Hoi An Old Town has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its fascinating beauty and historical value culture. This place has an ancient grace with features that cannot be found anywhere else. Hoi An will lead you to a tranquil town with holy temples, a charming spot with colored lanterns and yellow walls, and an ancient town with plenty of historic architecture.
1. Introduction of Hoi An Old Town
The ancient town of Hoi An is a trading port located on the banks of the largest river in the province, which has had the most prosperous development period in Southeast Asia. The ruins of the harbor, the old town, the linked houses, the family church, the pagoda, the temple, the Chinese assembly hall, the Japanese and Chinese mausoleums, and the most unique are still quite intact today.
2. Hoi An Old Town – Location, opening hours, and entrance fees
Just downstream from the poetic Thu Bon River, on the coastal plain of Quang Nam Province, about 30 kilometers to the south of Da Nang City. Not only is Hoi An Vietnam a famous tourist attraction, but also an architectural relic complex.
Because it is a town, there is no set opening time for those who want to take a stroll through the old town. Those who are keen to discover the cuisine, architecture, church, … will have an opening time for each restaurant, cultural construction, ancient house, etc. Therefore, in order to have a complete experience in Hoi An, you should look for information in advance.
There is no entrance fee if you just want to walk around, enjoy Hoi An’s specialties, or take beautiful pictures. There are, however, several cultural monuments that require admission tickets:
- Cultural constructions: Quan Cong Temple, Cau Bridge, etc…
- Ancient houses: Phung Hung ancient house, Duc An ancient house, etc…
- Temples: temple of the Tran family, temple of the Nguyen family.
- Museums: Hoi An, Sa Huynh
- Pagodas: Chua Ong, Chua Ba
Furthermore, tickets include a variety of activities such as folk games, street performances (every day from 7 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.), and displays of art (at 10.15 a.m. and 3.15 p.m. daily). Tickets cost 80,000 VND/person for Vietnamese and 120,000 VND/person for foreigners, respectively.
3. Things to do and see in Hoi An Old town
3.1 Japanese Covered Bridge (Chua Cau)
Chua Cau is known as a tourist symbol of the old town, which makes a strong impression thanks to its Japanese-style architecture.
Chua Cau is located at Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Minh Khai Ward, Hoi An Old Town. Anyone who comes to this place is impressed by its majesty as proof of history. In fact, the history of the Japanese Covered Bridge is a dynamic place with trading activities for both domestic and foreign traders. In particular, this place has also witnessed the cultural interference of Southeast Asia and East Asia. At the same time, Chua Cau plays a significant role in the local people. Typically, the traffic regulation is convenient for traveling in the town.
Japanese Covered Bridge is a Japanese-style architecture with a total length of 18 meters, covered. With a contemplative image, this structure crosses a small tributary of the Thu Bon River. The pagoda is made of wood, with the upper portion serving as the house, the lower portion as the bridge, and the foundation made of stone pillars.
Chua Cau is considered a bright spot of Hoi An tourism with its quiet scenery. This place also witnessed a change in history with countless events. Perhaps that is why this place has become an ideal stopover attracting thousands of visitors every year.
3.2 Sacred temples
- Quan Cong Temple
Quan Cong Temple was constructed in 1653 by the Chinese people in Hoi An old town, also known as Ong Pagoda (Quan Công Miếu or Chùa Ông in Vietnamese). In order to maintain its present appearance, the temple has undergone 6 restorations over hundreds of years, with the most recent one being in 1966. Quan Cong Temple is a centuries-old spiritual treasure trove of Hoi An. Its superb architecture and exotic traditional festivals will undeniably captivate tourists visiting the Ancient Town of Vietnam.
Address: No. 24, Tran Phu Street, Hoi An Old town, Quang Nam Province
Opening hours: 6 a.m. – 5 p.m. every day
Entrance fee: included in Hoi An Ancient Town’s entrance fee
- Ba Mu Temple
Ba Mu Temple was constructed in 1626 at a different location before being relocated to its current location. However, it has changed dramatically with time, including the effects of war and weather, and now only the entrance gate remains. Ba Mu Temple is a complex of three entrance gates, an enormous ground, and two worshipping areas. The most important item was the Tam Quan Gate, where the surrounding scenery was preserved. In 2016, the construction was completed for the final time. Ba Mu Temple is a standout attraction that draws many visitors to admire and check-in, with exquisitely carved walls, paper flower clusters, and a serene lake reflecting against the deep blue sky.
Address: 675 Hai Ba Trung, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province.
Opening hours: every day, and there is no rule on closing time.
Entrance fee: included in Hoi An Ancient Town’s entrance fee
3.3. Ancient houses
- Tan Ky Old House
Tan Ky old house is the first ancient house to be honored as a National Heritage, considered a “living museum” keeping almost intact the typical architecture of Hoi An ancient houses. This is the home of the Le family for seven generations with a history of more than 200 years and is the most beautiful old house in Hoi An, as well as the “hottest” check-in place in Hoi An, attracting thousands of tourists to admire the architecture and culture and take in an impressive presentation about the ancient house of Tan Ky. The house is mainly constructed of valuable lumber, such as ironwood trusses and ribs and jackfruit wood doors. Other materials, such as Thanh Hoa stone and Bat Trang bricks, add to the old house’s value and beauty.
Address: 101 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province.
Opening hours: 30 a.m. – 5.45 p.m.
Entrance fee: 35,000 VND/person/time (20 minutes)
- Tran Family Chapel
The Tran family Chapel is one of the famous destinations in Hoi An, with ancient garden architecture, exquisite decoration, meticulously carved objects, and many valuable antique artifacts still preserved. The Tran family Chapel has an area of up to 1,500 m2, built by the upright Mandarin Tran Tu Nhac in 1802. The house was built by him as a place to worship the ancestors of the Tran clan and to leave it for future descendants. The unique feature of the Tran family church comes from its delicate and lively layout and strict adherence to feng shui regulations. In the Tran family church, behind the altar is a place to display antiquities from the reigns of King Minh Mang, King Tu Duc, and many ancient artifacts such as genealogies, diaphragms, couplets, etc. Among them are many artifacts with rare and precious hidden meanings, preserved in glass cabinets. If you love ancient architecture with traditional cultural values, the Tran family church is a destination you should not miss on your Hoi An travel itinerary.
Address: 21 Le Loi, Minh An Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province.
Opening hours: 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Entrance fee: included in Hoi An Old Town’s entrance fee
Come to experience Hoi An like a local. Along with a slow, peaceful rhythm of life, no hustle, no rush, and leaves all sorrow behind.
- Phung Hung Old House
In a lane full of beautiful buildings, this old house stands out. It’s still a family home, having housed eight generations over 226 years. At present it showcases hand embroidery and souvenirs; wander through and enjoy the ambience.
- Quan Thang House
This private house is three centuries old and has been in the family for six generations, having been built by an ancestor who was a Chinese captain. Again, the architecture includes Japanese and Chinese elements. There is some especially fine carving on the teak walls of the rooms around the courtyard, on the roof beams and under the crab-shell roof (in the salon next to the courtyard). Look out for the green ceramic tiles built into the railing around the courtyard balcony.
- Tran Duong House
There’s a whole city block of colonnaded French-colonial buildings on Đ Phan Boi Chau, between Nos 22 and 73, among them the 19th-century Tran Duong House (25Đ Phan Boi Chau; admission free, donations welcome; v. 9am-6pm).
Mr Duong, a charming retired mathematics teacher, speaks English and French, and is happy to explain the history of his 62m-long house that has been in his family for six generations. The large wooden table in the front room is the family bed.
- Diep Dong Nguyen House
Built for a wealthy Chinese merchant in the late 19th century is Diep Dong Nguyen House
8am-noon & 2-4.30pm). The front room on the ground floor was once a dispensary for Thuoc Bac (Chinese medicine); the medicines were stored in the glass-enclosed cases lining the walls.
The owner’s private collection of antiques – which includes photographs, porcelain and furniture – is on display upstairs. Two of the chairs were once lent by the family to Emperor Bao Dai.
3.4 Museum
- Museum of Trade Ceramics (80 Tran Phu Street): Showcasing a collection of blue and white ceramics of the Dai Viet period, occupies a simply restored house made of dark wood. In particular, check out the great ceramic mosaic that’s set above the pond in the inner courtyard.
Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/A2KZ8eCUacBXVhbK9 - Sa Huynh Cultural Museum (149 Tran Phu): Artefacts from the early Dong Son civilization of Sa Huynh are displayed downstairs. Upstairs, the Revolution Museum has the usual collection of local photos and mementos of the last two wars, including a boat used to transport cadres. It would be more accessible if full English captions were provided.
Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/oTxGFGTCcSA7QPKy5 - Hoi An Museum: (Tran Hung Dao Str) Despite the lengthy and rich history of Hoi An, the museum is lacking in information and artifacts. Much information only in Vietnamese which isn’t helpful considering most visitors aren’t Vietnamese. Lovely friendly woman on the main desk in this museum
Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Qyzu1KecomYZECij7 - Precious Heritage Art Gallery Museum: (26 Phan Boi Chau Str): is home to the permanent exhibition of Réhahn’s Precious Heritage Collection. While transporting you to the furthest reaches of Vietnam, the collection will unveil the rich cultural tapestry of the ethnic tribes. Five rooms spanning over 500 sqm in a 19th century French house, present hundreds of portraits, over 60 costumes, tribal songs and a sense of wonderment. As you visit each room, you can follow Réhahn on his nearly decade-long journey to document the 54 Ethnic Groups and their subgroups left in the country.
Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7KRKdJbvkLMNSTfQ8
Hoi An Walking Tour
This tasty little trail takes you past Hoi An’s main sights in a half-day amble. You have to buy entrance ticket for some places. If you don’t know where to start and finsih, this is our recommend the road to visit main places of Hoi An old town:
Start at Tran Family Chapel. Head south on Le Loi Street, turn left onto Tran Phu. You’ll see Quan Thang House, Museum of Trading Ceramics. A cluster of buildings includes the Chinese All-Community Assembly Hall, Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese Congregation. Detour north on Tran Hung Dao Street to the Hoi An Museum of History & Culture. You’ll see Quan Cong Temple, Assembly Hall of the Hainan Chinese Congregation. The road changes to Nguyen Duy Hieu with the Assembly Hall of the Chaozhou Chinese Congregation.
Turn right onto Phan Boi Chau Str. A city block of French buildings includes the 19th-century Tran Duong House. Wander along Phan Boi Chau Street, turn right, then left into Nguyen Thai Hoc Street. Visit the Handicraft Workshop, and the Hoi An Department of Managing & Gathering Swallow’s Nests. Turn right onto Le Loi str, then left onto Tran Phu Street. Visit the Old House at 103 Tran Phu, Assembly Hail of the Cantonese Chinese Congregation, Museum of Sa Huynh Culture & Museum of the Revolution, and the Japanese Covered Bridge.
HOI AN WALKING TOUR FACTSDistance: 3.5 km Duration: Four to five hours (depending on how many sights you visit) Start : Tran Family Chapel Finish: Diep Dong Nguyen House Begin at Tran Family Chapel, then head towards Diep Dong Nguyen House, which connects Tran Phu Street with Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street. Continue westward, keeping an eye out for the Phung Hung Old House. Don’t forget to check out Cam Pho Temple. From there, you have the option to either retrace your steps or continue on to the Cao Dai Pagoda. After that, cross back over the Japanese bridge, turn right, and follow the road onto Nguyen Thai Hoc Street. There, you’ll find the Tan Ky House. Before reaching the next junction on your left, you’ll see the Diep Dong Nguyen House. Finish your walk by settling down for a long, cool drink at one of the nearby bars. |
4. AROUND HOI AN OLD TOWN
Cam Kim Island & Kim Bong village
The master woodcarvers, who in previous centuries produced the fine carvings that graced the homes of Hoi An’s merchants and the town’s public buildings, came from Kim Bong Village on Cam Kim Island. Most of the woodcarvings on sale in Hoi An are produced here.
To reach the island, catch one of the boats that leave from the boat landing at Hoang Van Thu in Hoi An (300,000d, one hour).
Cham Island
Cham Island is 21km from Hoi An in the South China Sea. The island is famous as a source of swiftlet nests. It’s also par of the Cu Lao Cham Marine Park – comprisin eight islands, it’s home to 155 species of cora 202 species of fish, four species of lobster an 84 species of mollusc. Diving trips can be a ranged through Rainbow Divers
Permits are needed to visit Cham Islan which still houses a naval base. Public boa leave from the landing on + Bach Dang in Hoi An between 7am and 8am and the one way journey takes three hours, but it’s diffic for foreigners to organize the paperwork travel on one of these boats. It’s easiest book with a travel agency – a day trip 900.000 vnd, while an overnighter staying in t on the beach is around 1.250.000d. These to are heavily dependent on the weather.
My Son Sanctuary
Set within the jungle 55km from Hoi An are the enigmatic ruins of My Son (Entrance fee 150.000 vnd ~ 7 USD) , the most important remains of the ancient kingdom of Champa and a Unesco World Heritage site. Although Vietnam has better preserved Cham sites, none are as extensive and few have such beautiful surroundings – in a verdant valley surrounded by hills and overlooked by Cat’s Tooth Mountain (Hon Quap). Clear streams run between the structures and past nearby coffee plantations.
Traditional Perfomance of Cham people:
| Morning show (20 mins) | Afternoon show (20 mins) | Place |
| 1st show: 9:15 am | 1st show 14:00 | Public Stage |
| 2nd show: 10:00 am | 2nd show: 14:45 | Group G – dependent on weather condition |
| 3rd show: 10:45 am | 3rd show: 15:30 | Public Stage |
You can take a half-day My Son Sanctuary tour from Hoi An, starting either at 8:00 am or 13:00. This ensures you don’t miss any shows in the holy land of My Son.
Thanh Ha Ceramics Village
Not so long ago there were many pottery tories in this village, 3km west of Hoi An but the industry has been in decline. The remaining artisans employed in this hot and sweaty work don’t mind if you stop for a gander, though they’re happier if you buy something.
Many tours to My Son visit here on the way back to Hoi An. For a more personalized experience a villager who arranges day tours, including lunch and transport, for around US$55.