How to Spend One Day in Hoi An : Must-Sees and Hidden Gems
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Do you only have one day in Hoi An? If so, we’ve created a great little itinerary to help you make the most of that time.
We’d read that Hoi An had become a victim of its own success and it’s true, it can be busy and a little touristy but it’s still absolutely worth a visit. We’re not fans of overcrowded places and almost gave it a miss; thank goodness we didn’t because we loved it!
We stayed for three nights and regretted not staying longer. So, even if you can only spare one day in Hoi An then go for it! Hopefully, you’ll love it as much as we did.

Why Visit Hoi An?
Hoi An is a UNESCO World Heritage site, famous for its well-preserved old town and colourful, lantern-filled streets. During our walking tour, the guide explained that in the 15th century, Hoi An was one of the busiest trading ports in Asia. However, over time its popularity and significance waned and it became a village lost in time.
That insignificance helped preserve the town during subsequent wars and saved it from modernisation. As a result, old town Hoi An retains much of its original architecture, making it one of the must-see destinations in Vietnam. It still retains a mix of Chinese, Japanese, Dutch and French influences, and the equally famous lanterns and silk tailoring all adds to the charm.
Hoi An also boasts a great beach with a few fabulous resort hotels, making it a popular spot for winter sun too.

How to Spend a Day in Hoi An
A walking tour is a great way to cover a lot of ground in a short space of time and you also pick up insider tips from the local guides. If you’re short on time, it’s the best way to start a visit.
Our 1-day Hoi An itinerary includes:

1. Early Morning Breakfast
There are plenty of restaurants and cafés in and around the old town. The fabulous Ellie’s Café is just a few minutes’ walk from the meeting point of your walking tour and it opens at 8:00 am. If you’re there as it opens, you can grab a quick bite before your tour begins at 8:30 am.
However, if you’d prefer to linger over breakfast, book a table at The Soul Restaurant; they start serving from 6:30 am.
And for a Vietnamese start to your day, choose a bowl of pho or a banh mi from one of the nearby cafés; sadly, no good for this gluten free traveller!

2. Walking Tour Of The Old Town
You probably know that we love a good walking tour; it’s the best way to experience a new town. We saw plenty of people exploring Hoi An on cycle-come-tuk-tuk tours, but honestly, walking is the best way to discover the Old Town.
Our GuruWalk guide was perfect! She knew Hoi An. She grew up in the town and had many stories to tell. We love this aspect of GuruWalk; the guides are professional but they’re also local and bring their own unique flavour to the walks.
This 2.5-hour tour takes you through the UNESCO-listed Old Town, with stops at:
In short, you’ll visit some of Hoi An’s most important historic sights. You’ll get to step inside, meet the residents, and learn more about the history and uses of these beautifully preserved buildings.
Our Hoi An GuruWalk was definitely one of our favourites, so book ahead and enjoy!

3. Rehahn Gallery
The morning walking tour ends at around 11:00 am; though ours ran a little late as it was Tet and everyone was having a great time. After the walk, we stayed in the old town to continue exploring, retracing our steps back to the Rehahn Gallery. This is a must-visit for anyone passionate about photography, art, or Vietnamese culture.
The Precious Heritage Museum and Art Gallery is one of the most celebrated museums of its kind in Vietnam. It houses a permanent exhibition by the renowned photographer Rehahn. It’s glorious and captures the beauty, diversity and traditions of Vietnam through individual portraits.
4. Lunch At Morning Glory
There are many restaurants in Hoi An, but I find it difficult to choose if there is too much choice! Here, some are very touristy but others are simple yet fabulous.
As you only have one day in Hoi An, we recommend you book a table at Morning Glory for your lunch. Morning Glory is known for its excellent Vietnamese cuisine; I loved the crispy Spring rolls and their Hoi An Salad. And they offer plenty of gluten-free options, which is perfect for me.
Book ahead because it gets very busy! Every time we visited it was full, so make a reservation to avoid disappointment.

5. Afternoon Tour Of Rural Life Beyond The Old Town
For your afternoon, you’ve got a few choices. We loved exploring local life beyond Hoi An and found the perfect short tour to squeeze into your afternoon.
We LOVED the little private electric car. It’s a fun, eco-friendly way to explore, and the guides again were incredibly knowledgeable about the local way of life. It reminded us of our trip to the Mekong Delta, but here, we were exploring the rural villages around Hoi An.
The private E-Car Tour ventures beyond the old town to a quieter, more traditional landscape. They promise to take you off the beaten track into local communities, where you’ll meet residents, hear their stories and experience traditional Vietnamese farming and fishing.
I never tire of seeing rice paddies and if you’re lucky you’ll spot a water buffalo or two. It’s a busy few hours, you get to stop and explore from the comfort of your electric car. Plus, they’ll pick you up from your lunch restaurant and drop you back in the Old Town after.
Alternatively, you may prefer to simply wander the busy streets of Hoi An, and window shop in her many gift shops. Or, join a cooking class or lantern-making class? We’ve tried both and can highly recommend them!
Top Tip : Timing is everything and you’ll want to be finished before the start of your evening entertainment. The flexible timings of the E-car make it a perfect choice.

6. Afternoon Tea at Reaching Out Tea House
After your drive, and if you have time, ask to be dropped back in the Old Town at Reaching Out Tea House; and you’re in for a treat.
Reaching Out is a social enterprise that provides training and employment for people with disabilities and the tea house is run by staff who are hearing and speech impaired. Not only is the tea excellent, but there’s a peaceful, gentle atmosphere here, which is just what you need after the hustle and bustle of Hoi An’s busy streets.

7. Street Food or Theatre?
For your evening, we have two great choices for you :
Evening Walking Food Tour
I can’t eat gluten, but we both love trying local food when we travel. The safest way for me to enjoy a meal and for Gerry to indulge in some local flavours is by taking a food tour. And the Hoi An tour was excellent.
As always, having a local guide is a bonus, and there was an abundance of great food. Gerry had more options than I did, but I never felt that I was missing out. Plus, we got to explore Hoi An at night, which was another bonus. If you love trying local cuisine then this food tour is the perfect way to end your day.
Top Tip: The tour we took starts at 5 pm, so you’ll need to plan your day to be sure you’re ready on time.
Bamboo Theatre at Lune
When we visited Ho Chi Minh City, we spent an evening watching the incredible Bamboo Theatre. The good news is that you can see the same show in Hoi An at Lune!
The Bamboo performance is a blend of circus, musical theatre, dance, and acrobatics. It takes you on a journey through Vietnam’s history using the power of music and movement. The staging is fabulous, as is the music.
The show starts at 6 pm, but I recommend arriving a little earlier to find your seat. We absolutely loved this performance in Ho Chi Minh; it’s something different and still leaves you time to explore Hoi An by night.

8. Nightcap and a Stroll Along the River
Every night before heading back to our hotel, we loved taking a stroll along the river. Hoi An is much quieter in the evenings, once the day-trippers have left. If you’re looking for some dinner ideas we loved :
Walk along the Thu Bon River and watch the colourful boats and pretty lanterns reflecting in the water. Take a wander through the night market, or drop into one of the riverside cafes for a spot of people-watching; there are plenty to choose from along the waterfront.
And for coffee lovers, don’t miss a stop at Cong Caphe! We loved their coconut coffee, and Cong Caphe has one of the best in Vietnam!

Looking for Tailoring?
Hoi An was once a major port on the ancient Silk Route, and gained a reputation for its quality tailors. Although Hoi An is no longer a bustling port, many of the tailors remain and have been trading for generations.
Many people come looking for a hand-made unique garment but before you commit, it’s worth remembering that Hoi An’s reputation means tailoring may no longer be the bargain it once was. Also, in peak season you may need to allow more than 24 hours for your item to be made; and expect the ordering process to last around an hour.
Not all tailors in Hoi An offer the same level of quality, so do your research in advance; a few reputable shops include :
I also read that if you’re looking for something more budget-friendly, then Maya comes recommended.
Top Tip: Bring a picture of the item you’d like replicated or better still, bring an existing garment for them to work from.

Where to Stay in Hoi An
We’d recommend staying on the edge of the Old Town rather than in the thick of it. You’ll be just a short walk away, but staying outside the main tourist area means it’ll be quieter and more affordable.
Your money goes a long way in Hoi An, but be prepared for smaller rooms, and remember that hard beds are common in Vietnam. We did a ton or research and we think these are the best of the best :

How to Get To Hoi An
Hoi An is easy to reach, even though it doesn’t have its own airport or train station. We flew into Da Nang and arranged a private transfer in advance to take us directly to our hotel. Alternatively, you can easily take the bus or order a GRAB taxi from the airport.
Top Tip : When moving on, if you’re heading to Hue, do not miss the chance to travel along the stunning Hai Van Pass!

Is One Day Enough To See Hoi An?
So there you have it; our ideas for spending one day in Hoi An!
Is one day enough to see it all? No, but we’ve learned from our travels that no matter how long we stay in a place, there’s always something we’ll miss. And that’s okay.
In one day, you can visit the old town, stroll through the narrow streets, explore the shops and galleries, eat great food and see the colorful lanterns and tailers that Hoi An is famous for. Follow our itinerary ideas, keep an eye on your timings and you really can pack a great deal into your 24 hours.
Hoi An’s Old Town is compact, making it easy to explore in a short amount of time. Even with just one day, Hoi An has so much to offer. We almost didn’t go because it gets some bad press and that would have been a real shame.
Of all the places we visited in Vietnam, Hoi An is one that we’d happily return to for a longer stay. We loved our time here, and we hope that you will too!

Travelling Through Vietnam?
We spent two months travelling through Vietnam from Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi, stopping off along the way to explore as much as we could. If enjoyed this post you may also find the following ideas useful :

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Whenever you travel, you should have great travel and medical insurance. None of us expect anything bad to happen, but in the event of an incident, you want to be sure that your insurance will cover you.
I’ve ended up in hospital in Peru, Indonesia, Portugal, Japan and Ireland. Every time my insurance took care of everything. I would never leave home without full and comprehensive insurance.
TrueTraveller : We have this policy and are very happy with the cover, especially considering our ages and pre-existing conditions.
Globelink: We have used and recommended Globelink for years and not heard of any issues. They are a great choice for European and UK Residents.
Genki : This is an EU based company offering long term policies for nomads and travellers. Their monthly rates are very competitive for longer trips too.
Safety Wing : Many of my travelling buddies from the USA recommended Safety Wing; we’ve not used them personally but know folks who have.
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Hey I’m Colleen. I’m married to Gerry, we’ve three fabulous kids and been living in France for almost two decades. I fell in love with Spain in the 1980s and I’ve walked 1000s of miles along the Camino de Santiago. Now we’re exploring and walking the world and I can’t wait to share what we’ve learned!