Wondering what the best things to do in Hoi An actually are, beyond the postcards and lantern photos? After visiting Hoi An multiple times, I’ve learned that this former trading port offers far more than just its famous Old Town.
From wandering the lantern-lit streets of the UNESCO-listed Ancient Town and exploring the lively night market, to diving into Vietnam’s ethnic cultures at the Precious Heritage Art Gallery, Hoi An has a depth that rewards slow travel.
Add in nearby highlights like the Marble Mountains, the ancient ruins of My Son Sanctuary, lazy afternoons at An Bang Beach, and a snorkelling escape to Cham Island, and it’s easy to see why Hoi An remains one of Vietnam’s most rewarding destinations.
1. Hoi An Old Town
Hoi An Ancient Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site whose architecture is a captivating blend, showcasing Japanese merchant houses, Chinese temples, and French-colonial buildings, all coexisting in harmony.
The town itself has narrow lanes and yellow buildings draped in bougainvillaea, and a ban on motorised vehicles between certain hours to preserve the area’s tranquillity. The town transforms at night, lit by hundreds of lanterns that cast a warm glow over the streets and reflect softly on the Thu Bon River. If you time your journey just right, you’ll experience The Lantern Festival, which is held monthly on the full moon.
During this time, the town turns off almost all its electric lights and allows the light from silk lanterns, candles, and the full moon itself to illuminate the streets.
I’ve been to Hoi An multiple times, and while they say you need a ticket just to enter, I’ve never experienced anyone being refused entry.
The tickets you buy allow entry to 5 out of the 22 attractions within the town, such as the Fujian assembly hall, Tan Ky ancient house, Japanese Bridge and the museum of folk culture.
2. Hoi An Night Market
Once the sun goes down, the Old Town Night Market comes alive. The market opens every evening and is an experience that encapsulates the lively spirit and cultural richness of Hoi An.
The market is close to the Thu Bon River, offering a romantic backdrop as the reflections of hundreds of lanterns dance on the water, creating a magical atmosphere.
The air is filled with the smells of street food, from seafood and meat skewers to sweet treats of banana pancakes and dragon’s breath ice cream.
The stalls are lined up one after another, displaying an array of goods; however, a criticism that can be aimed at the Night Market is that many of the stalls aren’t diverse enough, with many of the merchandise coming from Vietnam’s version of Amazon, known as Shopee. Most of the merchandise you can find for cheaper on Shopee, so none of the stuff you buy is particularly unique to the old town itself.
One of the market’s highlights is its interactive nature. Visitors can engage with local artisans, learning about the process of making lanterns or trying their hand at traditional crafts.
The market also serves as a stage for cultural performances, where local musicians and dancers showcase the rich tapestry of Vietnamese culture, adding to the market’s vibrant atmosphere.
3. Precious Heritage Art Gallery Museum
This museum-gallery space celebrates the diverse cultures of Vietnam’s ethnic minority groups through art and storytelling. Here, there is a culmination of long-term photography and cultural preservation by French photographer Réhahn, who spent over a decade travelling across Vietnam to document its 54 officially recognised ethnic groups.
Here you will see amazing portraits with hundreds of large-format photographs showing people from different ethnic communities in traditional dress and more than 60 original outfits and cultural items, some of which are extremely rare or gifted by the communities themselves.
Each display often shares the personal encounter between Réhahn and the subject, offering a deeper cultural context, and his displays include his stories in English, French, and Vietnamese.
Exhibits are arranged by region (North, Central, South) and include themed areas, such as the Indigo Room, which highlights traditional dyeing techniques.
The museum is housed in a charming old French-colonial building right in Hoi An’s ancient town area. Its intimate interior and thoughtful lighting help set a reflective tone that feels less like a traditional museum and more like a cultural journey.
4. Marble Mountain
The Marble Mountains (Ngũ Hành Sơn in Vietnamese, meaning Five Elements Mountains) are a cluster of five marble and limestone hills that rise from the flat land between Đà Nẵng and Hội An, around 8–9 km southeast of Đà Nẵng city centre, with each mountain named after one of the five elements of Eastern philosophy.
These mountains are dotted with Buddhist temples, grottoes, and ancient shrines hidden in caves and alcoves carved into the rock. Inside the various caves y, you’ll find Huyền Không Cave, known for shafts of sunlight and serene ambience, Am Phu (Hell) Cave, famous for dramatic, atmospheric sculptures telling spiritual tales, and Tang Chon Cave and others tucked into peaceful corners.
You can visit sacred sites like Tam Thai Pagoda and Linh Ung Pagoda, some dating back centuries and still active places of worship.
Climb up (or take the elevator) to the higher terraces for panoramic views of Đà Nẵng city, Non Nước Beach, and the South China Sea, especially beautiful at sunrise or sunset. Keep in mind that climbing to the top isn’t for the faint-hearted; many tricky sections are quite steep, and even tight to try and squeeze through.
5. My Son Sanctuary
My Son Sanctuary is a UNESCO World Heritage Site made up of the ruins of an ancient Hindu temple complex built by the Champa Kingdom between the 4th and 13th centuries CE. It’s often described as “Vietnam’s Angkor Wat” because of its deep historical importance and incredible architecture.
These temples were sacred places of worship dedicated mainly to the Hindu god Shiva and served as a religious, political, and cultural cencentrer the Cham people for over 1,000 years.
Originally m, more than 70 temples and towers were read in a lush valley surrounded by mountains, but today only about 20 structures remain standing, due to bombing during the Vietnamese War.
The surviving towers show the Cham’s unique brick architecture, with intricately carved designs and spiritual symbolism. Just remember to bring water and possibly even an umbrella. There is little shade, nd it can be extremely hot, so much so that the first time I went there I had to leave due to heat exhaustion.
6. An Bang Beach
An Bang Beach is a relaxed stretch of coastline about 4 km north of Hội An Ancient Town. It’s known for its soft sand, calm vibe, and beach bars that feel more local than flashy. This beach used to be a quiet fishing beach before cafés and guesthouses moved in, but it’s managed to avoid turning into a resort strip.
An Bang is popular, but it doesn’t feel chaotic as it has no jet skis or loud party boats. Instead, you’ll findeach chairs under palm umbrellas, people reading, swimming, or just doing nothing, and a mix of travellers, expats, and locals
The water is clean, and there are loads of beach cafés & bars serving Vietnamese food, western breakfasts, cocktails and cold beer, so it is easy to spend half a day here without realising how much time passed.
Sadly, in recent times, An Bang has begun to suffer from coastal erosion, with some areas showing reciprocating drops, although it is not as severely damaged as the neighbouring Dai beach, which at times vanishes beneath the waves k, killing tourism in the area.
7. Cham Island
Cham Island is a small archipelago of eight islands about 15 km off the coast of Hội An. It’s part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, known for clear water, coral reefs, fishing villages, and a slower pace than the mainland.
Cham Island has some of the best snorkelling in central Vietnam and is home to coral reefs, tropical fish, and clear water in calm months, with the best conditions usually from March to September.
The beaches here are smaller and more natural than An Bang, ideal for swimming, relaxing, or just getting away from traffic and noise. On Hon Lao (the main inhabited island), you’ll see fishing boats, local markets, and small homes and temples m, making it still feel like a working island, rather than a resort island.
Culture Without Rush
Hoi An rewards slowing down. Whether you’re wandering lantern-lit streets in the Old Town, learning about Vietnam’s diverse cultures at the Precious Heritage Museum, climbing ancient temples at Marble Mountain, or escaping to the beach or nearby islands, the town offers a rare balance of history, culture, and relaxation.
What makes Hoi An special isn’t just the list of things to do, but how effortlessly they come together, allowing you to experience Vietnam’s past, present, and natural beauty all in one place.
<p>The post 7 Things to do in Hoi An first appeared on Travelbinger.</p>