicken rice and banh mi. Most dishes are roughly 25,000–50,000 VND (unofficial). ### Is Hoi An Central Market worth visiting? Yes for food lovers and anyone curious about daily life — it's a real working market. It's crowded, wet and smelly by the fish, so for souvenirs and photos the night market is easier. ### Can I get clothes tailored at the market? Yes. There are tailors inside the market and at the cloth market next door on Hoang Dieu Street. Rush jobs take from 4–6 hours; complex pieces 1–2 days with fittings. ### Can I pay by card? No — bring cash in dong, ideally small notes. Cards work in hotels and bigger restaurants, not at market stalls. ### What can I buy at Hoi An market? Vietnamese coffee and phin filters, spices, Hoi An chilli sauce, dried cao lau noodles, sweets, bamboo and ceramic crafts, and fabric. Bargain on everything except food. ### How long do I need? 30–60 minutes to walk the rows and eat. Longer if you're ordering clothes from a tailor. ## How we checked The market block, the 1848 date and the earlier site by the Hoi An Communal House come from Da Nang's tourism portal and match hoiandaytrip.com; goodmorning-hoian.com places the first building on Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, which conflicts with the others, so we leave that out. Sources differ on when the market was last rebuilt, so we don't give a year. There are no official hours: the Da Nang portal suggests 5:00–18:00, as does hoiandaytrip.com, vietnamdiscovery.com says 5:00–16:00, backpackandsnorkel.com 6:00–17:30, and goodmorning-hoian.com gives 6:00–19:00 for the food hall; marked checking. One site gives an address on Phan Boi Chau Street that matches neither the map nor other sources, so we don't use it. Dish prices span three guides and are unofficial. Tailoring times come from Nhân Dân and the Da Nang portal. The cloth market's location comes from two guides and is unofficial. The English core comes from English search results and related questions. ## Sources - Da Nang Department of Tourism portal (danangfantasticity.com): market block, approximate hours, history (around 1848, earlier site by the Hoi An Communal House), goods, tailoring in 24–48 hours, cash and bargaining tips - Hoi An World Cultural Heritage Conservation Center and Da Nang Department of Tourism: Old Town ticket (two types, 80,000 and 120,000 VND), valid up to 3 days - hoiandaytrip.com: 19 Tran Phu, the block's four streets, 1848, early-20th-century look, hours, food hall, cao lau prices, cash only (unofficial) - goodmorning-hoian.com: food hall entrance at Tran Phu and Nguyen Hue, yellow building, food hall hours, dishes and prices (unofficial) - localvietnam.com: best time, market sections, cloth market nearby, bargaining, French colonial-era restoration (unofficial) - Nhân Dân newspaper: tailors inside Hoi An market, rush tailoring in 4–6 hours - gtrip.vn: cloth market in the Tran Phu – Hoang Dieu – Bach Dang block (unofficial) - backpackandsnorkel.com: market not part of the Old Town ticket, free entry - OpenStreetMap: market location - YesGo Vietnam notes: cash, cards and Grab --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.