Hoi An Old Town

The place in a few words

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hoi An's Old Town is a maze of narrow streets lined with old yellow-fronted houses, small cafés, shops and colourful lanterns. It's a charming historic centre best explored on foot, with plenty of opportunities for spontaneous stops along the way.

What we loved

Hoi An Old Town is seriously cute! We loved wandering around without any particular plan, stopping for coffee and discovering little streets by chance. During the day, the architecture and colourful façades take centre stage. After dark, the lanterns light up and the streets get much livelier. Two quite different atmospheres, and we enjoyed both just as much.

Our tip

Check the lunar calendar before your visit! On the 14th day of each lunar month, Hoi An celebrates its Lantern Festival. Some electric lights in the historic centre are switched off to let traditional lanterns shine. We were lucky enough to experience it, and it made our evening walk even more special. If your dates line up, don't miss it!