A day trip to Hoi An - the most romantic destination in Vietnam

Colorful lanterns floating all around

And a fairytale scene on the ground

Dimly lit boats gliding through the river

In the most romantic atmosphere!!

Discover Hoi An with me. Read on to know if it’s really very touristy. Is it really so romantic and what makes it a must visit on a trip to Vietnam. As I take you along on an armchair tour of Hoi An, discovering one of my most favourite finds in Vietnam 🙂

Welcome to a day trip to Hoi An – the most romantic destination in Vietnam. When I was planning my Vietnam trip itinerary, I had to see Hoi An. Because everyone goes there, right? When I looked at the instagram posts and blog posts about Hoi An, I felt its just another touristy destination. Waterside walkways , beautifully lit up cafes and restaurants and souvenir shops. Isn’t that vibe common to many destination? Reminds me of my trip to Venice, exploring through the canals and streets of Venice at night. But, I could feel Hoi An, when I eventually landed here. And little did I know, that the evening spent in Hoi An was going to be one of my most memorable ones in Vietnam.

So, let me take you through the history, beauty and the unique vibe of Hoi An. On a day trip to Hoi An from Da Nang. (We stayed in Da Nang for 4 day. And while there, we did a Da Nang to Hue day trip, a trip to the Bana Hills and a half day trip to Hoi An).

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About Hoi An – the history and architecture

Hội An is a charming ancient town on Vietnam’s central coast, renowned for its beautifully preserved architecture, lantern-lit streets, and rich cultural heritage. Once a bustling port between the 15th and 19th centuries, Hội An blends influences from Chinese, Japanese, and European traders, visible in its wooden shophouses, temples, and the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the town is famous for its tailors, traditional crafts, and riverside cafes.

By night (every single night!!), thousands of colorful lanterns light up the Old Town, creating a magical, romantic atmosphere. Just outside the city, you’ll find serene rice paddies, An Bang Beach, and local cooking classes, making Hội An a perfect blend of history, culture, and relaxation. If you are from India and you have visited Pondicherry then the french quarters of Hoi An will definitely remind you of the white town area in Pondicherry.

Best time to take a day trip Hoi An

The best time to visit Hoi An is definitely in the evening. Reach there before it gets dark. And they stay there till late in the night. As such, you get to make the best of your trip to Hoi An. Since, you can wander through the streets in the evening, admiring the French and European architecture influences on the buildings, cafes and churches. And then, you can watch a beautiful sunset across the river. Finally, as it gets dark, you start enjoying the festive vibes of Hoi An. When thousands of colorful paper lanterns lit up every corner of the old town – the shops, cafes, restaurants, street sides, the Japanese bridges, the boats floating on the river – every single corner!

And as the night progresses, the crowd increases. If you are lucky to visit Hoi An on a full moon light like we were, you get to enjoy massive festivities. With everything happening on a larger scale. And lanterns being released over the river.

How to reach Hoi An

To reach Hội An, you’ll typically travel via Da Nang, the nearest major city with an airport and railway station. Hội An doesn’t have its own airport or train station, but it’s easily accessible by road. Da Nang has an international airport. And it is a major city of Vietnam. We also traveled from Nha Trang to Da Nang by flight. And then stayed overnight in Da Nang for 4 days.

From Da Nang, Hoi An is very easily accessible by road. You can either book a tour to Hoi An from Da Nang. Or, you can simply book a Grab Taxi like we did. It takes around 30-40 minutes to reach Hoi An from Da Nang in a grab taxi. And you can easily get one on your way back to Da Nang.

Should I stay in Hoi An and Da Nang ?

You can also choose to stay in Hoi An instead of staying in Da Nang. For us, we wanted to stay near the beach in a less touristy setup. So Da Nang proved to be a better choice. But I really loved the vibes of Hoi An. And I felt I couldn’t get enough of Hoi An in just half a day that I spent here. So, I will suggest to stay a few nights in each of Da Nang and Hoi An. You can do a day trip to Da Nang from Hoi An and vice versa. You can also easily explore around nearby places from Hoi An over a day trip. For example you can book a trip from Hoi An to Hue. And this round trip from Hoi An to Bana Hills.

Places to see and things to do in Hoi An

Hội An is a delightful town filled with historical charm, colorful lanterns, and riverside tranquility. Its compact size makes it easy to explore on foot or by bicycle. And you can explore most of the places in Hoi An on a day trip to Hoi An. Here’s a list of the top places to see in Hội An:

PS: A trip to Hoi An, Marble Mountain and Son Tra

Hoi An Ancient Town (Old Quarters)

This is where you land when on a day trip to Hoi An. The Hoi An Ancient Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is particularly known for it’s narrow streets lined with wooden shophouses, temples, cafés, and tailor shops. You can spend hours here. Chilling in a cafe, visiting some of the temples, wandering through the streets enjoying the colonial architecture. And shopping! In fact, the tailor shops in Hoi An are world famous for stitching costumes at lightening speed for visitors. They are loaded with choices of thousands of the finest fabrics. You can select one of your choice. And decide what you want to get stitched out of it. And they will custom-tailor it to your choice and fitting!!

Moreover, the Hoi An Old Quarters turn especially magical in the evening with lanterns lighting up every street, every establishment, every nook and corner. With the most vibrant spot being the Japanese bridge and around. Don’t forget to take a ride on the river in a row boat lit with beautiful lanterns.

Japanese Covered Bridge (Chùa Cầu)

Built in the 1590s by Japanese merchants, the Japanese Bridge is perhaps one of the most iconic landmarks of Hoi An ancient town. Actually, it is a symbol of Hội An with a small temple inside it as well. The bridge is built with a unique blend of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese architecture. Which makes it all the more special.It is a must visit during a day trip to Hoi An. As it is an iconic landmark of the town.

Assembly Halls (Hội Quán)

Built by Chinese communities in the 18th–19th centuries, there are many assembly halls across Hoi An. But the most famous ones are the Fujian Assembly Hall (Phúc Kiến). Which is characterized by colorful dragons, fountains, and ancestral altars. And the Cantonese Assembly Hall (Quảng Đông) which is famous for it’s beautiful wooden carvings and incense coils.

Old House of Tan Ky

It is a well-preserved merchant home showcasing a mix of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese design. Inside, it houses heirlooms and decor pieces from the ancient times, when it was inhabited. Visited here, I couldn’t help but compare it to the mansions of Chettinad and Karaikudi, merchant and businessmen homes in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. Although, architecturally, the two are very different. But, both reflect the tasteful selection of the finest lifestyle and decor pieces by the rich merchants. In the quest of celebrating their luxurious life. And both have remained pinned in history for the same reasons.

Thu Bồn River

A beautiful river that peacefully flows right through the heart of Hoi An. The Thu Bon river is as much celebrated as the culture and nightlife of Hoi An. So much so that one can safely say a trip to Hoi An is incomplete until you take a boat ride on the Thu Bon River in the dark, on a basic row boat decorated with dimly lit colorful paper lanterns. Can you think of a river ride more romantic than this? I personally can’t.

Along the banks of the river, there are beautiful riverside promenade full of cafés, vendors, and street performances. Which all intensify in their vibes and offerings as the night comes by! Checkout this tour that combines a boat ride on the river along with releasing lantern on the river.

Hội An Lantern Market

What would be a better place to buy the colorful paper lanterns in Vietnam than Hoi An – the home of the paper lanterns! The best news – there is this market dedicated to selling paper lanterns – the Hoi An Lantern Market. It is located across from the Hoi An Bridge. The market itself gets bright and bustling, especially at night. From here, you can buy or release a paper lantern onto the river for good luck. And also buy some of the lanterns to take back home. And gift to family and friends. As, these paper lanterns are foldable. And they hardly occupy any space in your luggage!!

Hội An Central Market

This is the traditional wet market of Hoi An. It has food stalls, spices, souvenirs, and fabrics on offer. And it is great for trying local dishes like Cao Lầu or Bánh mì.

Hoi An Flea Market

The Hội An Flea Market is a vibrant, eclectic market where locals, expats, and tourists gather to browse handmade goods, vintage items, and local crafts. Unlike the larger traditional markets (like Central Market), this flea market has a more bohemian and community-driven vibe, often accompanied by live music, food stalls, and sustainable fashion pop-ups.

It is usually held at Nguyen Phuc Chu Street (An Hội Islet), just across the bridge from the Ancient Town. it’s held on weekends or once/twice a month. I guess we were lucky to time our visit to Hoi An on a weekend. And thus we got to visit this market. It usually starts around 4 PM and runs until late evening. Here you will find Handmade jewelry, accessories, and eco-products. Second-hand clothing and vintage finds, Art prints, postcards, ceramics, and souvenirs made by local artists. Along with lots of options of food, drink, live performances and music all around.

I personally liked this market more than any other. Even the flea markets of Hanoi which are world famous. And got some really good deals on Bamboo trays, coasters and few other souvenirs from here. Although I couldn’t buy breakable items like ceramics because the shop couldn’t bubble wrap it. And I had to fly with the souvenirs.

Local Lifestyle & Craft Villages of Hoi An

Hoi An is very popular for it’s arts and crafts. Particularly popular are some of the lifestyle and Craft villages. Including –

Tra Que Vegetable Village – Farming village ~2 km from town. Which is popular amongst tourists who are interested to try cooking class, try traditional farming, or cycle through the fields
Thanh Ha Pottery Village – A place where you can learn how the traditional Vietnamese ceramic pottery is done. And you also get to try your hand at spinning clay on a wheel.
Kim Bồng Carpentry Village where you can see traditional woodworkers crafting boats and ornate furniture.

And of course, you get to shop at very reasonable prices locally made authentic stuff from all of the above villages.

Beaches near Hội An

Hoi An is located very near to beaches. While staying in Hoi An, you can explore some of the best beaches of Vietnam. This includes the An Bàng Beach which is a Laid-back with clean sand, beach bars, and cafés. It is located about 4km from the Hoi An Old Quarters. And can be easily reached using a Grab Taxi. Another one is the Cửa Đại Beach which is quieter and more natural.

Temples & Pagodas to visit in Hoi An

The town of Hoi An houses some of the oldest and beautiful pagodas and temples of Vietnam. One of the most iconic ones is Chuc Thanh Pagoda which is the oldest pagoda in Hội An (founded in the 15th century). It is located in a very peaceful setting with a historic bell and carved statues.

(Vegetarian) Food options in Hoi An

Hội An is a culinary gem of Vietnam, blending ancient traditions with fresh local ingredients. You’ll find everything from charming riverside cafés and local markets to award-winning restaurants. Here’s a guide to the best places to eat in Hội An, covering street food, authentic local dishes, and upscale dining:

Bánh Mì Phượng : Can you believe, Anthony Bourdain called it “the best bánh mì in the world”!! It is world famous for it’s crispy baguette packed with meats, herbs, pâté, and sauces.
Madam Khanh : The Bánh Mì Queen which is another top contender for the best Banh Mi
Cao Lầu Bà Bé : Although it’s a small shop inside the Hoi An Central Market. But it is very famous. When here, you must try Hội An’s signature dish: Cao Lầu (noodles with pork, herbs, and crispy croutons)
Quán Ăn Bà Linh which is famous for it’s white rose dumplings.
Morning Glory Original, Miss Ly Cafeteria 22 andCargo Club Café & Restaurant are some of the best riverside restaurants with elegant seatings and some of the best river views from across.
Minh Hien and Annen are some of the best known vegetarian and vegan restaurants.
While Reaching Out Tea House and Rosie’s Café are two of the most tasteful, tranquil and instagram worthy cafes of Hoi An (Although there is no cafe that I didn’t find to be instagram worthy across Vietnam)

A day trip to Hoi An – the most romantic destination in Vietnam