Five days in Hoi An gives you room to breathe. Most travelers rush through in two or three days, hitting the Old Town highlights and moving on. Stay five and you'll discover the Hoi An that doesn't appear on Instagram: farmers harvesting morning herbs at Tra Que, fishing boats returning to Cửa Đại at dawn, the back streets where tailors still hand-sew silk by lamplight.
Here's how to spend five full days.
How to Read This Itinerary
This 5-day plan is designed for first-time visitors to Hoi An. It balances the Old Town classics with day trips, beach days, and food experiences. Each day runs from ~8 AM to 9 PM — adjust based on your pace.
Budget overview:
| Style | Approx. Daily Cost | 5-Day Total |
|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | ~$20–25 | ~$100–125 |
| Mid-range | ~$50–70 | ~$250–350 |
| Comfortable | ~$120–160 | ~$600–800 |
Getting There
Hoi An has no airport. Fly into Da Nang (DAD) — well-connected from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and major Asian hubs including Singapore, Bangkok, and Seoul.
From Da Nang Airport to Hoi An:
- Grab car: ~$9–12 USD, 45 min
- Shared minibus: ~$3–4 USD, 1 hr
- Pre-booked private transfer: ~$18–22 USD, 40 min
Arriving by train? Da Nang station is 25 km from Hoi An — same transfer options apply.
Day 1: Arrival & Old Town Orientation
Afternoon Arrival
Check in, drop your bags, and walk the Old Town before dinner. The best first impression of Hoi An comes in the late afternoon when the light turns golden and the tailor shops spill their silk bolts onto the street.
Key Old Town stops:
- Japanese Covered Bridge (Cầu Nhật Bản) — Hoi An's most iconic landmark, built in the 1590s
- Phúc Kiến Assembly Hall — ornate Chinese assembly hall with dragon-clad courtyard; 120,000 VND Ancient Town ticket required
- Nguyễn Thái Học Street — the main artery, lined with colonial-era merchant houses
Dinner: Your First Cao Lầu
Order Hoi An's most famous dish on Night 1 so you have all trip to decide if you prefer it from a street stall (40,000 VND, $1.60) or a proper restaurant (80,000 VND). Phố Hội Hội An (corner of Trần Phú and Hoàng Diệu) serves an excellent version.
Day 2: Deep Dive — Markets, Tailors & Cooking
6:30 AM: Morning Market
The Central Market on Trần Quý Cáp comes alive at dawn. Vendors selling fresh herbs, live seafood, pork belly, and hand-rolled bánh mì set up before sunrise. This is where Hoi An's restaurant chefs shop.
9 AM: Old Town Heritage Ticket
Use your 120,000 VND Ancient Town ticket (valid for 5 different sites) to explore:
- Tấn Ký Ancient House — a 200-year-old merchant house on Nguyễn Thái Học St, lived in by the same family for 7 generations
- Quảng Đông Assembly Hall — Cantonese merchant hall with carved wooden altarpieces
Late Morning: Tailors
Hoi An's 400+ tailors can make custom garments in 24–48 hours. Go today so you can pick up on Day 4 or 5.
| Tailor | Best For | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Yaly Couture | Suits, dresses, ao dai | $40–120 USD |
| A Dong Silk | Silk pieces, women's clothing | $35–100 USD |
| Bebe Tailor | Budget-friendly, quick turnaround | $20–60 USD |
| Kimmy Fashion | Men's suits, linen shirts | $50–130 USD |
Bring reference photos. Be specific about fit. Quality varies — reading recent TripAdvisor reviews before choosing is worth 15 minutes.
Afternoon: Cooking Class
A Hoi An cooking class belongs on every trip here. The format is consistent across most schools: market tour, prep instruction, cook 4–5 dishes, eat everything.
Top options:
- Morning Glory Cooking School (Trần Phú St) — founded by the chef who put Hoi An food on the map, ~$28–35 USD
- Tra Que Farm Cooking — held at the vegetable farm, includes farm walk, ~$20–25 USD
- Red Bridge Cooking School — boat ride to the school, slightly fancier setting, ~$35–40 USD
Book 24 hours ahead. Most offer morning or afternoon sessions.
Evening: Lantern Release
Wander the riverside after dark, rent a lantern boat (50,000 VND from vendors along Bạch Đằng), and float your lit paper lantern on the river. Touristy? Yes. Still beautiful? Absolutely.
Day 3: Hoi An's Hidden Villages
Today leaves the Old Town entirely.
7 AM: Tra Que Vegetable Village
Cycle or Grab 3 km north to Tra Que — an organic herb and vegetable farm that supplies Hoi An's restaurants. A free guided walk takes you through the farm (small tip appreciated). This is where your white rose dumplings and Cao Lầu herbs come from.
9 AM: Thanh Hà Pottery Village
Continue 3 km west to Thanh Hà, where artisans have produced terracotta ceramics for 500 years. Free to wander; workshops for hands-on pottery start at 30,000–50,000 VND.
Afternoon: Cẩm Thanh Village & Basket Boats
Head to Cẩm Thanh, a coconut palm forest village 5 km east of town. Here you can:
- Ride a basket boat (thuyền thúng) through the coconut forests — $5–8 for a 45-min tour
- Crab fishing with local families (some tours include a crab cooking lesson)
Most hotels and tour desks can book this for ~$8–15 USD including transport.
Evening: Rooftop Drinks
Mia Coffee House (11 Phan Châu Trinh) has the best rooftop view of the Old Town at sunset. Local Tiger beer runs ~30,000 VND ($1.20).
Day 4: My Son Sanctuary Day Trip
Leave at 7 AM
My Son Sanctuary is 45 km west of Hoi An — a 2nd–15th century Cham Hindu temple complex that's a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its own right. Get there before the tour buses arrive.
| Transport Option | Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Shared group tour | $8–12 USD | Full morning |
| Private car + guide | $30–45 USD | Flexible |
| Self-drive motorbike | ~$3 fuel | 1 hr each way |
The ruins are spread across a valley framed by jungle mountains. Guided tours explain the Cham civilization's history; solo visitors get a less contextualized but equally atmospheric experience.
Entry: 150,000 VND ($6), included in most tours.
Return by 1 PM: Tailoring Pickup
Swing by your tailor to check on your order. If it needs adjustments, today's the day — you still have Day 5 as a backup pickup.
Afternoon: Cửa Đại or An Bàng Beach
Spend the afternoon cooling off at the coast:
- An Bàng Beach — quieter, more local, 5 km from town; good beach bars (Soul Kitchen, La Plage)
- Cửa Đại Beach — closer to town, wider, more developed
Bicycle ride: 20–25 min. Motorbike: 10 min. Grab: $2–3.
Day 5: Slow Morning, Da Nang Day Trip Option
Option A: Slow Hoi An Day
Your final morning is for the things you haven't done yet:
- Second cooking class at a different school
- Fujian Assembly Hall or Hainan Assembly Hall with your remaining Ancient Town ticket admission
- Shopping at Bà Lê Market (clothes, lacquerware, local products)
- Final white rose dumplings at White Rose Restaurant (533 Hai Bà Trưng)
Option B: Da Nang Day Trip (If Flying Out Same Day)
Da Nang is worth half a day on its way out:
| Attraction | Details |
|---|---|
| Dragon Bridge | Iconic bridge over Han River; breathes fire on weekends at 9 PM |
| Marble Mountains | 5 limestone hills with caves, temples, and city views; 40,000 VND entry |
| My Khê Beach | Da Nang's main beach; good for a swim before your flight |
| Bà Nà Hills | Mountain resort with French village + Golden Bridge (held by giant hands); 800,000 VND, half-day |
Most travelers heading to the airport from Hoi An can stop at Marble Mountains on the way (20 min from Hoi An, 15 min from the airport).
Where to Stay: 5-Night Options
| Category | Property | Price/Night |
|---|---|---|
| Budget hostel | Hoi An Backpackers Hostel | $8–15 (dorm) |
| Budget private | Thanh Binh Riverside Hotel | $18–28 |
| Mid-range | La Siesta Premium Hoi An | $40–65 |
| Boutique | Vinh Hung Emerald Resort | $55–90 |
| Luxury | Anantara Hoi An Resort | $110–180 |
| Ultra-luxury | Four Seasons The Nam Hai | $350+ |
Stay in or near the Old Town for walking convenience. River-facing rooms carry a premium but the views are worth it.
Food Guide: What to Eat in 5 Days
Don't leave Hoi An without eating each of these:
| Dish | Where to Find | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Cao Lầu (thick rice noodles + pork) | Street stalls, Phố Hội Hội An | 40,000–60,000 VND |
| Bánh Bao Bánh Vạc (white rose dumplings) | White Rose Restaurant | 60,000–80,000 VND |
| Cơm Gà Hội An (chicken rice) | Cơm Gà Bà Buội, Phan Chu Trinh St | 35,000–45,000 VND |
| Bánh Mì Phượng (the famous one) | 2B Phan Châu Trinh St | 30,000–40,000 VND |
| Hoành Thánh (wonton noodles) | Any morning market stall | 35,000–50,000 VND |
| Mì Quảng (turmeric noodles) | Mì Quảng Ếch, 6A Trương Minh Lượng | 40,000–55,000 VND |
Practical Information
- Visa: Vietnam e-visa for most nationalities, ~$25 USD, apply at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn, valid 90 days
- Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND). $1 USD ≈ 25,000 VND. ATMs widely available; fee ~70,000 VND ($3)
- SIM card: Local SIM (Viettel, Vietnamobile) from Da Nang airport or convenience stores, ~$5 for 5 GB
- Power: 220V, Type A/C plugs. Most hotels have international sockets
- Best time to visit: February–April (dry, less crowded) and July–September (hot but clear). Avoid October–November (flooding season)
Let Faroway Build Your Hoi An Itinerary
Five days in Hoi An feels luxurious, but every traveler's priorities are different. Do you prioritize food experiences over temples? Would you rather skip My Son for more beach days? Is the Golden Bridge at Bà Nà Hills worth the splurge?
Faroway is an AI trip planner that builds personalized day-by-day itineraries based on your travel style, interests, and budget. Tell it you have 5 days in Hoi An and prefer food and culture over landmarks — it'll build you a completely different plan than this one, tuned to you.
Free to use. Try it before your trip and spend your planning time packing instead.
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