Hoi An is a charming little old town in central Vietnam. In the 16th and 17th centuries it used to be a busy trading port. Japanese, Chinese, Dutch, and Indian merchants lived and did business here, leaving a legacy of historic buildings along the waterfront. Today, Hoi An Ancient Town is a living museum and is known as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, where it attracts many tourists every year.
I spent the whole day wandering the streets and alleys, admiring the charm of Hoi An and visiting some historical places in the Old Town. With good planning, you can see them all in one day and spend the rest of your time enjoying street food, coffee.

What to do in Hoi An ancient town in one day
Biking or walking
Visitors who come to Hoi An like to rent bicycles and ride their bikes through the streets of the city. It’s easy to navigate and quite a nice experience. I have done cycling and I felt that it is also interesting as the walk. Many of the main attractions are in close proximity to each other, so if you arrive at the entrance to the Old City and do the walking tour.
don’t forget your ticket
Before entering any of the old buildings, you need to buy a ticket for 120,000 VND. Allows you to visit 5 locations. Tickets have special coupons that are cut by staff at city attractions. If you’re planning a couple of days of sightseeing in this ancient city, it’s worth keeping the ticket, even if you use all 5 coupons, as you may be required to present the ticket each time you enter the ancient city. If you don’t want to buy another, just explain that you’re just walking and don’t intend to do any more sightseeing.
The main attractions of Hoi An Ancient Town
Covered Bridge or Japanese Bridge
Located in front of the sea, the beautiful Japanese Bridge is a favorite among visitors.

In the early 17th century, Japanese settlers built it with the aim of making business easier with the local population. Later, the Chinese and Vietnamese continued to restore the bridge and built a small temple, dedicated to a God of the North.

Over the centuries, the bridge became famous for its unique architecture and remains a sanctuary for the local population.
Assembly Hall of the Cantonese Chinese Congregation
A small but impressive temple with a solemn courtyard placed a beautiful statue of a dragon and a carp. The place was not too crowded when I visited and it was a pleasure to walk around and admire the architectural features.
The Assembly Hall was built in the 18th century and its main altar is dedicated to Quan Cong, one of the legendary Chinese military generals.
Hoai river bank
It is one of the most charming places in Hoi An. Let yourself walk along the river banks to relax, you will have plenty of photo opportunities. Along the riverbank are cafes, restaurants with colonial architecture, colorful boats bobbing on the water, and at night, the entire area is lit up with Chinese lanterns.
Here, you can enjoy Cao Lau or Com ga (chicken rice) at one of the street stalls as you sit on a small plastic chair, watch life go by, or sip a glass of wine at a colorful bar in the French colonial style. Hoi An’s promenade will steal your heart.

Central Market
An exciting experience for shopping lovers. At Hoi An Central Market, you can buy everything: fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, but you can also make a suit or dress at a tailor or buy souvenirs for family and friends. It is the only place where the tourist industry mixes with the traditional way of life.

old houses
Hoi An is full of old houses. You will probably need to buy tickets to visit all of them. However, only a few houses can give you an insight into the history and culture of Hoi An. I visited two of them. I thought it was interesting to see how the Vietnamese used to live, but both houses lacked any specific information and most of the areas became souvenir shops. Which is unfortunately the general situation of all the old houses in Hoi An.
Tran Ancestors House of Worship
This old house erected in the 19th century, the ancestor worship house of the Tran family, as well as a typical building of ancestor worship houses in Hoi An. It was built as a Vietnamese garden house with three main horizontal parts and two wings. It reflects the Vietnamese tradition and proves the economic and cultural exchange between Vietnam and China in the previous centuries.
Phung Hung Old House
This is the most famous old house in Hoi An. It was built in 1780 when the city was prospering. The house kept the original documents about Hoi An’s architecture, culture and lifestyle. However, all you could see there were souvenirs and paintings for sale. It’s a shame as the house had really beautiful and interesting decoration.