How the entrance ticket works
The old town protects its historic houses with a single combined ticket, currently 120,000 VND, roughly $5. It lets you enter five of around twenty heritage sites: merchant houses, Chinese assembly halls, small museums and the Japanese Covered Bridge. You buy it at booths around the edge of the old town. Simply walking the streets, shopping and eating does not require a ticket.
What to see
Start at the Japanese Covered Bridge, the symbol of Hoi An, then visit one or two old merchant houses like Tan Ky, the Fujian Assembly Hall and the central market. None of it takes long, which is why a guided evening food and lantern walk from $39 is a popular way to combine the sights with street snacks and context.
The lanterns
After dark the riverfront fills with silk lanterns and floating candles you can release on the Thu Bon. It is touristy and it is also lovely. For the biggest display, time your visit with the monthly full-moon lantern festival, when the old town switches off its electric lights. You can also make your own lantern in a lantern-making class from $15.
Getting there and around
The old town is closed to cars and most motorbikes in the evenings, so you explore on foot. Most hotels are a short walk, cycle or taxi away. If you are coming from Da Nang or the airport, book a private transfer from $5 rather than negotiating at the rank.
See the old town with a guide
Skip the guesswork and taste your way through the lanes on a top-rated walk.
Frequently asked questions
Walking the streets is free, but a 120,000 VND ticket (about $5) is required to enter the historic houses, assembly halls and museums. The ticket includes five attractions of your choice and helps fund preservation of the old town.
Late afternoon into the evening. The light is soft, the heat drops and the silk lanterns come on around dusk. The old town is busiest right after sunset, so arrive a little before to beat the peak crowds.
Yes, the historic core is small, flat and largely traffic-free in the evenings, so you can see the main sights on foot in a couple of hours.
