Itinerary · Vietnam
Hoi An Overnight from Da Nang: Old Town and Lanterns
One night in Hoi An Old Town, about 45 minutes by car from Da Nang: the old town by day, lanterns at dusk, the next morning, the trip back and budget.
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Why spend a night in Hoi An? The 2-day plan
Hoi An Old Town is a former trading port of yellow walls and lanterns. Our Da Nang guide suggests spending a night or two in Hoi An to enjoy the lantern-lit old town at a relaxed pace. On a day trip you head back to Da Nang right after the evening lanterns; with a night there, you get an evening stroll and the next morning in the old town as well.
This plan carves 2 days and 1 night in Hoi An out of a Da Nang trip. On day 1 you walk the old town by day and watch the riverside lanterns from dusk; on day 2 you take one more morning walk, then return to Da Nang. For the Da Nang side of the trip, such as My Khe Beach, Ba Na Hills and the Marble Mountains, see our separate 4-day Da Nang route.
Getting to Hoi An: about 45 minutes from central Da Nang
Hoi An is about 45 minutes by car from central Da Nang. Ride-hailing, hotel shuttles and tour vehicles are common. With a ride-hailing app the fare is set in the app, so there is no haggling; book a car rather than a motorbike if you have family or luggage with you.
If you stay in Hoi An on arrival day, you can go straight from the airport. A ride-hailing car or a hotel or pre-booked car takes about 45-60 minutes and costs about 350,000-500,000 VND.
For this plan, stay around Hoi An Old Town, which the guide recommends for atmosphere and evening strolls. If you also want resort time, Non Nuoc Beach to the south is a quiet beach lined with large resorts and close to Hoi An, but you will need a car for city sightseeing.
- Central Da Nang → Hoi An: about 45 minutes by car (ride-hailing, hotel shuttles, tour vehicles)
- Airport → Hoi An: about 45-60 minutes, about 350,000-500,000 VND (ride-hailing car, hotel or pre-booked car)
- Riding a motorbike yourself requires a licence recognized in Vietnam, and accidents without one may not be covered by travel insurance
Day 1, daytime: yellow-walled streets, banh mi and cao lau
Once in Hoi An, walk the old town slowly. Seeing the yellow-walled streets of the old trading port by day and again in the evening is the heart of this plan. When crossing streets, walk slowly at a steady pace.
Some old-town sights require an entry ticket. Check the fee and which sights need a ticket with official sources before you go.
For meals, try Hoi An's famous banh mi and thick-noodle cao lau. Banh mi costs about 20,000-50,000 VND. Stalls and local eateries need cash, so carry a mix of small notes rather than only large ones. The sun is strong during the day, so bring sunscreen and a hat, and buy bottled water instead of drinking tap water.
Day 1, evening: riverside lanterns and a night stroll
The riverside lanterns of Hoi An Old Town are loveliest in the evening. Around dusk, head to the old-town riverside and wait for the evening view.
On a day trip you would be thinking about your ride back to Da Nang by now, but staying around the old town means there is no rush. That is why the guide picks the area for atmosphere and evening strolls.
For dinner, have the cao lau or banh mi you missed at lunch. Keep small notes on hand for the evening walk too.
Day 2: one more morning in the old town, then back to Da Nang
On the second morning, revisit the sights you missed or the streets you passed by the day before. Staying overnight lets you see both the yellow-walled streets by day and the lanterns in the evening.
Getting back to central Da Nang takes about 45 minutes by car, by ride-hailing, hotel shuttle or tour vehicle. Spend the afternoon on Da Nang city sights or rest at your hotel.
If you fly home that day, the guide gives about 45-60 minutes from the airport to Hoi An, so allow plenty of time for the trip back as well.
Before you go: budget, best time and what to bring
The guide's per-person daily budget is about 700,000 VND (guesthouse, local food, a motorbike ride-hail), about 2,000,000-2,500,000 VND (beach hotel, restaurants, massage) or about 5,000,000 VND and up (resort, Ba Na Hills, private car). Use the same daily figures for 2 days in Hoi An, and check old-town ticket fees with official sources separately.
The dry season from February to May is the most comfortable. June to August is hot but has less rain, and September to December is the rainy season; of these months, October and November bring heavy rain and typhoons that can disrupt plans. WMO World Weather Information Service (Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration) normals for Da Nang, 1991–2020, show about 22-71 mm of rain per month from February to May, with daytime highs of about 26-33°C. By contrast, September gets about 394 mm, October about 658 mm, November about 486 mm and December about 272 mm.
This plan centres on evening walks by the river, so if you go between September and December, watch the forecast and keep your Hoi An night flexible.
- Cash in small notes (stalls, local eateries)
- Sunscreen, a hat and bottled water (don't drink tap water)
- Check old-town ticket fees with official sources
- Entry and visa rules can change, so check official sources before you travel
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FAQ
Is a day trip or an overnight stay better for Hoi An?
The guide suggests a night or two in Hoi An to enjoy the lantern-lit old town at a relaxed pace. If you want the evening riverside lanterns and another walk the next morning, one night makes it easy.
How long does it take from Da Nang to Hoi An?
About 45 minutes by car from central Da Nang; ride-hailing, hotel shuttles and tour vehicles are common. Straight from the airport it takes about 45-60 minutes and costs about 350,000-500,000 VND.
How much is the old-town entry ticket?
Some old-town sights require an entry ticket. Check the fee and which sights need a ticket with official sources.
When are the lanterns at their best?
The riverside lanterns are loveliest in the evening. Staying around the old town lets you take a night stroll without worrying about getting back to Da Nang.
Related reading
ⓘ Photo credits
- Hoi An Old Town · Steffen Schmitz / CC BY-SA 4.0
- Dragon Bridge over the Han River, Da Nang · Person-with-No Name / CC BY 2.0