10 tours in and from Hoi An for your bucket list

To see what people usually don’t see you have to get up at a time most people aren’t awake yet. To learn about the hidden Hoi An, about the people who keep the city running and the places tourists, travellers and even most locals don’t ever get see you have to find a local who knows these places and people and is passionate to share the “behind the scenes” of his culture and community with you.

Visit a noodle factory, a fish market, a fish sauce factory, have breakfast on the way, visit two sisters who are weaving straw mats, a local coffee roastery and a rice wine distillery.

Where: You will be picked up from your accommodation

How long is the tour: 5 hours

How much Budget to plan: 48€ p.P.

Tam Thanh is a fishing village close to Tam Kỳ, the capital of the province Quang Nam. Hoi An is also in this province and it is the main focus of most tourists and travellers.

The Vietnamese People’s Committee of Quang Nam Province and the Korean Community Art Exchange created the mural village to entice people to visit other parts of the province as well.

The village is 11km away from Tam Ky and 45km from Hoi An, so if you are staying in either city you can rent a scooter or motorbike and drive to Tam Thanh yourself. I don’t recommend taking a grab, or if you want to, hire a driver instead of booking a one way trip, since you’ll most likely be unable to find a ride back.

How long is the tour: You need about 4 hours minimum

Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary is a former temple city of the Cham people. These ancient ruins are UNESCO World Heritage Site, located about 40km from Hoi An in the province Quang Nam. Both Indian and Hindu aspects are found in their architecture, religious statues and frescoes. Visiting this site is a popular half-day tour to take from Hoi An.

You can DIY the tour, or book it as a complete experience.

My recommendation to visit My Son Sanctuary is taking a tour, preferably at sunrise or in the early morning like this one*. Around sunset the area is packed and mid day is almost unbearable in the sun, but at sunrise you get the most beautiful view almost to yourself.

Where: You will be picked up from your accommodation

How long is the tour: 5,5 hours

How much Budget to plan: 25€ p.P.

The Hoi An Memories Show is probably the most advertised experience in Hoi An. This stage play covers the history of the town and its people over the centuries, with over 500 actors and dancers bringing centuries of Hoianese history to life.

With the entire venue built for this specific show, I promise you you have never seen anything like it before.

Where: You can walk from the old town or take a Grab taxi to the theme park

How long is the tour: The show itself is hour long, for the mini shows and the theme-park you need 2 to 3,5 hours

How much Budget to plan: 650.000 VND p.P. for an ECO seat

Taking a Cham Islands Snorkeling Tour from Hoi An is one of the more popular day tours in the city.

The Cham Islands are a group of 8 islands about 20 kilometres off the coast of Hoi An. They are part of the Cu Lao Cham Marine Park, which was declared a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in 2009. Roughly 3000 people are estimated to live on the islands, with most of them living on the main island Hòn Lao (Pearl Island).

They are very popular for snorkeling, diving and “sea walks”.

Where: You will be picked up from your accommodation

How long is the tour: 6,5 hours

How much Budget to plan: 31 € p.P.

When you reach the Hai Van Pass from Hoi An it doesn’t look like much at first, until you turn a corner and get a breathtaking view of Da Nang Bay. The bay is beautiful, nearly untouched, with only a handful of fishing boats on it.

Further up the serpentine road, the world becomes foggy. The Hải Vân Pass is called the “ocean cloud pass” for a reason. You can see the clouds floating over the street and down the mountain towards the ocean in the picture.

On a clear day, the views are spectacular!

Where: You will be picked up from your accommodation

How long is the tour: 6 hours

How much Budget to plan: 57€ p.P.

If you don’t want to miss out on seeing one of Vietnams former capitals, but don’t have time to include a longer stay in your itinerary you can take a day tour from Hoi An to Hue.

Two of the sights you have to include on your itinerary here are the Imperial City (main gate pictured) and one of the Emperors of the Nguyen Dynasties Mausoleums. Good examples are the Tomb of Gia Long (the first emperor), the Tomb of Tu Duc (the fourth) and the Tomb of Khai Dinh (the last).

While in Hue make sure to try Salt Coffee!

Where: You will be picked up from your accommodation

How long is the tour: 10 hours

How much Budget to plan: 44€ p.P.

The linked blogpost below is a general travel itinerary for Hue. If you want an example for a day tour from Hoi An you can look here*.

For the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Central Vietnam you should plan at least 2 days and 1 night.

From Hoi An to Hue the motorbike tour will take you past My Son Sanctuary, to mountain village Prao (where you will spend a night), through Sao La Nature Reserve, to several minority villages and runs along the Laotian border. Near Hue you will stop at one of the many mountain springs and near Lap An Lagoon.

Make sure to pick a reliable driver you feel comfortable being alone with. During our drive through this area (apart from the mountain villages and mountain spring) we saw 10 people. For the entire drive.

Where: You will be picked up from your accommodation

How long is the tour: 2D / 1N

How much Budget to plan: 290$ p.P.

Da Nang is the biggest city in Central Vietnam and one of the most modern cities in the country, with a high human development index and has been voted Vietnams most livable city. Since it mixes traditional food and architecture with modern technology and education I was excited to visit.

Da Nang has the Marble Mountains and museums for culture lovers and sprawling beaches for nature enthusiasts.

You shouldn’t book a tour to Da Nang from Hoi An, but rather just book transportation and then enjoy the city by yourself. I linked an itinerary below with things to do, places to eat and cafés to try.

How much Budget to plan: 16€ p.P. for transportation to Da Nang* and back to Hoi An* plus 15€ for museum admission tickets, food and coffee.

Ba Na Hills is a theme park in the hills near Da Nang that is most famous for the “Golden Hands Bridge”, a golden bridge held up by two giant concrete hands, frequently used for Instagram pictures.

It also boasts the world’s longest three wire cable car ride, a huge area with gardens, seemingly old buildings and fun games and rides for the whole family.

Where: You will be picked up from your accommodation

How long is the tour: ~6 hours

How much Budget to plan: 43 € p.P.