Hoi An 1-Day Itinerary: Ancient Town, Tailors & Lanterns

Start your Hoi An day at the Japanese Covered Bridge, the town's most iconic landmark. Arrive at 8:00 AM to photograph this beautifully weathered 400-year-old bridge in the soft morning light before the tour groups arrive. Walk across the wooden bridge, peek inside the small temple dedicated to the Taoist god of weather, and admire the stone monkey and dog statues at either end. Buy your Ancient Town ticket (120,000₫) at the nearby booth — it covers entry to 5 heritage sites throughout the day.

Walk to Tan Ky Old House, a magnificently preserved 200-year-old merchant house on Nguyen Thai Hoc Street. Step inside to admire the stunning fusion of Japanese, Chinese, and Vietnamese architectural styles — the intricate wooden carvings, mother-of-pearl inlaid furniture, and carved crab-shaped brackets symbolizing prosperity. Ask the family guides (the seventh generation still living here) to point out the high-water marks on the columns from past floods and explain the ingenious courtyard rainwater collection system.

Visit the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, the grandest and most ornate of Hoi An's Chinese assembly halls. Pass through the elaborate dragon gate into a series of atmospheric courtyards filled with hanging incense coils, bonsai trees, and ornamental ponds. Inside the main hall, admire the richly decorated shrine to Thien Hau (the sea goddess) and the large mural depicting the perilous sea voyage from Fujian to Hoi An. Buy a small incense coil (10,000₫) and hang your wish on a tag — a beautiful Hoi An tradition.

Head to Hoi An Central Market for the town's legendary food scene. Navigate to the cooked food section and order Cao Lau (30,000-40,000₫), Hoi An's signature thick rice noodles with pork, herbs, and crispy croutons — said to be authentic only when made with water from the ancient Ba Le well. Follow it with Com Ga (chicken rice, 30,000₫) and wash it all down with a fresh fruit juice. Browse the fresh produce and riverside flower market section for vibrant photo opportunities.

Spend the hottest part of the afternoon browsing Hoi An's world-famous tailor shops. Hoi An has over 400 tailors who can create custom suits, dresses, áo dài, and shirts in as little as 24 hours. Browse several shops on Le Loi and Tran Phu streets, compare fabrics and prices, and bring photos of exactly what you want. A custom dress starts from 500,000₫ ($20 USD), a shirt from 300,000₫ ($12 USD), and a full suit from 2,000,000₫ ($80 USD). Even with one day, a simple item can be completed in 4-6 hours.

Cycle or Grab to An Bang Beach, Hoi An's best beach just 4 km from the Ancient Town. Rent a sunbed at one of the beachfront bars (50,000-100,000₫, or free with food orders), take a refreshing swim in the South China Sea, and order a fresh coconut or cold beer. Stay for sunset — the golden light over the ocean is one of Central Vietnam's most spectacular sights. The beach bars serve excellent seafood if you want an early dinner.