When visiting Hoi An, the main thing you need to plan for is the monsoon season. Central Vietnam’s winter monsoons typically come during the months of September to December, but it wouldn’t be uncommon for the rainy season to extend into August and January either.
BEST TIME TO VISIT HOI AN
When visiting Hoi An, the main thing you need to plan for is the monsoon season. Central Vietnam’s winter monsoons typically come during the months of September to December, but it wouldn’t be uncommon for the rainy season to extend into August and January either.
The Ancient Town is prone to flooding during the heaviest rains of the season which often occur in October and November, so unless you’re prepared to spend quite a bit of time indoors, I’d avoid those months.
The driest months in Hoi An are February through July. For the most comfortable temperatures, I’d suggest planning your trip in March, April, or May. By June, temperatures soar into the high 30’s Celsius/90’s Fahrenheit, and you just might find yourself doing a little rain dance in hopes of getting some relief. And it’s possible you could get it.
We visited in mid-July when temperatures were at their highest and, despite it not being rainy season, we still had rain almost every day, some showers even lasting the entire day. Which just goes to show, you can try to avoid rainy season in Southeast Asia, but you’re never guaranteed to stay dry!
HOW LONG TO STAY IN HOI AN
Technically, to do and see everything on this list, you’d only need to stay in Hoi An for three days, maybe even just two. However, if there is a place in Vietnam that is perfect for taking a breather on a whirlwind tour of Southeast Asia, it would be here. So if you’ve got a couple extra days to spare, this city is a great place to take it easy for a while.
We chose to stay a full five days in Hoi An, which allowed us two for exploring the sights in the Ancient Town, two days at the beach, and an extra for wandering through the rice fields and taking photos in town. We don’t often take trips that would classify as vacations, but we did here and loved every minute of it.
WHERE TO STAY IN HOI AN
In Hoi An, you have the choice of staying in the Ancient Town, in a resort by the beach, or out in the countryside, and whichever location you pick should really come down to what you plan to spend the majority of your days doing.
If you have limited time in the city, I recommend staying within walking distance of the center of town so you can maximize the time you have in Hoi An seeing the sights and trying all the foods.
We loved everything about our stay at Lasenta Boutique Hotel, from our beautiful room to the massive breakfast we enjoyed every morning. If you’re looking for a scenic place to stay in Hoi An, you can’t go wrong with this one.
HOW TO GET AROUND IN HOI AN
First things first, you’ve got to get to Hoi An. Da Nang International Airport is the closest airport, so that’s likely where you’ll be flying into.
If your hotel offers airport transfer, take advantage of it. Otherwise, you can book airport transfer ahead of time here for $6/person. The journey should take between 40 minutes to an hour depending on where you’re staying.
Another option is to take one of the cabs that queue up outside the airport, but they are notorious for trying to charge a different fee than what you originally agreed to pay, so be firm if this happens to you.
Once you’re in the city, it’s easy to get around in Hoi An via a combination of walking, biking, and taxis. Bicycles can be rented from cycle hire shops in the Ancient Town for around $1/day. You might have to pay a small deposit, but you’ll get it back when you return the bike before they close for the day.
Although you’ll probably only need them if you’re going to and from the Ancient Town and An Bang Beach, taxis are also an option. From the city center to the beach, a cab ride will run you around $5 USD. You’ll also see cyclos in the city center – these are a good way to get around the sights in town if you’re not up for walking. These shouldn’t cost more than $1-2 if you’re only going a short distance.
DAY TRIPS FROM HOI AN
If you’re staying a little longer in Hoi An, there are several easy day trips you can take outside the city.
A half-day exploring the temple ruins at My Son is one of the most popular. You can book a My Son day trip cheaply as part of a group tour, or you can hire a private driver and guide through your hotel. (If you’re visiting in the summer months, choose a sunrise tour. There is no shade anywhere and it gets hot!)
Another option is to head back towards Da Nang and pay a visit to the Marble Mountains which, let’s be honest, are more hills than mountains, but they do contain some pretty cool caves and temples.
If you’re up for diving or snorkeling, your best bet will be taking a day trip out to the beautiful turquoise waters of the Cham Islands, but be aware, tours are only available during the dry season since the seas get too choppy during the monsoons.