I Thought Hoi An Ancient Town Would Be Overrated. Trời Ơi, I Was So Wrong.

The first time I came to Hoi An, I almost canceled the trip.

No joke.

I had already spent a few days in Da Nang, ate too much seafood, got sunburned at My Khe Beach, and honestly I thought Hoi An would just be one more tourist place full of lantern shops and overpriced coffee.

Then I arrived around sunset.

And yeah… okay. I get it now.

The sky was turning orange-purple, and the whole Hoi An Ancient Town started glowing little by little. Lanterns everywhere. Red, blue, gold, green. Reflections dancing on the river like somebody edited real life with Photoshop.

I remember standing near the river with an iced coffee that had already melted because I forgot to drink it. Just staring.

Best Time to Visit Hoi An

People online always say “dry season is best.” Okay yes. Technically true. But real advice? Different story.

February to April is probably the sweet spot

If a friend asked me when to go, I’d say March. Maybe early April.

The weather feels balanced. Warm but not “walking inside an oven” hot. The sky stays blue most days. Evenings are cool enough to walk around forever without sweating through your shirt.

May to August is beautiful but very hot

No wait. Not hot.

HOT hot.

The kind where your iced coffee becomes hot coffee in seven minutes. But this is also when Hoi An looks brightest. Blue sky, colorful lanterns, golden walls.

September to November can be rainy and messy

Rainy season can be rough. Flooding sometimes happens. Shoes die. Plans collapse.

But honestly? Rainy Hoi An has personality. Lantern reflections on wet streets. Tiny cafés packed with people hiding from rain. The smell of fresh bánh mì and coffee while storms hit outside.

Getting from Da Nang to Hoi An

Most people arrive through Da Nang airport, so here’s the simple breakdown.

Grab car: around 300,000–450,000 VND ($12–18 USD). This is the easiest choice.

Taxi: use Mai Linh or Vinasun if possible. If random guys outside the airport say “cheap taxi,” maybe keep walking.

Shuttle bus: around 120,000–180,000 VND ($5–7 USD). Good if you travel light.

Motorbike: fun, but only if you already ride confidently in Vietnam traffic.

Walking Around Hoi An Ancient Town

One of my biggest Hoi An travel tips? Stop trying to see everything.

The famous spots are beautiful. Japanese Covered Bridge looks smaller in real life but somehow more charming because of that. Old merchant houses smell like old books and tea leaves. Assembly halls are full of incense smoke and giant hanging spirals.

But my favorite parts were random.

Tiny alleys with plants growing from cracked yellow walls. Old men drinking coffee at 6 AM. A sleepy dog blocking an entire street because he simply decided that was his street now.

Photo Tips

I’m not a photographer. Half my photos are blurry because my hands shake after too much Vietnamese coffee.

But Hoi An makes everyone look good.

Go early, around 6 AM to 7 AM, if you want quiet streets and soft yellow light. At night, stand near the river and shoot slightly from the side, not straight into the crowd.

Wear white, beige, dark blue, or earthy colors. Simple clothes look better here. Neon colors fight with the lanterns.

Food I Still Think About

Vietnamese people argue about food constantly. It’s basically a national hobby.

Cao lầu was my favorite. Around 45,000 VND. Chewy noodles, smoky pork, fresh herbs, crunchy crackers. I finished it embarrassingly fast.

Mì Quảng is messy but perfect. Around 35,000–50,000 VND. Turmeric noodles, shrimp, pork, peanuts, herbs, and just enough broth to confuse you.

Bánh mì Phượng is famous, and yes, I think it is worth it. Around 40,000–50,000 VND. Crunchy bread, rich pâté, fresh herbs, good chili. Long line though.

White rose dumplings surprised me. Soft, light, filled with shrimp, very delicate. I ordered them because the name sounded pretty. No regret.

My Dumb Mistake

I once booked a “quiet riverside homestay” because the photos looked dreamy online.

Big mistake.

Turns out the place was directly beside a karaoke restaurant. Every night from 7 PM until almost midnight, drunk uncles sang heartbreak songs like the world was ending.

So yeah. Read recent reviews carefully before booking. Especially comments about noise.

Small Cultural Things

Hoi An is beautiful because people still actually live there.

If visiting temples or old assembly halls, dress modestly. Try not to shout loudly late at night in small alleys. Bargaining is normal, but keep it friendly.

And please don’t leave trash near the river. Locals clean those streets every morning.

Hoi An at Night

This is why you shouldn’t do only a day trip.

After sunset, Hoi An Ancient Town changes completely. Lanterns glow across the river. Wooden boats drift slowly through reflections. Night market smoke fills the air with grilled squid smells and sweet coconut pancakes.

Touristy? Yes.

Still beautiful? Also yes.

I bought one floating lantern candle even though I usually avoid touristy stuff. And honestly, I loved it.

Things to Do in Hoi An

• Ride bicycles through rice fields outside town
• Visit An Bang Beach early morning
• Drink salted coffee during rainy weather
• Take a cooking class with locals
• Wake up before sunrise at least once
• Wander without Google Maps for an hour
• Eat one extra bánh mì even when you’re already full

Would I Go Back?

Yeah. Thề luôn.

Not because Hoi An is perfect. Sometimes too crowded. Too hot. Too many souvenir shops selling the same lanterns.

But there’s something soft about this place.

The yellow walls. The river at night. The smell of grilled pork drifting through tiny streets. The old cafés where time feels slower.

I think Hoi An Ancient Town is one of those places that stays in your head quietly for a long time after you leave.

And honestly, I already miss it again.