Hoi An Itinerary: How to Spend 3 Days in the Ancient Town

💰 Click here to see Vietnam Budget Breakdown

💰 Prices updated: June, 2026. Budget figures are estimates — always verify before travel.

Exchange Rate: $1 USD = ₫26,350.00

Daily Budget (per person)

Shoestring: ₫790,000 – ₫1,320,000 ($29.98 – $50.09)

Mid-range: ₫1,580,000 – ₫2,640,000 ($59.96 – $100.19)

Comfortable: ₫6,590,000 – ₫13,180,000 ($250.09 – $500.19)

Accommodation (per night)

Hostel/guesthouse: ₫160,000 – ₫395,000 ($6.07 – $14.99)

Mid-range hotel: ₫790,000 – ₫1,580,000 ($29.98 – $59.96)

Food (per meal)

Budget meal: ₫66,000.00 ($2.50)

Mid-range meal: ₫395,000.00 ($14.99)

Upscale meal: ₫1,320,000.00 ($50.09)

Transport

Single metro/bus trip: ₫7,000.00 ($0.27)

Monthly transport pass: ₫300,000.00 ($11.39)

Planning 3 Days in Hoi An in 2026 — And Why It’s Trickier Than It Looks

Hoi An is one of those places where travelers consistently underestimate how much time they’ll lose just wandering. You plan to see the Japanese Covered Bridge at 9am and somehow it’s 2pm and you’re still on Nguyen Thai Hoc Street watching a tailor fold silk. Three days is enough to see the Ancient Town properly — but only if you structure your time well. The challenge in 2026 is that Hoi An is busier than ever. The Central Vietnam e-visa corridor is now fully streamlined, Da Nang International Airport added four new direct international routes in late 2025, and visitor numbers have pushed up noticeably. That means the Ancient Town’s pedestrian-only zones fill up fast, popular restaurants book out by 6pm, and the streets along the river get genuinely crowded by late afternoon. This itinerary is built around that reality — moving you through the right places at the right times.

Day 1: Walk the Ancient Town Before the Crowds Hit

Your first morning belongs to the UNESCO-listed Ancient Town, and the key word is morning. Be out by 7am. The yellow walls along Tran Phu Street glow differently in early light, and the smell of banh mi drifting from the stalls near the market end of Tran Phu is one of those details you won’t forget. At this hour, you can stand on the Japanese Covered Bridge alone, without tour groups jostling for the same photograph.

Spend the first two hours covering the core loop: Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky Ancient House on Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, and down to the Thu Bon River embankment. The river in the morning has a calm, working quality to it — fishing boats still moving, women washing vegetables on the bank steps, the water reflecting the old shophouse facades.

By mid-morning, head to the Hoi An Market (Cho Hoi An) on Tran Phu for a proper Vietnamese breakfast — bun bo or cao lau eaten at a plastic table while locals shop around you. This is not a tourist market set-piece; it’s a functioning wet market with a food section that feeds the neighborhood.

Afternoons in Hoi An get hot and crowded, so use the 12pm–3pm window for tailor appointments. If you want custom clothing made, Day 1 is when you commission it — most good tailors need 48 hours minimum. The cluster of reputable tailors runs along Le Loi Street and Nguyen Thai Hoc Street. Go in, get measured, choose fabric, and confirm your pickup for Day 3 morning. Budget roughly 400,000–900,000 VND (~$16–$36 USD) for a custom ao dai, more for suits.

In the late afternoon, walk to Cam Nam Island via the small footbridge off Bach Dang Street. It’s five minutes from the Ancient Town and immediately quieter — local streets, family gardens, small workshops. As the light drops, the view back across the Thu Bon to the old town is the best in Hoi An.

End Day 1 with dinner along Bach Dang Street on the riverfront. Tables spill out toward the water, and the lanterns from across the river reflect on the surface around 7pm — the exact moment the whole town seems to slow down for an hour.

Day 2: An Bang Beach, Back Streets, and a Cooking Class

Day 2 takes you out of the Ancient Town’s tourist bubble. Start with a bicycle ride to An Bang Beach — it’s 4 kilometres from the town center and a flat, easy ride through rice paddies and small villages. Rent a bicycle from your accommodation or any of the rental shops on Le Loi Street for around 50,000–80,000 VND (~$2–$3 USD) for the day.

An Bang has cleaned up significantly in 2026 after the coastal management improvements introduced in late 2024. The beach bar strip on the northern end is still lively, but the southern stretch is quieter and better for swimming. Arrive by 8am for a couple of hours before the heat builds. Several beach clubs open at 9am and serve strong Vietnamese coffee with a view that costs nothing extra.

Return to town by late morning and spend an hour on the streets behind the Ancient Town — specifically around Phan Chau Trinh Street and the lanes branching off Ly Thuong Kiet. These streets are where Hoi An actually lives: hardware shops, seamstresses working at pavement machines, kids cycling home for lunch. The contrast with the lantern-lit tourist core two blocks away is striking.

Afternoon is reserved for a cooking class. Hoi An is one of the best places in Vietnam to take one — the quality of produce from the Hoi An Market, combined with genuinely skilled local instructors, makes the experience worth the time. Most half-day classes run from 2pm to 6pm, starting with a market visit. Prices sit between 650,000–1,200,000 VND (~$26–$48 USD) depending on the school and group size. The class typically covers three dishes including one local specialty — cao lau is usually on the menu. You eat what you cook, and by the end of it you’ve had dinner sorted without realizing it.

If you didn’t take a boat ride on Day 1, the narrow channel between An Hoi Islet and the main town is worth doing by basket boat in the late afternoon — local operators depart from the south end of Bach Dang Street. The ride lasts about 45 minutes and costs 150,000–200,000 VND (~$6–$8 USD) per person.

Day 3: My Son Sanctuary or Marble Mountains, Then the Night Market

Day 3 opens with your tailor pickup — arrive first thing in the morning while the shop is quiet, try everything on, and allow time for any last-minute alterations. Most tailors can adjust on the spot within an hour.

After that, you have a choice for your main excursion. Both options are half-day trips that return you to Hoi An by early afternoon.

Option A: My Son Sanctuary (30 km from Hoi An)

My Son is a cluster of Hindu Cham towers dating from the 4th to 14th centuries, set in a jungle valley about 30 kilometres west of Hoi An. It’s the most significant Cham archaeological site in Vietnam. Take a motorbike taxi or Grab car — the ride takes around 45 minutes. Entry costs 150,000 VND (~$6 USD). Go early; the site gets very hot by midday and tour groups arrive in waves from 9am. There are guided tours available on-site or you can explore independently with the map provided at the gate. Budget two to three hours total including travel.

Option B: Marble Mountains (20 km toward Da Nang)

The Marble Mountains sit between Hoi An and Da Nang — five limestone hills housing Buddhist sanctuaries, caves, and shrines. Thuy Son (Water Mountain) is the main one worth climbing. The 360-degree view from the summit pagoda takes in the coastline from Da Nang to Hoi An in one sweep. Entry is 40,000 VND (~$1.60 USD) plus 15,000 VND for the elevator. Plan on two hours. Combine this with a quick stop at the Non Nuoc stone carving village just below — the sound of chisels on marble echoes through the whole neighbourhood, and you can watch craftsmen working at open workshop fronts.

Return to Hoi An for a late lunch and a few hours of free time. Then spend your final evening at the Hoi An Night Market on An Hoi Islet, which runs every night from around 5pm. The market has been reorganized since 2025 with better crowd flow and more local vendor sections. It’s lantern-lit, crowded, and atmospheric — pick up any last-minute gifts, eat grilled corn or banh trang nuong (Vietnamese pizza) from pavement grills, and walk the riverfront one last time before leaving.

Where to Eat and Drink Across All Three Days

Hoi An’s food geography is easy to navigate once you understand it. The Ancient Town’s main tourist restaurant strip runs along Tran Phu and Bach Dang Street — convenient but not always the best value. The better eating is one or two streets back.

• Breakfast: Hoi An Market food section (Tran Phu end) for cao lau, white rose dumplings, and banh mi. Arrive before 8am for the best selection.
• Lunch: Phan Chau Trinh Street for local com binh dan (rice plate) joints — full meals for 50,000–80,000 VND (~$2–$3 USD). No English menus; point at whatever looks ready.
• Dinner: Bach Dang Street riverfront for ambiance; or Tran Hung Dao Street for a mix of mid-range Vietnamese restaurants with slightly less foot traffic than the core. Expect to pay 120,000–300,000 VND (~$5–$12 USD) per person for a solid dinner with a drink.
• Coffee: The laneways off Nguyen Hue Street are lined with independent cafes — most are set inside old courtyard houses with very little signage. Wander and pick one. Coconut coffee became the local specialty of choice in 2025 and most cafes now serve it.
• Drinks: The rooftop bars along Le Loi Street and the riverside bars on Bach Dang are the main evening zones. Local bia hoi (draft beer) on the street costs 15,000–20,000 VND (~$0.60–$0.80 USD) per glass.

Getting Around Hoi An

The Ancient Town has a vehicle-free zone that expanded in 2025. Private motorbikes and cars cannot enter the pedestrian core during peak hours (8am–11pm). This is strictly enforced with barriers and wardens. You walk, you cycle, or you take a cyclo within the zone.

For getting to Da Nang Airport (30 kilometres north), Grab is the most reliable option in 2026 — a car booking runs 250,000–350,000 VND (~$10–$14 USD) and takes around 45 minutes depending on traffic. Fixed-price shuttle buses also run between Hoi An’s main hotels and Da Nang Airport for around 150,000 VND (~$6 USD) per seat, departing several times daily.

Bicycles are the best way to move around outside the pedestrian zone — flat terrain, reasonable distances, and rental shops everywhere. For longer distances (My Son, Marble Mountains), use Grab or negotiate with a local motorbike taxi driver. A return motorbike taxi to My Son typically costs 250,000–350,000 VND (~$10–$14 USD) including waiting time.

Where to Stay: Best Areas by Budget

Budget (under 400,000 VND / ~$16 USD per night): Hostels and guesthouses cluster on Phan Chau Trinh Street and the lanes off Ba Trieu Street, just outside the Ancient Town vehicle-free zone. You’re five minutes on foot from the main sights but paying a fraction of the riverfront rates.

Mid-range (400,000–1,500,000 VND / ~$16–$60 USD per night): The best value mid-range accommodation sits on Cam Nam Island and the Cam Pho neighbourhood directly west of the Ancient Town. Boutique guesthouses in restored shophouses are the signature option here — you get the courtyard-and-timber aesthetic without the premium price of the river-facing addresses.

Comfortable / Upscale (1,500,000 VND+ / ~$60 USD+ per night): The resort strip runs along the Cua Dai coastal road and toward An Bang Beach. Properties here have pools, full service, and space — trade-off is that you’re 3–4 kilometres from the Ancient Town and need a bicycle or Grab for everything. Several large resort brands expanded their Hoi An properties in 2024–2025, increasing room supply and keeping rates more competitive than comparable beach towns in Southeast Asia.

What to Buy in Hoi An and Where to Find It

Hoi An’s shopping is genuinely good but requires some navigation to avoid the tourist-trap version of it.

• Custom clothing: Le Loi Street and Nguyen Thai Hoc Street have the highest concentration of tailors. Do your research before you arrive — look for shops with actual fabric samples and fitting rooms rather than racks of pre-made items. Bring reference photos of what you want.
• Lanterns: The lantern shops on Tran Phu Street sell the traditional silk lanterns that photograph well and pack flat. Prices start at 50,000 VND (~$2 USD) for small ones. Buy on Day 1 or 2 so you have time to pack them properly.
• Ceramics: Thanh Ha Pottery Village, 3 kilometres west of town along the Thu Bon River, is the source. Small hand-thrown pieces cost 30,000–150,000 VND. The village itself is worth a 45-minute bicycle detour.



• Art and prints: The streets around the Museum of Trade Ceramics on Tran Phu Street have a high concentration of art galleries and print studios. Quality varies sharply — look for studios where you can see the artist working, not just framed prints stacked against a wall.
• Avoid: The souvenir stalls on An Hoi Islet Night Market sell mostly the same mass-produced items you’ll find across Vietnam. Fine for small gifts, but don’t confuse this with the quality craft shopping available during the day.

Practical Tips for Hoi An in 2026

Entry tickets: Hoi An Ancient Town charges a heritage ticket of 120,000 VND (~$5 USD) that covers entry to five heritage houses, assembly halls, and museums. Wardens check tickets at key sites. Buy at the ticket booths near the major entrances to the pedestrian zone.

Cashless payments: In 2026, QR payment (via Vietnamese banking apps and some international cards through Vietnam QR infrastructure) is now accepted at a majority of restaurants and shops in the Ancient Town. That said, keep cash for market stalls, motorbike taxis, and smaller street vendors — the informal economy still runs on notes.

E-visa: Vietnam’s 90-day single-entry e-visa remains in place through 2026, with processing times typically under 24 hours for most passport holders. Apply through the official Vietnamese government immigration portal before travel.

Heat and timing: March to August is hot in Hoi An — 34–38°C. The pedestrian zone offers little shade. Start every day early, rest during the 12pm–3pm heat peak, and resume activity late afternoon. October and November bring heavy rain and occasional flooding in the Ancient Town; the town floods regularly during typhoon season and the ground floors of some shophouses go underwater — check conditions before booking if traveling in October.

Language: English is widely understood in the Ancient Town’s tourist areas. A few words of Vietnamese — xin chào (hello), cảm ơn (thank you), bao nhiêu (how much) — are appreciated and occasionally unlock slightly better prices.

Budget Breakdown: What 3 Days in Hoi An Costs in 2026

Prices below are per person, per day, in Vietnamese Dong with USD equivalent.

Budget Traveler (500,000–800,000 VND / ~$20–$32 USD per day)

• Accommodation: Hostel dorm or basic guesthouse — 150,000–250,000 VND
• Food: Market breakfasts, local com binh dan lunches, street food dinners — 120,000–180,000 VND
• Transport: Bicycle rental + walking — 50,000–80,000 VND
• Attractions: Heritage ticket + one entry fee — 150,000–200,000 VND

Mid-Range Traveler (1,200,000–2,000,000 VND / ~$48–$80 USD per day)

• Accommodation: Boutique guesthouse — 500,000–900,000 VND



• Food: Mix of local restaurants and one nicer dinner — 300,000–450,000 VND
• Transport: Bicycle + occasional Grab — 100,000–200,000 VND
• Activities: Cooking class (split across days), heritage ticket, day trip — 350,000–600,000 VND

Comfortable Traveler (3,000,000–5,500,000 VND / ~$120–$220 USD per day)

• Accommodation: Beach resort or premium boutique hotel — 1,500,000–3,500,000 VND
• Food: Full-service restaurants, cocktails, cooking class at quality school — 700,000–1,200,000 VND
• Transport: Private car for day trips, Grab daily — 400,000–600,000 VND
• Shopping: Custom tailoring, ceramics, art — variable, budget separately

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 3 days enough for Hoi An?

Three days is enough to cover the Ancient Town, one beach day, one meaningful day trip, and a cooking class — without rushing. If you want to add a second day at the beach or explore more of the surrounding villages, four days is more comfortable. Three days is the practical minimum for a satisfying visit rather than a quick stopover.

What is the best time of year to visit Hoi An?

February through April offers the most reliable weather — warm, mostly dry, and less intensely hot than the summer months. December and January are popular but cooler at around 22–25°C. Avoid October and early November when the region experiences its heaviest rainfall and periodic flooding in the Ancient Town’s lower streets.

How do I get from Da Nang Airport to Hoi An?

Grab is the most convenient option in 2026 — a car takes 40–50 minutes and costs 250,000–350,000 VND (~$10–$14 USD). Fixed-price hotel shuttles are cheaper at around 150,000 VND per seat but add waiting time. There is no direct train or metro connection between Da Nang Airport and Hoi An as of 2026.

Do I need cash in Hoi An?

Carry some cash, particularly for market stalls, motorbike taxis, and smaller street vendors. In 2026, most restaurants and shops in the Ancient Town accept QR payment or card, but the informal economy still relies on cash. Withdraw VND from ATMs in Da Nang or at the ATMs just outside the Ancient Town’s pedestrian zone — fees vary by bank.

Is Hoi An safe for solo travelers?

Hoi An is one of Vietnam’s safest towns for solo travel. Street crime is rare and the Ancient Town is well-lit and lively until late. The main risk for solo travelers is bag snatching from motorbikes on the wider roads outside the pedestrian zone — keep bags on your inside shoulder when walking on busier streets, particularly around the market area.

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📷 Featured image by Francois Le Nguyen on Unsplash.