Hoi An day trips from Da Nang : Old Town, markets and evening lantern boat, our full experience
We did a Hoi An day trip from Da Nang after a short Grab ride, no big plan, just a list of streets and food we wanted to try. By the end of the day we understood why everyone calls it the city of lanterns. This blog gives you our full Hoi An day trip from Da Nang experience, from the daytime old town and markets to the evening lantern boat, so you know exactly what to expect before you go.
A few words about Hoi An, so you know what you’re getting into
Hoi An is an old trading town in central Vietnam, and its historic center has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1999. They really call it the city of lanterns because they are everywhere, in every street, every cafe, every doorway. The most famous landmark is Chùa Cầu, the Japanese Covered Bridge, built in 1593. You will even find it printed on the Vietnamese 20,000 dong banknote.
The local specialty here is Cao lau noodles, and you won’t taste it this authentic anywhere else in Vietnam.
How to go to Hoi An from Da Nang? (Hoi An one day trip)
A Hoi An day trip from Da Nang is easy using the Grab app. The trip cost us around 300,000 dong, about 10 euro, for a private car. We think this is the easiest and most comfortable way, no need to book anything in advance.
Also, keep in mind that bicycles and scooters are not allowed inside the historic center during certain hours, so expect to walk once you’re in Old Town.
Hoi An Old Town map: Map
Is there an entry fee for Hoi An Old Town?
No, there is no entrance fee just to walk around Hoi An Old Town. You can freely wander the streets, cross the Japanese Covered Bridge area, and enjoy the atmosphere without paying anything at the gate. A separate paid ticket only exists if you want to go inside certain specific old houses, museums, or assembly halls. Prices of coffee and food inside Old Town also tend to be higher than in Da Nang, so keep that in mind too. In some streets, taking pictures is even charged a few tens of cents, so it is good to be aware before you start snapping photos everywhere.
Our day in Hoi An, step by step : Hoi An Day Trip From Da Nang
- Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street and the shops
We started our walk on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, full of small tailor shops, souvenir stores and local sellers. This is a nice, quieter way to enter Old Town before the crowds build up.
- Chùa Cầu, the Japanese Covered Bridge
From there we walked to Chùa Cầu, the Japanese Bridge from 1593. This is the most photographed spot in Hoi An, and for good reason, the wooden architecture here is beautiful and it really does feel like stepping back a few centuries.
- Tran Phu Street and Cao lầu noodles
we tried our Cao lầu noodles at a small local place. And Cao lầu and it’s very good to try, really tasty, definitely one of the dishes you should not skip while you’re in Hoi An. We will talk honestly about food prices below, so keep reading before you order.
- Mot Hoi An herbal tea
Along the way we also stopped for Mót, a local herbal lemongrass drink (Nước Thảo Mộc Sả Chanh), and it was one of our favorite small discoveries of the day. Refreshing, cheap and something you won’t find outside Vietnam.
- Kwiatkowski Square, Le Loi Street and the local pagoda
We continued through Kwiatkowski Square, stopped at a cafe with a garden setting, then walked down Le Loi Street toward Đình Hội An, a local communal house worth a quick look even if you’re not into temples usually.
- Hoi An Street Market and Night Market
Later in the afternoon we reached Hoi An Street Market, then the Night Market along Đ. Bạch Đằng Street. This area is full of vendors, lantern shops and street food, and it gets busy fast once the sun starts going down.
What does food and coffee cost in Hoi An?
From our experience, here is what you can expect to pay in Old Town:
- Cao lầu noodles: very cheap, just 40,000 dong
- Coconut coffee: a bit more expensive than a regular Vietnamese coffee outside the old town
- Herbal drinks like Mót: cheap and worth trying
- Asian desserts sold by street vendors: small and affordable
Prices are always a bit higher inside the historic center compared to Da Nang, so if you are on a tight budget, eat a bigger meal before you come in and just snack here.
Which restaurant should you avoid in Hoi An?
We want to be honest with you here. We ate at Thanh Phuong Restaurant and it did not go well for us, the experience was disappointing compared to the price we paid. Our advice, from experience: always check the restaurant on Google Maps first before you sit down. We didn’t do it once, and it didn’t turn out the best. A quick check of recent reviews takes two minutes and can save your evening.
Hoi An Old Town promenade and lantern photo spots
As evening came closer, we walked the Old Town promenade along the river. There is a very beautiful photo spot with lanterns near the Thạch Dung Lanterns display, where you can pay 20,000 dong for a photo, it’s very worth it. The An Hoi Bridge area also lights up beautifully once it gets dark. This is also where the Nguyen Hoang Night Market is, so plan to spend some time here before the cruise.
The evening Lantern Cruise on Thu Bồn River
This was the main reason we came to Hoi An. Once a month, during the full moon (the 14th day of the lunar month), the electric lights in Old Town are dimmed and hundreds of candle lanterns float down the Thu Bồn River. It is genuinely one of those experiences you should see at least once.
Good to know: the evening cruise with lanterns gets crowded, so leave extra time and don’t rush your dinner beforehand.
Hoi An Day Trip From Da Nang : Best time to visit Hoi An
If you want the full lantern experience with the lights dimmed across town, plan your trip around the 14th day of the lunar month, this happens once a month. Outside of that date, the lanterns are still beautiful every night, just without the citywide dimming effect.
Things to do in Hoi An in one day
- Walk Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street for shops and tailors
- Visit Chùa Cầu, the Japanese Covered Bridge
- Try Cao lầu noodles on Tran Phu Street
- Drink Mót herbal lemongrass drink
- Explore Kwiatkowski Square and nearby cafes
- Visit Đình Hội An
- Walk Hoi An Street Market and Night Market
- Take photos at Thạch Dung Lanterns and An Hoi Bridge
- Join the evening Lantern Cruise on Thu Bồn River
Is Hoi An worth visiting from Da Nang?
Yes. Hoi An isn’t just about the old town during the day, the real magic happens once the sun goes down and the whole town lights up with lanterns. Between the food, the walkable streets and the evening cruise, it easily fills a full day trip from Da Nang.
Both Da Nang and Hoi An are also places where you can comfortably live and work remotely.
Here, you can check out our video to see the full walkthrough, street by street, including the lantern cruise at night.
Feel free to DM me here on IG @fj.at.pattaya or @snny.travel.blog.
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