Hoi An attractions, weather

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Hoi An is primarily known for its lanterns lit up at night, its well-preserved old town, and its canals. If you are in Da Nang, be sure to take a trip here!

Hoi An is located on the central coast of Vietnam, in Quảng Nam Province, just 30 kilometers from Da Nang city. It has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 1999 and preserves fascinating remnants of the golden age of trade between the 15th and 19th centuries. The harmonious blend of Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and French architectural styles makes Hoi An one of the country’s most romantic destinations.

Hoi An attractions

Old Town

The narrow streets and yellow-fronted buildings of the Old Town evoke the atmosphere of a centuries-old trading port. From the 15th to the 19th century, Hoi An was one of Southeast Asia’s most significant trading centers, where Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, and Portuguese merchants met.

Walking among more than a thousand protected buildings, visitors can discover old merchant houses, family temples, and assembly halls. The UNESCO World Heritage site is car-free during the day, and in the evening, thousands of lanterns illuminate the streets. Wall murals, bougainvillea flowers, and the riverside atmosphere make Hoi An one of Vietnam’s most photographed cities.

Chinese calligraphy and carved wooden ornaments are often visible on the walls of preserved buildings. The market, craft shops, and tailor workshops in the center of the Old Town keep the city’s traditional crafts alive, particularly the making of silk garments.

Chùa Cầu

The Japanese Covered Bridge or Chùa Cầu is Hoi An’s most famous symbol, built in 1593 by the Japanese community. This iconic structure also appears on the twenty-thousand dong banknote, demonstrating its national significance.

The 18-meter-long covered bridge connects two parts of the Old Town over a small tributary of the Thu Bon River. According to legend, the bridge sits on the body of a mythical monster, Namazu, whose head is in India, body in Japan, and tail in Vietnám – the bridge’s purpose was to restrain the monster’s movements.

A small pagoda stands in the middle of the bridge, originally dedicated to the water god, Tran Vo Bac De, and later converted to honor a Taoist deity. Dog and monkey statues stand at both ends of the bridge, referring to the fact that construction began in the year of the dog and ended in the year of the monkey according to the Chinese calendar.

Phuc Kien Chinese Assembly Hall

Built in 1697, this hall served as a meeting place for Chinese merchants from Fujian Province. The complex is dedicated to the sea goddess, Thien Hau Thanh Mau, revered as the patron saint of sailors.

The entrance to the main building is decorated with two huge dragons, symbols of fertility. In the inner sanctuary, beside the statue of the goddess, stand statues of Thuan Phong Nhi, goddess of favorable winds, and Thien Ly Nhan, goddess of distant vision. Huge incense spirals hang from the ceiling, burning for days and spreading a magical fragrance.

The hall’s special features include elaborate wooden ornamentation and ceramic decoration. The well in the center of the courtyard and bonsai trees create a peaceful atmosphere. Visitors can still observe local worshippers coming to pray and make offerings to the gods.

Tan Ky Old House

This nearly 200-year-old building was the home of a wealthy Vietnamese merchant family, inhabited by seven generations.

Built in 1741, the house is a perfect example of the fusion of Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese architectural styles. The elongated building facing two streets follows the traditional layout of merchant houses: front room for business, central courtyard, rear section for living quarters. The house has preserved its original furniture, porcelain collection, and objects documenting the family’s trade.

The ceiling beams are decorated with Chinese and Japanese-style carved joinery, while the walls feature poetic verses in Chinese calligraphy. A unique feature of the house is the three different types of roofs, symbolizing the wealth accumulation of three generations of the family. The carved wooden ornaments on windows and doors depict flower, fruit, and animal motifs, each with special symbolic meaning.

Phung Hung Old House

This nearly 230-year-old building was built around 1780 and is still inhabited by descendants of the Phung Hung family. The ground floor served as a herbal medicine shop, while the family lived upstairs – a typical arrangement for merchant houses of the period.

The two-story, 57-meter-long house rests on 80 hardwood pillars that provided protection against floods. The balcony is one of Hoi An’s most photographed spots, offering an unparalleled view of the Old Town’s bustling streets. Wall paintings and calligraphy immortalize Confucian values and the family’s history.

Inside, traditional Vietnamese furniture, altars, and family relics can be viewed. One of the most interesting details is the ancient well in the center of the courtyard, still used by the family. The red lanterns hanging from the roof and the flower-filled inner courtyard create a particularly atmospheric sight.

Quan Cong Temple

Built in 1653, this sanctuary commemorates General Quan Cong, one of the most famous military leaders in Chinese history and a symbol of loyalty.

Renovated several times over three centuries, it has retained its original Chinese-style architectural characteristics. In the temple’s central building stands a life-size statue of Quan Cong, depicted with a red face and impressive beard. Beside him are smaller replicas of his two companions, General Chau Xuong and Official Quan Binh.

The turtle statue in the courtyard symbolizes long life in Chinese culture. The temple remains an active religious site where Buddhist ceremonies are held and local community gatherings are organized.

Thu Bon River

For centuries, the river was the source of Hoi An’s vitality, connecting the city to the South China Sea and thus to world trade. In the 15th-19th centuries, a bustling port operated along the banks where Japanese, Chinese, and European ships loaded cargo.

Sunset is a particularly magical time when hundreds of lanterns light up in riverside restaurants and houses, casting their reflections on the water. During nighttime tours on traditional wooden-frame boats, tourists can release lanterns onto the water themselves, following a Buddhist tradition symbolizing good fortune and wishes.

Along the riverbank are numerous restaurants and cafés where, alongside local specialties, visitors can taste the French influences from the colonial period. Craft shops, galleries, and tailor workshops line the riverside promenade. The riverside view with the Chùa Cầu bridge and yellow-walled houses is one of Hoi An’s most memorable images.

Tran Family Temple

Built in 1802, this family sanctuary is home to over two centuries of traditions of the Tran clan.

Following Confucian traditions, the temple is a place of ancestor worship where family descendants gather twice a year, during the lunar new year and the Tet festival. The building’s architecture is simpler than that of the Chinese assembly halls.

The path from the entrance to the main altar symbolically represents the journey to the ancestors. In the interior, tablets line up honoring distinguished family members, with calligraphic wooden plaques preserving their names and merits. The temple still operates, with members of the Tran family regularly performing ceremonies and making offerings.

Night Market

Set up every evening in the heart of the Old Town, the market is one of Hoi An’s liveliest community spaces. Walking along the car-free section of Nguyen Hoang Street under the light of lanterns, visitors find rows of local craft products, food, and souvenir shops.

Among the street vendors are traditional Vietnamese paper lanterns in all sizes and colors, silk garments, embroidered fabrics, and handmade jewelry. The food selection is diverse: fresh spring rolls, bánh mì sandwiches, white rose dumplings (a Hoi An specialty), and cao lầu noodles – all local delicacies.

Museum of History and Culture

The two-story building, constructed in traditional Vietnamese architectural style, is itself historically significant, with its brick walls and carved wooden windows reflecting 19th-century style.

The museum aims to present Hoi An’s more than 2000-year history and archaeological findings from the Sa Huynh culture. The collection includes ceramic vessels, bronze objects, and jewelry from the Champa Kingdom period, testifying to early trade relations.

The exhibits showcase the city’s golden age in the 15th-19th centuries when it was a meeting place for international traders: Chinese porcelain, Japanese ceramics, and European glassware are all on display. The photo and document collection documents the restoration of the Old Town buildings and the process of obtaining UNESCO World Heritage status.

All information can be found here!

Precious Heritage Art Museum

French photographer Réhahn opened this unique gallery in 2017, documenting the culture of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups.

The artist spent more than a decade traveling remote mountainous regions to collect portraits and cultural artifacts to preserve disappearing traditions. On the museum’s three floors, more than 100 large-format photographs and several hundred authentic folk art objects can be viewed.

The collection includes traditional textiles, jewelry, musical instruments, and religious objects that the artist collected directly from communities, respecting their cultural significance. Particularly noteworthy is the collection of rare, hand-woven garments and headdresses, some of which are over 100 years old. The exhibition is organized chronologically and geographically, presenting the history and characteristics of each ethnic group in separate sections.

Admission is free!

All information can be found here!

Hoi An weather: when is the best time to visit?

Hoi An has a tropical monsoon climate that can be divided into two main seasons: dry and rainy periods. The average annual temperature ranges between 25-29°C without significant seasonal fluctuations, so warm weather characterizes the city year-round. Humidity is generally high, especially during the rainy season when it can reach 85-90%.

Dry season (February–August):

This period is ideal for beach activities and sightseeing, with little precipitation and more sunny hours. Temperatures range between 28-35°C, with June and July being the hottest months. During the hot summer months, the heat can sometimes be burdensome, but sea breezes and air-conditioned spaces provide relief.

Rainy season (September–January):

Most precipitation concentrates between September and November, when monsoon rains are frequent and occasional typhoons occur. October and November are particularly critical when flooding can occur near the Thu Bon River. December and January are drier but may still have occasional rain.

Best time to travel Hoi An:

The most favorable period to visit Hoi An is between February and April and between August and early September. February through April features pleasant temperatures around 25-30°C, low humidity, and little precipitation – ideal for city tours and visiting nearby Cua Dai or An Bang beaches. During this period, the sea is also pleasant, with temperatures around 24-26°C. Late August and early September are also good choices when the summer heat has subsided but the monsoon peak season has not yet begun.

Frequently Asked Questions about Hoi An