One day in Hoi An: an itinerary in the best order
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 1 of 6 free; 5 paid — see “Cost”
- Duration
- 6 h 30 min · 09:30–16:03
- Start and finish
- Hoi An Central Market → Japanese Covered Bridge
- On foot
- ≈ 18 min in total
- Transport
- none — all on foot
- Lunch
- around 11:11
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- February to July: dry. September to December can bring floods in the Old Town.
The plan, stop by stop
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Hoi An09:30–16:03 · 6 places · 6 h 30 min
Hoi An Central Market
· 45 min · Free
- 3 min on foot
Fujian Assembly Hall
· 30 min · Old Town ticket, 80,000–120,000 VND
- 3 min on foot
Quan Cong Temple
· 20 min · Old Town ticket, 80,000–120,000 VND
- Lunch · 1 h
- 5 min on foot
Hoi An Ancient Town
· 3 h · 80,000–120,000 VND; streets free
- 3 min on foot
Tan Ky Old House
· 20 min · One Old Town ticket coupon
- 4 min on foot
Japanese Covered Bridge
· 20 min · Old Town ticket: 80,000–120,000 VND
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
1 of 6 are free; 5 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Hoi An Central Market | 44 | 45 min | Free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Fujian Assembly Hall | 39 | 30 min | Old Town ticket, 80,000–120,000 VND |
| 3 | Quan Cong Temple | 39 | 20 min | Old Town ticket, 80,000–120,000 VND |
| 4 | Hoi An Ancient Town | 34 | 3 h | 80,000–120,000 VND; streets free |
| 5 | Tan Ky Old House | 39 | 20 min | One Old Town ticket coupon |
| 6 | Japanese Covered Bridge | 40 | 20 min | Old Town ticket: 80,000–120,000 VND |
| Total | 5 h 20 min | 1 of 6 free |
Tips for each stop
- 1
Hoi An Central Market. The working market by the river: fish and greens in the morning, and a food court with cao lau noodles at the entrance. Free.
- 2
Fujian Assembly Hall. The largest Chinese hall in the Old Town, dedicated to the sea goddess. One Old Town ticket coupon.
- 3
Quan Cong Temple. A 17th-century temple to the general Guan Yu, opposite the market. It shares one coupon with the Japanese Bridge.
- 4
Hoi An Ancient Town. A trading port of the 15th–19th centuries, UNESCO-listed. Streets free; houses and halls on the Old Town ticket, 80,000–120,000 VND.
- 5
Tan Ky Old House. A late-18th-century merchant house where the family still lives upstairs. One coupon; closed 11:30–13:30.
- 6
Japanese Covered Bridge. A wooden bridge from around 1600 with a shrine inside, on the 20,000 VND note. Crossing by coupon 9:00–11:00 and 15:00–22:00.
Who this route is for
- A day trip from Da Nang
- On foot, no tour
- Old houses and evening lanterns
- My Son takes half a day — day two
- The Cham Islands take a full day and depend on the weather
February to July: dry. September to December can bring floods in the Old Town.
What to do in Hoi An in one day
The Old Town is a few streets along the Thu Bon River, all walkable. Market in the morning while the catch is fresh; houses and halls during the day, open roughly 8:00–17:00; lanterns in the evening.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, and add another one nearby — the times recalculate.
The Old Town ticket
The ticket costs 80,000 or 120,000 VND and comes as coupons: one coupon per house, hall or temple. The Japanese Bridge and Quan Cong Temple share one. From 9:00 to 21:30 in summer and 21:00 in winter, motorbikes are banned from the Old Town.
Hoi An at night
In the evening silk lanterns light up the streets. The night market on An Hoi island runs roughly 17:00 to 22:00–23:00: street food, souvenirs, and boats by the water where people float paper lanterns.
Is one day in Hoi An enough?
For the Old Town, yes. My Son Sanctuary and An Bang Beach are day two. The Cham Islands offer snorkelling over coral, March to August.
How to do it right
- The Old Town ticket has a limited number of coupons — choose where to go in advance.
- The Japanese Bridge crossing is open 9:00–11:00 and 15:00–22:00.
- Pagodas and temples want shoulders and knees covered; shoes come off at the door of the halls.
- Vietnam uses the dong (VND). Markets, pagodas and small cafés want cash; Grab is the easiest way to get a car or motorbike taxi.
- Hoi An tailors can make a suit in a day — get measured in the morning.
Questions
What to do in Hoi An in one day?
The central market, the Fujian Hall, Quan Cong Temple, Tan Ky House, the Japanese Bridge and the Old Town streets; lanterns and the night market in the evening.
How much is the Hoi An Old Town ticket?
80,000 or 120,000 VND; one coupon per site.
Do you need a ticket to walk around Hoi An?
Not for the streets; only for houses, halls and temples.
When is the Japanese Bridge open?
Crossing 9:00–11:00 and 15:00–22:00; outside any time.
How do I get from Da Nang to Hoi An?
By Grab or taxi, 30–45 minutes.
How much does the day cost?
The Old Town ticket is 80,000–120,000 VND; everything else is free.
Is it good with kids?
Yes: all on foot, and no motorbikes in the Old Town during the day.
When are the lanterns lit?
Every evening after sunset.
When is the best time to visit?
February to July.
What currency is used in Vietnam?
Vietnam uses the dong (VND). Markets, pagodas and small cafés want cash; Grab is the easiest way to get a car or motorbike taxi.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- Hoi An Centre for Cultural Heritage Management: Old Town ticket
- Wikipedia: Hoi An
