7 Things to Do in Hoi An

Hoi An is such a gorgeous city and was one of my favourites on my Vietnam trip. There is so much to do and so many places to explore. I spent 4 nights in Hoi An which is more than enough to see everything on offer, and gave me more time to see a few extra things. Here is a guide to the 7 best things to do in Hoi An.

Want more? Check out my complete guide to Vietnam here.

Lantern Boat Ride

The famous lantern boats in Hoi An are definitely a tourist trap, but after walking past the river so many times, it was nice to be a part of it. There are plenty of people on the riverbank offering boat rides, and they all charge the same amount. You pay 150,000 VND (approx. £4.60) for a boat of 1-3 people, so this price is split between each person on the boat. Then you will also have to pay for a lantern to release, which costs 20,000 VND (approx. 60p). The boat ride lasts 20 minutes, and in that time you’ll light a candle, release your lantern, and be able to take lots of photos. The boat drivers are great at taking pictures of you and are generally lovely. They also expect a tip; 20,000 VND is usually enough.

Cooking Class and Coconut Boat Ride

I booked a cooking class through my hostel, but it was run by Cam Thanh Family Tours. All the hostels use this company, so it’s a lot of fun. The price of the day was 575,000 VND (approx. £18). It included a market visit, coconut boat tour, and the cooking class itself. If you contact the company directly, you may be able to get it cheaper.

The coconut boats are the iconic spinning ones, which is a lot of fun. You unfortunately have to pay extra to be spun, about 50,000 VND (approx. £1.50), and then tip your driver around 20,000 VND (approx. 60p).

We made four dishes at the cooking class, and the ones you get will depend on your day. They were very accommodating for vegans and vegetarians, giving us alternative ingredients and explaining the differences personally. It was very well run and a fun experience, and the food was great! They even sent us the recipes afterwards.

Thanh Ha Pottery Village

The Thanh Ha Pottery Village is a little bit further out from the centre of Hoi An, but you can walk or cycle there. It’s only 3km. You will pay an entry fee when you arrive, which costs 35,000 VND (approx. £1.10), and it includes a free terracotta gift which you can go and redeem at one of the pottery shops. It’s a small town to walk around but so wholesome.

There are several houses where you can go and make something yourself. The people there will teach you everything and give you as much help as you need. If you don’t keep the item, it will be free. If you do want to keep one, you can pay to have it fired and paint it. The price will depend on what you make, but I made and glazed a tiny pot and paid 30,000 VND (approx. 90p). I highly recommend heading out here to visit!

Lantern Making

I went to the Lantern Lady workshop to make my own Vietnamese lantern. It was a very cute place that I just walked into - no need to book. She will walk you through the entire process and you can choose the fabrics for your lantern. They also are foldable - they collapse to about the size of a 500ml water bottle, so you can take it with you on the rest of your trip. I lugged mine around for 4 months after this, and it survived! Definitely choose the option where you make it from scratch. The prices vary depending on size, but I paid 140,000 VND (approx. £4.30) for the small one.

Explore the Old Town

The Old Town of Hoi An is so picturesque. There are so many adorable cafés, shops, and restaurants to visit, and it is so gorgeous. Take at least half a day to make the most of the city, during the day and at night.

Walk Along the Riverside

The river in Hoi An has a lovely path next to it which you can walk down to escape the centre of the city. It’s a quiet walk without many tourists, and there are a few places you can stop along the way to get a coffee or food.

Tailoring

Hoi An is often known as the tailoring capital of the world because of the sheer number of clothing tailors in the city. On some streets, every shop is a tailor. It’s relatively cheap to have clothes made here, and because of that, it’s one of the most popular things to do. I was overwhelmed by the choice, so I have listed some of the top recommendations below. Do some research on each one to see if they specialise in anything you want to have made. Make sure you go in with some ideas, and get quotes from multiple shops before you decide on one. Another tip: always tell them you have fewer days than you do, so if you’re in Hoi An for three days, tell them you’re only there for two. This will ensure the pieces are done on time. If you want to ship your clothes home rather than carry them around, most tailors offer this option.

• 45 Thu Tailors - this is the one I went with because of reviews and recommendations from friends. It was not the cheapest but a very good price for the quality I received. I had two mini dresses made from pure linen and paid US$55 for each of them. A top/skirt co-ord made from pure linen cost me US$60. 

• Two Sisters

• Ro Ro tailors 

• Canali

• Mien’s Linen Tailor Shop

• Peace Tailors

• 41 Tailor 

This list of things to do in Hoi An is by no means exhaustive, but I think it provides the highlights. I hope you enjoy Hoi An as much as I did. As always, look after the places you visit, and only leave your footprints behind :)