Hoi An Old Town is the city center of Hoi An, a Unesco world heritage site and a famous tourist attraction. Here, visitors will see quarters with narrow roads, yellow houses, lots of lanterns, and cultural heritages of Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese communities. It’s the prettiest town in Vietnam. Now, HoiAn Day Trip Company will tell you what you should and should not wear to Hoi An Old Town.
You may also like: What to Wear & Bring to Ba Na Hills, What to Wear to Marble Mountains, What to Wear to My Son Sanctuary
• Content by Tam Le, founder of HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD
• Designed by Giang Cong Minh, co-founder of LS E&C LTD and his team
• Photo by Dang Cong Loi, Dao Xuan Son, Tam Le & others
Must Knows about Hoi An Old Town (Vietnam)
– Location/adress: Minh An ward, Hoi An city, Quang Nam province, Vietnam
– Other name(s): Hoi An Ancient Town, Hoi An Old City, Hoi An Old Quarters, Hoi An Historic Center, Pho Co Hoi An
– Area: 30 hectares
– Main street(s): Tran Phu Street, Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Bach Dang Street, Phan Chu Trinh Street, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street
– Number of residents: around 10,000 people
– Ethnicities: Viet (Kinh) people, Hoa people
– Opening hours: 24hrs a day, 7 days a week
– Ticket price: 120,000 VND/adult & children above 15 years old (see more details)
– Reason(s) to visit: the best preserved historic town in Southeast Asia, a world heritage site, a tons of photo spots, gorgeous lanterns at night, great shopping experience, many local specialty dishes & much more
– Time to spend: at least 1/2 day
– Best time to visit: early morning, late afternoon to evening, lantern festival
– Recognition(s): Unesco world heritage site (1999), one of best tourist attractions in Vietnam, one of leading attractions in Asia, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, top cultural destinations in the world & much more
– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/hoi-an-old-town-travel-guide
– Tour guide: contact +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo)
– Food & drink: yes available
– Shopping: yes available
– Fact: Hoi An Old Town is known as ‘yellow town’ or ‘lantern town’ or ‘the prettiest town of Vietnam’
Hoi An Old Town on Maps
Weather & Climate in Hoi An Old Town Vietnam
During the year, there are two distinct areas in Hoi An Old Town: the dry season (from February to end of August) and the rainy season (from September to January). In the dry season, it’s sunny everyday and the temperature will be high in the midday. This period of time is good for sightseeing and taking pictures. To avoid the strong heat, we recommend going in the early morning or late afternoon. In the rainy season, it rains frequently. Flooding occurs in Hoi An Old Town because of heavy rains and typhoons. Top tip is checking the weather forecast in advance. If the rain is small, it’s also nice to come here thanks to lower temperature.
HOIAN DAY TRIP company organizes tours to Hoi An Old Town everyday. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to book. Thank you very much!
What to Wear to Hoi An Old Town Vietnam?
Visitors need to wear respectively to religious and holy attractions in Hoi An Old Town. If just want to walk around and no sightsee any religious/holy places, wear what you like!
However, every tourist will need to buy an entrance ticket to enter the Hoi An Old Town, a world heritage site (costing 120,000 VND per adult, see more information). This fee includes the entry to 5 attractions (amongst over 20 attractions selected by the city). Many of them are related to religions and beliefs. We recommend using the ticket to see them and of course, wearing respectively is a requirement.
In other words, men and women need to wear long pants which cover the upper knees and a shirt which covers the navel and armpits. Female visitors also need to make sure that their shirt covers the back and the chest. The skirt must be long (to cover the navel). Clothes made of see-through materials are not accepted in Vietnamese traditional culture because it’s not respectful enough. Pants or shirts that fit tightly around the body (such as jegging,…), is thought to be not good for a temple visit. All kinds of footwear will be acceptable (so shoes, flip flops, sandals, high heels,… are okay).
Before going into temples and pagodas in Hoi An Old Town, make sure that visitors remove the hat, sun glasses and rain poncho (or umbrella). Do not have to take shoes off in many places.
At the Japanese Covered Bridge, the symbol of Hoi An, wearing respectively is still required because there is one temple here. Local people call this place ‘Pagoda Bridge’. Walking through the bridge only is fine.
In Phap Bao Pagoda, the largest Buddhist temple in Hoi An Old Town, long pieces of fabric are available to take for free.
At most Chinese assembly halls (Cantonese Assembly Hall, Fujian Assembly Hall, Hainan Assembly Hall, Teochew Assembly Hall, Trung Hoa Assembly Hall), most old houses (Tan Ky Old House, Phung Hung Old House, Quan Thang Old House, Duc An Old House) and most museums (Museum of Trade Ceramics, Museum of Folklore, Museum of History and Culture, Museum of Sa Huynh Culture, Museum of Traditional Medicine, Museum of Local Products), visitors don’t have to cover and can wear casual.
At most family chapels (Tran Family Chapel, Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel), communal houses (Cam Pho Communal House, Hoi An Communal House) and other worshipping places, visitors need to cover.
Dress code checking is strict in sightseeing places within Hoi An Old Town. Visitors will be not allowed to enter if don’t wear respectively.
If do not have a long pant or shirt because of traveling in hot months, visitors can go to shops around Hoi An Old Town to buy. Using a sarong or a long piece of fabric to wrap around the body to cover shoulders, chest, armpits, navel and upper knees, is okay.
Things to Bring to Hoi An Old Town in Dry Season
During the dry season, roughly from February to end of August, visitors should bring these things:
– Walking shoes: Hoi An Old Town is a large area, so visitors need to walk a lot during the visit (if want to see all the highlights). Good walking shoes are a must bring/wear item. During the rainy season, waterproof shoes are better. Sandal is fine but quite dangerous while going on wet and slippery paths.
– Sun cream: It’s very sunny in the area during the dry season, so visitors need to bring sun cream to Hoi An Old Town, to protect the skin. Besides that, do not forget sunglasses.
– Hat/cap or umbrella: Again, it’s sunny and even hot in Hoi An Old Town in the dry season. For that reason, visitors should bring a hat/cap or umbrella. If do not have, shops at My Son Sanctuary sell them. The best hat is the Vietnamese traditional leaf hat (non la) because it protects both the head and face, and is good for taking picture.
– Selfie stick: At many places in Hoi An Old Town, it’s crowded, so visitors should bring a selfie stick to take photos. If do not have, shops at the park sell it (the price may be lower if go to shops in the city).
– Cash: Every visitor needs to bring cash in Vietnamese dong if go to Hoi An Old Town (and other attractions in the area). At many places, card payment is not accepted. If want to have more cash, visitors can go to ATMs around the town.
– Credit cards: Visitors should bring credit cards to pay if do not have much cash (especially local currency).
– Medicine: If sick or have some health problems, visitors should bring their own medicine to use when needed. This is the best way. In Hoi An Old Town, there is no hospital (or far from hospital) but free medical assistance is available.
– Camera: Hoi An Old Town is most beautiful during the dry season then the sky is clear and it’s sunny. For that reason, if travel in this season, visitors need to bring a camera to photograph breathtaking natural scenery, interesting places and great shows.
– Backup battery: If want to spend a full day or take photos at many places in Hoi An Old Town, make sure that you do not forget a backup battery.
– Vietnam simcard: Every visitor coming to Vietnam still needs to buy one local sim card to access the internet and contact other people. Sometimes, you may want to use google translation to tell locals what you want.
HOIAN DAY TRIP company organizes tours to Hoi An Old Town everyday. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to book. Thank you very much!
Things to Bring to Hoi An Old Town in Rainy Season
During the rainy season, roughly from September to January, visitors should bring these things:
– Walking shoes: Hoi An Old Town is a large area, so visitors need to walk a lot during the visit (if want to see all the highlights). Good walking shoes are a must bring/wear item. During the rainy season, waterproof shoes are better. Sandal is fine but quite dangerous while going on wet and slippery paths.
– Rain poncho or jacket: Absolutely, during the rainy season, rain poncho or jacket is a must have item. If it rains suddenly, shops at Hoi An Old Town sell (the price may be lower if go to shops in the city). Although umbrellas are also good (and free to take in the hotel), we still do not recommend bringing them to Hoi An Old Town because it’s windy here. Umbrella may not help to cover fully.
– Easy dry clothing: Hoi An Old Town is rainy and windy in the wet season. Visitors may be wet although wear rain poncho or have umbrella.
– Mosquito repellent: Although there are not many mosquitos at Hoi An Old Town (especially on cold/rainy/cloudy days), but it’s still needed to bring mosquitoes. If don’t have, visitors should go to shops around the city to buy. No mosquito repellents for sale at the park.
– Light sweater: At night or on many days of the rainy season, the temperature is low. Those who live in hot countries may feel cold. Additionally, after the rain, it’s quite cold too. Therefore, visitors should bring a light sweater. Jacket is sold at shops around the park in the coldest months (somebody wants to buy them as souvenir).
– Cash: Every visitor needs to bring cash in Vietnamese dong if go to Hoi An Old Town (and other attractions in the area). At many places, card payment is not accepted. If want to have more cash, visitors can go to ATMs around the town.
– Credit cards: Visitors should bring credit cards to pay if do not have much cash (especially local currency).
– Medicine: If sick or have some health problems, visitors should bring their own medicine to use when needed. This is the best way. In Hoi An Old Town, there is no hospital (or far from hospital) but free medical assistance is available.
– Camera: Hoi An Old Town is most beautiful during the dry season then the sky is clear and it’s sunny. For that reason, if travel in this season, visitors need to bring a camera to photograph breathtaking natural scenery, interesting places and great shows.
– Backup battery: If want to spend a full day or take photos at many places in Hoi An Old Town, make sure that you do not forget a backup battery.
– Vietnam simcard: Every visitor coming to Vietnam still needs to buy one local simcard to access the internet and contact other people. Sometimes, you may want to use google translation to tell locals what you want.
HOIAN DAY TRIP company organizes tours to Hoi An Old Town everyday. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to book. Thank you very much!
Guided Tours to Hoi An Ancient Town Vietnam
From Hoi An
– Hoi An Old Town Walking Tour – 2 Hour Express Tour with Local
– Hoi An Half Day Walking Tour with Traditional Art Performance
– Hoi An City Tour: Old Town, Coconut Village & Lunch
– Hoi An Morning Walking Tour with Local Breakfast & Coffee
– Hoi An Afternoon Walking Tour with Thu Bon River Sunset Cruise
– Hoi An Night Tour with Lantern Boat Ride & Dinner
– Hoi An History & Food Tour – Famous Landmarks & Specialty Dishes
– Hoi An Instagram Tour: Best Photo Spots & Rooftop Café
– Hoi An Old Town Food Tour with Night Boat Ride
– Hoi An Old Town Private Walking Tour with Local Expert
– Hoi An City Tour by Electric Car
HOIAN DAY TRIP company daily organizes tours to Hoi An Old Town. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
From Da Nang
– Hoi An Half Day Tour from Da Nang
– Hoi An Night Tour from Da Nang
– Hoi An Night Tour from Da Nang with Coconut Forest Basket Boat Ride
– Hoi An Night Tour from Da Nang with Hoi An Memories Show
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Day Tour from Da Nang
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Night Tour from Da Nang
– Hoi An Full Day Tour from Da Nang
– Hoi An City Tour from Airport
– Marble Mountain, Monkey Mountain & Hoi An Day Tour from Da Nang
– Hoi An Full Day Tour from Da Nang with Chinese Speaking Guide
– My Son Sanctuary & Hoi An Tour – World Heritage Site Tour
– Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills Tour & Hoi An Tour from Da Nang
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Tour from Da Nang Cruise Port
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Tour from Chan May Cruise Port
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Day Tour from Intercontinental Danang Resort
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Day Tour from Lang Co
HOIAN DAY TRIP company daily organizes tours to Hoi An Old Town. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
