Hội An Day Trip from Đà Nẵng: Planning Guide for 2026

A Hội An day trip from Đà Nẵng is easy: the old town is about 30 km south, usually 40–50 minutes by car, and a ticket for international visitors costs 120,000 ₫. Go in the late afternoon, stay until the lanterns are lit, and plan your visit around the weather and the full moon. Here is everything you need, as of October 2026.

Why a Hội An day trip is worth it

Hội An Ancient Town was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 (UNESCO). It is a remarkably well-preserved trading port, with yellow merchant houses, dark wooden shutters, tiled roofs, assembly halls and the famous Japanese Covered Bridge along the Thu Bồn River.

Since 1 July 2025, Hội An is no longer in a separate province: the former Quảng Nam province and Đà Nẵng were merged into one city (Viet Nam News). For visitors, little changes on the ground, but it explains why you will see Hội An described as part of Đà Nẵng.

The trip works well because the town is small. You can walk the old streets in a few hours, eat well, watch the river at sunset and still sleep back in Đà Nẵng.

Getting from Đà Nẵng to Hội An

There are three practical ways to get there:

Option	Time from central Đà Nẵng	Good to know
Grab or taxi	Usually 40–50 minutes	The app shows the price before you book; easiest for the evening return
Scooter	Similar, depending on traffic	Pleasant on the coast road; only if your licence and insurance cover it
Organised tour	Half day or evening	Transport and timing are handled for you

Most of the route runs along the coast road or the inland highway, and ride-hailing apps usually choose the fastest one automatically. If you ride a scooter, park outside the old town: parts of the centre are closed to motor traffic at certain hours.

For the way back, book your Grab before the evening crowds leave, or agree on a return time with your driver.

Hội An old town tickets (as of 2025)

Visitors to the Hội An old town are expected to buy an entry ticket. According to reporting on the city’s ticket rules, the price is 120,000 ₫ for international visitors and 80,000 ₫ for Vietnamese visitors (VnEconomy).

The ticket is sold at booths on the main streets around the centre and includes entry to a selection of heritage sites, such as old houses, assembly halls and museums. Keep it with you while you walk, as staff may ask to see it at the entrances.

Prices and rules have changed several times over the years, so treat these numbers as a guide and check the current price at the booth. Carry cash in small notes; not every booth or small shop accepts cards.

What to see in Hội An

The best plan is a loose one. Walk without a fixed route and let the town reveal itself, but make sure you see a few highlights.

The old town streets of Hội An

The streets parallel to the river hold the most photographed yellow facades, with shutters, lanterns and bougainvillea. Early in the morning or late in the afternoon, the colours are warmest.

Old houses and assembly halls in Hội An

Several historic merchant houses and Chinese assembly halls are open to visitors with the old town ticket. They show how traders once lived and worked behind the narrow shop fronts.

The Japanese Covered Bridge and the Hội An riverside

The covered bridge is the symbol of the town. From there, walk along the river to watch the boats and the evening lantern sellers.

Hội An market

The central market is busiest in the morning and is a good place to try local snacks and see daily life.

Best time of day to visit Hội An

Timing shapes the visit more than anything else:

Time	What you get	Downsides
Early morning	Quiet streets, soft light for photos	Fewer shops open
Midday	Everything open	Heat and crowds
Late afternoon to evening	Warm light, lanterns, river life	The busiest time

For a first visit, arrive around mid-afternoon, explore while it is still light, have dinner and stay for the lanterns. You will see the town in both its faces.

Want to see Hội An and come home to a quiet street? See the apartments at An Space, our base in Đà Nẵng for stays from six weeks.

Full moon lantern nights in Hội An

Once a month, Hội An becomes even more atmospheric. On the 14th day of each lunar month, around the full moon, the town holds its lantern night: many shops and houses turn off their electric lights, and the streets and the river are lit mostly by lanterns (Vietnam Tourism, in Vietnamese).

If your dates are flexible, check a lunar calendar and plan your visit for that evening. Expect more visitors than usual, so arrive early to find a good spot by the river.

On regular evenings, lanterns still light the old town, and you can float a small paper lantern on the river from one of the boats.

Villages around Hội An

If you have more time, the countryside around Hội An is worth a detour. Three places are popular with visitors and easy to combine with the old town:

• Thanh Hà pottery village, where families still shape clay by hand on the riverbank.
• Trà Quế vegetable village, known for its herb gardens, where you can see how local greens are grown.
• Bảy Mẫu coconut forest, where round basket boats take visitors through the water palms.

Each has its own small entry fee, separate from the old town ticket. Combining one village in the late morning with the old town in the afternoon makes a full, relaxed day. A Grab or a scooter is the easiest way to get between them, as public transport is limited.

Staying in Đà Nẵng or in Hội An?

Many travellers ask whether they should sleep in Hội An or visit it from Đà Nẵng. For a short holiday focused on the old town, a night or two in Hội An lets you enjoy the quiet early mornings.

For longer stays, Đà Nẵng is usually the better base. It has the international airport, more supermarkets, gyms and coworking options, the beach, and a wider choice of long-stay apartments. Hội An is then a relaxed trip you can repeat on different evenings, for the lanterns, the food or a tailor fitting.

At An Space in An Hải, furnished apartments start from six weeks, with the Han River a 2-minute walk away and Hội An within an hour by car. It is the combination many of our long-stay guests choose.

Hội An in the rainy season

Central Vietnam’s rainy season runs from September to December, according to Đà Nẵng’s official tourism site (Danang Fantasticity). During heavy rain, the low streets of Hội An by the Thu Bồn River can flood.

That does not mean you should skip the trip, only that you should check the weather forecast the day before. On a dry day in the rainy season, the town is often quieter and greener.

From January to August, the weather is drier and warmer, with the hottest days in June and July. Bring a hat and water, and plan indoor stops in the heat of midday.

Food to try in Hội An

Hội An has its own dishes, and trying them is part of the trip. Look for cao lầu (noodles with pork and greens), white rose dumplings and a Hội An bánh mì. Street stalls and small family restaurants are often the best places.

For coffee, try a slow phin coffee or a salt coffee in one of the old houses turned into cafés. If you want to compare, An Cafe in Đà Nẵng serves both every day from 7:00.

Eat where locals eat, avoid the busiest tourist streets for dinner, and do not be shy to point at what others are having.

A simple Hội An itinerary from Đà Nẵng

This plan works for most visitors staying in Đà Nẵng:

1. 14:30: leave Đà Nẵng by Grab or scooter.
2. 15:30: buy your ticket and walk the old town streets while the light is warm.
3. 16:30: visit one or two old houses or assembly halls.
4. 17:30: walk along the river and cross the Japanese Covered Bridge.
5. 18:30: dinner with local dishes.
6. 19:30: lanterns, river boats and a last coffee.
7. 21:00: ride back to Đà Nẵng.

On a full moon night, stay a little longer, as the lantern atmosphere peaks after dark. If you prefer quiet streets, flip the plan: leave Đà Nẵng at 6:30, walk the old town before the shops open, have breakfast at the market and be back before the midday heat. Both versions fit comfortably into one day, and many visitors come back a second time to see the other side of the town.

Practical tips for Hội An

• Cash in small notes for tickets, snacks and boat rides.
• Comfortable shoes: the old town is best explored on foot.
• Modest clothing for temples and assembly halls: shoulders and knees covered.
• Sun and rain gear: a hat in the dry season, a raincoat from September to December.
• Plan the way home before it gets late.
• Respect private homes: many old houses are still lived in, so ask before you take photos of people or step inside.

Bargaining is normal at market stalls and with boat sellers, but keep it friendly. Tailor shops are famous in Hội An; if you order clothes, allow at least a day or two for fittings, which suits a second visit better than a single afternoon.

Many of our guests at An Space go to Hội An for a day or an evening and come back to a quiet street by the Han River. Ask us anything about the trip, and we will gladly help you plan it.

FAQ: Hội An day trip from Đà Nẵng

How far is Hội An from Đà Nẵng?

The old town of Hội An is about 30 km south of central Đà Nẵng. By car or Grab, the trip usually takes 40–50 minutes, depending on traffic and the route.

Is a Hội An day trip from Đà Nẵng enough?

For most visitors, yes. The old town is compact, and an afternoon plus the evening is enough to see the main streets, a few heritage houses, the river and the lanterns. Stay overnight only if you want quiet early mornings.

How much is the Hội An old town ticket?

According to reports on the city’s ticket rules, the entry ticket costs 120,000 ₫ for international visitors and 80,000 ₫ for Vietnamese visitors. Prices can change, so check at the ticket booth.

When is the Hội An lantern festival?

The lantern night is held on the 14th day of each lunar month, around the full moon. Many shops switch off their electric lights and the old town is lit mainly by lanterns. Check a lunar calendar for the exact date.

What is the best time of day for a Hội An day trip?

Late afternoon into the evening is the classic choice: the light is warm, the heat drops and the lanterns come on. Early morning is best if you want quiet streets and photos without crowds.

Can you visit Hội An in the rainy season?

Yes, but check the forecast. The rainy season runs from September to December, and the low streets near the Thu Bồn River can flood after heavy rain. On dry days the town is often quieter.

Is Hội An part of Đà Nẵng now?

Yes. Since 1 July 2025, the former Quảng Nam province and Đà Nẵng have been merged into one city, so Hội An is now administratively part of Đà Nẵng.

Sources

• UNESCO World Heritage: Hoi An Ancient Town (inscribed 1999)
• Viet Nam News: New Đà Nẵng designated a key economic power (merger, 1 July 2025)
• VnEconomy: Visitors to Hội An need entry tickets
• Vietnam Tourism: Hội An lantern festival, dates and timing (in Vietnamese)
• Danang Fantasticity (Da Nang Tourism Promotion Center): weather in Đà Nẵng