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    Hội An

    Vietnam

    Hội An

    City

    Hội An is a small port city at the mouth of the Thu Bồn River in central Vietnam, about 30 kilometers south of Đà Nẵng.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Vietnam
    7. Central Vietnam
    9. Hội An
    Hội An is a small port city at the mouth of the Thu Bồn River in central Vietnam, about 30 kilometers south of Đà Nẵng. You go there for the Old Town, an exceptionally well-preserved trading port from the 15th to 19th centuries, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999.Over 1,000 wooden houses, assembly halls of Chinese merchants, pagodas, and ancestral homes stand in its narrow alleys, where Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese influences mingle. Its landmark is the Japanese Bridge with its small temple. In the evenings, lanterns illuminate the riverside alleys.About five kilometers to the east lies An Bàng Beach, easily reachable by bicycle. Approximately 40 to 45 kilometers to the west is the temple city of Mỹ Sơn, a popular day trip. As of July 1, 2025, Hội An will administratively belong to the city of Đà Nẵng.

    Sights in Hội An

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Japanese Bridge (Chùa Cầu)
    Historic Landmark

    1Japanese Bridge (Chùa Cầu)

    The covered wooden bridge with a small temple dates back to the 17th century, when a Japanese community settled in Hội An, and is the city's landmark. In 1719, Prince Nguyễn Phúc Chu named it Lai Viễn Kiều, Bridge of Guests from Afar. Following a restoration of approximately 19 months, it was re-inaugurated in August 2024.
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    Mỹ Sơn Temple City
    Historic Landmark

    2Mỹ Sơn Temple City

    The kings of the Champa Kingdom had Hindu temples of red brick built here between the 4th and 13th centuries; since 1999, the site has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Over 70 temples and tombs remain, though a large part of the complex was destroyed by bombings during the Vietnam War. Mỹ Sơn is located about 40 kilometers west of Hội An and makes for a classic half-day excursion.
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    Assembly Hall of Phúc Kiến
    Place of Worship

    3Assembly Hall of Phúc Kiến

    The Assembly Hall of Merchants from China's Fujian province is among the Chinese community halls in the Old Town. In the main hall, Thiên Hậu, the patron goddess of seafarers and merchants, is revered, alongside goddesses of birth.
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    Old House Tấn Ký
    Historic Landmark

    4Old House Tấn Ký

    The over 200-year-old merchant house blends Chinese and Japanese forms, with two stories, three bays, and a Yin-Yang tiled roof. The Lê family has lived here for seven generations. The house exemplifies the residential and commercial buildings constructed with their rear facing the river.
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    An Bàng Beach
    Beach

    5An Bàng Beach

    The sandy beach is roughly five kilometers east of the Old Town and is reachable by bike in 15-20 minutes on flat roads. By Grab car, the trip costs around 80,000 VND.
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    Restaurants in Hội An

    1

    Cao Lầu Thanh

    Small spot for Cao lầu, Hội An's noodle specialty: thick noodles with Xá xíu, crispy pork skin and rich gravy.
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    2

    Cơm Gà Bà Buội

    Popular eatery for Cơm gà, Hội An's chicken rice. The chicken is marinated with ginger and peanut oil before cooking and served with yellow rice.
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    Old Town Ticket, Lantern Evenings and Rainy Season

    Ticket: To enter the Old Town you need a ticket valid for up to three days. There are two options (as of January 2026):80,000 VND: Old Town, Japanese Bridge or Quan Công Temple, and two additional sites120,000 VND: Old Town, Japanese Bridge or Quan Công Temple, one museum and three additional sitesChildren under 16 are exempt. The ticket also covers traditional music and dance performances and the evening cultural programmes. The Old Town is a pedestrian zone from 9 am to 9.30 pm in summer and until 9 pm in winter.Lantern evenings: On the 14th day of each lunar month, the full-moon evening, the electric lights in the Old Town are dimmed from about 6 pm to 9 pm. The lanes then glow in the light of paper lanterns, and lanterns are set afloat on the Thu Bồn River in memory of ancestors.Rainy season: September to January is the rainy season, with the highest flood risk in October and November, when the low-lying Old Town can be flooded within a few hours. Before you travel, check the UK FCDO Travel Advice (gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice).

    Arrival & Getting Around

    From Đà Nẵng Airport: Hội An is about 30 kilometers away, the journey takes 45 to 60 minutes. A Grab car costs approximately 250,000 to 350,000 VND, a taxi 300,000 to 400,000 VND. Bus line 1 travels for 30,000 VND in 60 to 90 minutes to Hội An bus station, not into the Old Town.Train: The nearest train station is Đà Nẵng, approximately 30 kilometers away.From Huế: about 120 kilometers, by car 2.5 to 3.5 hours, by bus 3.5 to 4 hours.Locally: You can traverse the Old Town on foot in 20 to 30 minutes. Bicycles cost about 30,000 to 50,000 VND per day; with them, you can reach An Bàng in 15 to 20 minutes. For Mỹ Sơn (approximately 45 kilometers), a rental car with a driver or a tour is recommended.

    Accommodations in Hội An

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    Nearby

    Đà Nẵng

    Đà Nẵng

    Đà Nẵng is Central Vietnam's largest city, situated on the Han River between mountains and the South China Sea, approximately 764 kilometers south of Hanoi. Most travelers arrive via the airport in the city center, using Đà Nẵng as a base for Hội An and Huế, though many also stay for the long urban beach Mỹ Khê and the Marble Mountains.The Han River divides the city center: The Han Market and Cham Museum are on the west bank, and the Dragon Bridge spans the river. North of the city, the mountainous Sơn Trà peninsula juts into the sea; to the south are the Marble Mountains, and to the west, the Bà Nà Hills mountain resort with the Golden Bridge. The Hải Vân Pass separates Đà Nẵng from Huế; a 6.28-kilometer tunnel has shortened the journey since 2005.As of July 1, 2025, the city will also encompass the former province of Quảng Nam, which includes Hội An. With approximately three million inhabitants, it is now the country's fourth-largest city.
    Central Vietnam

    Central Vietnam

    Central Vietnam is the narrow central part of the country between mountains and the South China Sea. Here lie the ancient imperial city of Huế, the Old Town of Hội An, the beach city of Đà Nẵng and further north the caves of Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park.The region has its own weather calendar: The rainy season here is mainly from October to December, when typhoons can also hit the coast. The first months of the year are usually pleasant and dry.
    Huế

    Huế

    Located on the Perfume River in Central Vietnam, Huế served as the national capital from 1802 to 1945 under the Nguyễn Dynasty. You visit for the Citadel with the Imperial City and the upstream Imperial Tombs, which have been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993.The Citadel, housing the Imperial City and the Forbidden Purple City, is located on the north bank of the river, while buildings from the French colonial era stand on the south bank. Along the upper Perfume River, the imperial tomb complexes are spread out, along with temples such as the Thiên Mụ Pagoda, the city's landmark. You should plan at least two full days for the Imperial City and the tombs.Huế boasts its own unique cuisine, rooted in the imperial court: spicy and served in small portions. The most famous dish is Bún bò Huế, a beef noodle soup. Since 2025, Huế has been a centrally administered city, encompassing the area of the former province of Thừa Thiên Huế.
    Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng

    Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng

    Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park is located in the karst mountains of Central Vietnam, on the border with Laos, north of Huế. You visit for its caves, including Sơn Đoòng, the world's largest known cave, and several stalactite caves that you can visit without an expedition.The karst is around 400 million years old and is considered Asia's oldest major karst region, with over 220 kilometers of documented caves and underground rivers. Since 2003, the park has been a UNESCO World Heritage site, and in 2025, the site was expanded to include the adjacent Hin Nam No National Park in Laos.The starting point is Phong Nha town, about 45 kilometers west of the coastal city of Đồng Hới, with guesthouses and tour operators. Two to three days are sufficient for the accessible caves, while multi-day cave tours must be booked long in advance. Since July 1, 2025, the area has belonged to Quảng Trị Province, which was merged with Quảng Bình.
    Ubon Ratchathani

    Ubon Ratchathani

    Ubon Ratchathani is the largest city in eastern Isan, located near the border with Laos and on the Mun River. It is an administrative and university city, relying less on tourism and more on its role as a regional hub.City temples include Wat Thung Si Muang, featuring a wooden scripture library set on stilts in the middle of a pond, and Wat Nong Bua, whose white chedi is modeled after the Bodhgaya stupa in India. The National Museum, housed in a former royal residence, showcases the region's history.Ubon is best known for its Candle Festival (Hae Thian Phansa) in July, marking the start of Buddhist Lent: City temples commission large wax relief sculptures, which are then paraded through the city center. Accommodation is scarce during this period.The surrounding area features Pha Taem National Park with prehistoric rock paintings high above the Mekong, and the water-eroded rock pools of Sam Phan Bok, exposed during low water levels. The cooler dry season from November to February is the most pleasant time to visit.

    Sources & method

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