Vietnam is home to the UNESCO-favored Hoi An, a charming port town. Its trading history has left it a trove of architectural treasures. The bustling small streets here are hemmed in by traditional shophouses turned into galleries, tailor shops, restaurants, bars, and hotels. The strong smell of Vietnamese drip coffee and the aroma of cao lau (Hoi An noodles) and spring rolls (goi cuon) will entice you and will keep you craving for more Hoi An local dishes. At night, Hoi An transforms into a dreamy place littered with colorful lanterns. If you plan to visit Hoi An, here’s my Hoi An Travel Guide with sample Hoi An Itinerary and budget including a side trip to Hue and Da Nang.
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ABOUT HOI AN
Hoi An was inhabited by the Cham people in the olden days. It is believed that they dominated the spice trade in Indonesia during the 7th to 10th century. By the 16th to the 17th century, Hoi An became a major international port attracting traders from China, Portugal, Netherlands, Japan, and India who eventually settled here. Today, Hoi An’s rich heritage and charming old town beckon travelers from every street corner. It also has sceneries to satisfy your every whim – beach retreat, relaxing countryside, traditional fishing villages, ancient temples, and stylish shophouses and bars.
HOI AN PRACTICAL INFORMATION
BEST TIME TO VISIT HOI AN: There are 2 seasons in Hoi An, rainy season – from October to February and dry season – March to September. The best months to visit are February to April because of the pleasant weather. Avoid the typhoon season – October to mid-December as Hoi An’s old town is prone to flooding.
VISA IN VIETNAM: Philippine Passport holders can stay up to 21 days in Vietnam, visa-free. Make sure that your passport has at least 6 months validity left before it expires.
LANGUANGE IN HOI AN: Vietnamese is the local language, however staff at establishments, vendors, and drivers can speak and understand English.
CURRENCY IN HOI ANN: Hoi An just like the rest of Vietnam uses Vietnamese Dong. It’s one of the places in the world where you can easily be a millionaire once you exchange your money to their currency.
Current rate exchange is VND = PHP (USD – AUD – SGD – MYR).
You can also use USD to pay for goods, however their exchange rate is not favorable, so best to use VND.
MODE OF PAYMENT: Cash is widely used everywhere; some establishments accepts credit card payments.
IMPORTANT: Always count your change and make sure you are handing the right notes when paying because the currency in Vietnam can be confusing; there’s a lot of zeros and the color of the banknotes are almost the same. You will lose a lot of money if you pay with the wrong notes, some vendors in Vietnam won’t correct you if you make a mistake. Sadly, shortchanging tourists is quite common in touristy areas in Hoi An. In Ho Chi Minh, I was eating when a tourist hurriedly went back to the restaurant and told the staff that he made a mistake when he paid for his food the previous night. He just realized it when he counted his money the next morning. It happened to me once too, but in my case, the vendor shortchanged me. I insisted the change was wrong, and pointed to her the correct notes that I gave her. His husband ended up giving me the correct change.
MONEY EXCHANGE: You can exchange money at money exchange facilities. Jewelry shops, and banks have the best rates, but you need your passport for verification. Vietcombank, a government-run bank, can exchange USD, EURO, and British Dollar for VND. Bring USD, as you will have a hard time exchanging your Philippine peso. For hassle-free transactions and better rates, best to just withdraw from ATMs scattered around the town.
IMPORTANT: Any damaged or dirty banknotes will be charged an additional 2% of the note’s face value, so best to bring new notes.
POWER SOCKET: Vietnam uses Type A, C and F power outlets, so make sure you bring the right adapter. Electricity is 220V, 50 Hz.
POCKET WI-FI: Getting connected online is pretty important in Hoi An so you can easily navigate around. You can rent a pocket Wi-Fi that can connect up to 8 devices at once in Hoi An, Da Nang and even Ho Chi Minh. If you rent through the link below, you can just pick it and up and drop off at your hotel desk in the aforementioned cities.
THINGS TO BRING IN HOI AN:
Adapter
Extra batteries for your camera
Comfortable shoes as you will do a lot of walking
Comfortable clothes
Cardigan or scarf to cover your shoulders, Vietnam is a conservative country, so best to keep this in mind when choosing the clothes to pack. Avoid donning super shorts and cropped tops.
Extra bag or extra space in your luggage as you will most likely do a lot of shopping. LOL
DRONE IN HOI AN: You need to get a permit from the Ministry of Defense before traveling to Vietnam with your Drone. This is part of the new drone law in Vietnam in 2018 and your drone might get confiscated at the airport if you don’t have a permit. Though based on my research, there are travelers who were able to pass through some airports in Vietnam major. So, it’s up to you if you want to risk it. In case your drone gets confiscated, they will provide you a receipt so you can claim it when you fly out of Vietnam.
SAFETY IN HOI AN: Hoi An is generally tourist-friendly, and is safe even for solo female travelers. However, best to stay safe than sorry.
Walk in well-lighted streets at night. As much as possible, join other tourists when walking back to your hotel at night.
Be careful when biking or motorcycling on highways.
There are some reported incidents of theft, pickpockets, and bag-snatching at night markets.
Leave your passport at your hotel and just bring a photocopy of it when touring around.
HOW TO GET TO HOI AN
BY PLANE
Ho Chi Minh to Hoi An
- Fly to Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi: There are no direct flights to Hoi An from the Philippines, but you can fly to Ho Chi Min or Hanoi.
MANILA TO HO CHI MINH: CHECK FLIGHTS HERE
HO CHI MINH TO DA NANG: CHECK FLIGHTS HERE
2.Fly to Da Nang, Vietnam: From Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi, fly to Da Nang International Airport. Travel time is about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Airfare starts at PHP 2,000 +.
MANILA TO HANOI: CHECK FLIGHTS HERE
HANOI TO DA NANG: CHECK FLIGHTS HERE
3. At Da Nang Airport, take a shuttle to Hoi An: Available daily from 5:00 AM – 11:00 PM only. Book in advance below.
BY BUS
1.From Ho Chi Minh, you can take a bus to Da Nang: Transit time is about 11 hours.
2.In Da Nang, transfer to Hoi An by bus, minivan or by taxi (good for 4 pax):
GETTING AROUND IN HOI AN
All visitors need to pay an entrance fee to enter Hoi An Ancient Town, which goes towards the preservation of its historic buildings. You can buy a ticket for VND 120,000 /PHP 279 (USD 5 – EURO 4 – AUD/SGD 7 – MYR 21) at booths dotted around the old town. Tickets are valid for 10 days and gives you the choice to enter 5 heritage sites: pagodas and temples, historic houses and museums, and Chinese Assembly Halls.
1. By Foot: Walking is the best way to get around the Ancient town of Hoi An. Just make sure your hotel is within or near the historic center.
2. By Bike: Most hotels in Hoi An have bicycles that guests can use for a free. Otherwise, you can rent one at any of the bicycle shops scattered around town for a minimal fee. I cycled to An Bang Beach and the countryside, and I enjoyed it. You can also join bike tours in Hoi An.
Biking on Countryside Tour: RESERVE HERE
Coconut Forest Tour + Basket Boat: RESERVE HERE
Hoi An Food Trip by Bike: RESERVE HERE
3. By Motorbikes: Motorcycle shops are littered around Hoi Ann, but you won’t really need a motorbike unless you want to explore the countryside. Make sure you have an international driver’s license.
4. By Tours: There are many group tours in Hoi An that you can join, especially if you want to go to My Son or Cham Islands. You can book tours below.
Hoi An Town Tour: RESERVE HERE
My Son Tour: RESERVE HERE
Cham Islands Tour: RESERVE HERE
5. By Cyclo: If you want to explore Hoi An by Cyclo, you can RESERVE HERE
6. By Private Car: You can charter a private car to tour around Hoi An. BOOK HERE
HOI AN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS FOR FIRST-TIMERS
2 – 3 days in Hanoi should be enough to cover its major attractions. Here are some of them:
1.Hoi An Ancient Town
The Old Town of Hoi An draws tourist because of its streets fringed by well-preserved and colorful Japanese merchant houses, Chinese temples and ancient warehouses. You can explore this town if you pay the admission fee of VND 120,000 (PHP 279), good for 10 days.
Here’s a list of Hoi An Ancient Town highlights:
Japanese Covered Bridge: Built around the 1590s by the Japanese to link their community to the Chinese quarters, the Japanese Covered Bridge has retained its arch-shaped over the years.
Entrance Fee: FREE
Open Hours: 24 hours
Chinese Assembly Hall: When the Chinese migrated to Hoi An, they built an Assembly Hall for socialization. Later on, this assembly hall was transformed into a temple, dedicated to a deity from Fujian Province named Thien Hau.
Entrance Fee: Use your Hoi An Old Town Ticket
Open Hours: 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Quan Cong Temple: This Confucian Temple was established in 1653 for Quan Cung, a Chinese general who is worshipped for his integrity.
Entrance Fee: Use your Hoi An Old Town Ticket
Tan Ky House: This traditional house in Hoi An owned by a Vietnamese family has stood for decades, it has a mix of Japanese and Chinese architectural influences.
Entrance Fee: Use your Hoi An Old Town Ticket
Open Hours: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Tran Family Chapel: Established in 1802, this small chapel was built for worshipping family ancestors. This was commissioned by Tran Tu who once served as the ambassador to China.
Entrance Fee: Use your Hoi An Old Town Ticket
Open Hours: 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Museum of Trading Ceramics: Housed in restored wooden house in the historic old town, this museum displays artifact from around Asia, a testament to the trading links in Hoi An many years ago.
Entrance Fee: Use your Hoi An Old Town Ticket
Open Hours: 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM
2. Hoi An Riverside
Hoi An, formerly called Hai Pho, was an erstwhile major port from the 16th to the 18th century that drew international traders because of its strategic location on the banks of the Thu Bon River that flowed into the East China Sea. Today, the charming traditional buildings that borders the river are still intact and the Hoi An Riverside remains a pleasant place for leisurely wanderings. Locals also offer quick boat tour along the river for a small fee.
3. Hoi An Food Trip
photo by Klook
Don’t miss trying the local dishes and street food when in Hoi An. You can join tours where a local guide can take you to the best street food stalls and sample Vietnamese food like spring rolls (goi cuon), baguette (banh mi), and cao lau (Hoi An noodles). Also try the famous Vietnamese drip coffee. You can also learn to cook Vietnamese dishes if you book one of those cooking classes offered by travel agencies.
4. Lantern Making Class
If you happen to walk around Hoi An Old Town at night, you’ll most likely notice the eye-catching, colorful lanterns that glow at night. They are for sale and makes for a great souvenir. You can also learn how to create one and use what you’ve learned at home. You can book the class below.
5. My Son
One of the tours I enjoyed in Hoi An is the day trip to My Son. Tours are pretty cheap in Vietnam so instead of doing DIY tours, I prefer hassle-free group tours here. The My Son Day Tour from Hoi An typically includes a cruise to the Kim Bong Carpentry Village.
My Son is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is the most important remains of the Cham Empire. According to UNESCO site, My Son is dated between 4th-13th century and traces its roots to Indian Hinduism. The impressive towers of My Son were dedicated to Hindu gods such as Vishnu and Krishna. Some of its temples are still standing to date. I find them reminiscent of temples in Angkor Wat, Siem Reap.
Entrance Fee: VND 150,000 (PHP 348)
Open Hours: 6:30 AM – 4:00 PM
My Son Day Tour:
7:30 AM – 2:30 PM : RESERVE DISCOUNTED TOUR HERE
4:30 AM – 9:00 AM,8:00 AM – 12:30 PM : RESERVE DISCOUNTED TOUR HERE
6. Cham Islands
Just off the coast of Hoi An is Cham Islands, said to be the islands where the Cham people first settled. It is composed of 8 small islands, namely the Hòn Lao (Pearl), Hòn Dài (long), Hòn Mồ (tomb), Hòn Khô mẹ, Hòn Khô con (dry), Hòn Lá (leaf), Hòn Tai (ear) and Hòn Ông (east wind), that are part of the Biosphere Reserved recognized by UNESCO. Best time to visit these islands is during March to September as the sea can have maddening waves outside these months. You can join group tours for island hopping in Cham Islands, book in advance below. As the islands are protected, marine life is thriving here, don’t miss snorkeling!
7.Custom-Made Suits and Shoes
If you have a couple of days to spend in Vietnam, one of the popular things to do here is to have a custom-suit made and tailors here can do this in 24-48 hours! You can also request for custom-made shoes in some shops. And you can have your orders delivered to your home country via the post office. Shops are sprinkled around Hoi An Old Town and opens as early as 7:00 AM.
8. Te Dahr Show
photo by Klook
Learn about the culture of the Vietnamese highlanders in the epic Te Dahr Show in Hoi An City. It’s a spectacular display of modern dance and acrobats on bamboo structures.
9. Basket Boat + Fishing Village
photo by Klook
A popular tour in Hoi An is the basket boat tour that takes tourists to a palm-fringed village while learning how to paddle and navigate this type of boat. You can immerse in the local culture as you try out a traditional fishing method in Vietnam and visit craft shops specializing in bamboo products. Watch the local shows were villagers perform inside the boat, go on boat race, and show guests other traditional local activities such as crab fishing.
10. Hoi An Countryside
One of the most memorable experiences I had in Hoi An is a visit to the countryside and villages near Hoi An were locals still practice traditional activities. And thankfully, locals here are proud of their culture and share this with tourists. You can join group tours to Hoi An’s countryside and get learn age-old activities in local villages, you can also get to ride a buffalo and a small basket boat, watch local performances and eat traditional food with prepared by a local family.
11. Hoi An Beaches
A popular beach in Hoi An that can be reached by bike or by motorbike is An Bang. No entrance fee but there is a VND 10,000 (PHP 23) parking fee. It’s just an ordinary beach, if you ask me, perhaps because I’m biased to the beaches of the Philippines or because I visited Hoi An during the monsoon season. But this beach has powdery white sand and a massive, empty sea. Cua Dai is another beach, but due to the shore erosion, only a few sands remain here.
12. Tham Than Mural Village
photo by Klook
One of the new tourist attractions in Vietnam is a visit to the charming city of Tam Ky that was recently converted into a gallery of local culture. You can join a cheap group tour here that includes a visit to the gigantic Heroic Mother Statue and the Tam Than Mural Village, a fishing village that was transformed into a mural paradise. A truly Instagram-worthy spot!
13. Marble Mountain
One of the most popular day tours from Hoi An is a trek to the Marble Mountain, located in between Hoi An and Da Nang. The marble mountains here have caves and tunnels that lead to the intricately-designed pagoda proudly standing on its summit. The view of the surroundings below is simply magnificent.
HOI AN SIDE TRIPS
HUE
Another personal favorite in Vietnam is Hue. If you don’t have the luxury of time, you can do Hue as a day tour from Hoi An. You’ll be able to cover its top attractions if you join group tours that typically includes a visit to Hai Van Pass, Lang Co Beach, Hue Imperial City, Thien Mu Pagoda, and Tomb of Tu Duc.
DANANG
If you have limited time in Vietnam and you want to see Hoi An and Da Nang, don’t worry, as there are day tours to Da Nang from Hoi An that will let you see the popular spots there in 1 day. The tour usually includes a visit to the Marble Mountain, the Water Mountain and the Huyen Khong Cave.
WHERE TO STAY IN HOI AN
Hoi An has a plethora of budget hotels in and near the old town. Here’s a list of top-rated budget hotels in Hoi An according to confirmed guests.
Melody Boutique Villa Hoi An
Light Sky Homestay
Windbell Villa
Golden River Hotel
Tigon Homestay
Hoi An Unique House
HOI AN ITINERARY with BUDGET
Here’s a list of sample Hanoi itineraries. Itinerary #1 Hoi An 3 Days 2 nights Itinerary, and Itinerary #2 is 5 Days 4 nights Hoi An itinerary with day tour to Hue and Da Nang. Hope this helps you in planning your trip. Feel free to adjust accordingly.
Hoi An 3 Days 2 Nights Itinerary
Here’s a sample 3 days 2 nights Hoi An itinerary. Feel free to make necessary adjustments.
This sample itinerary with budget is supposing:
you are a solo traveler in Hoi An
you are staying in a VND 207,000 – PHP 480 hotel in Hoi An
your meal budget is limited to (VND 90,000 – PHP 200) per meal
*Souvenirs, airfare from your origin country to Vietnam, and transportation between Ho Chi Minh and Da Nang not included (only transportation between Hoi An and Da Nang is included).
DAY 1 | HOI AN OLD TOWN TOUR |
10:30 AM | Da Nang to Hoi An by bus |
12:00 PM | ETA Hoi An |
12:15 PM | Hotel Check-in. (Hotel – VND 207,000 – PHP 480, good for 2 pax) |
01:00 PM | Lunch (VND 90,000 – PHP 200) |
01:30 PM | Hoi An Old Town Tour |
Quan Cong Temple | |
Chinese Assembly Hall | |
Tam Ky House | |
Museum of Trading Ceramics | |
Japanese Covered Bridge | |
Hoi An Riverside | |
05:30 PM | Shop for souvenirs |
or watch Teh Dar Show | |
07:30 PM | Dinner (VND 90,000/PHP 200) |
08:30 PM | Back to hotel. Sleep. |
DAY 2
| MY SON TOUR
|
07:30 AM | Meet up for My Son Tour. VND 233,144 /PHP 542 |
10:00 AM | ETA My Son |
10:30 AM | Apsara Dance |
11:00 AM | Cham Temple Ruins tour |
12:00 PM | Transfer to Boat |
12:15 PM | ETA Carpentry Village |
02:00 PM | Late lunch on boat (inclusive in My Son tour) |
02:30 PM | ETA Hoi An. Shop for souvenirs. |
04:00 PM | Rest |
07:00 PM | Dinner |
08:00 PM | Back to hotel |
09:00 PM | Sleep. (Hotel – VND 207,000 – PHP 480, good for 2 pax) |
DAY 3 | COUNTRYSIDE TOUR |
08:30 AM | Hotel pick-up for the Hoi An Countryside tour |
Start of tour. (VND 652,720 /PHP 1,519) | |
Bike around local village | |
Try net fishing | |
Visit bamboo handicraft village | |
Basket boat cruise | |
Basket boat performance | |
Snacks and drinks at a local family home | |
12:00 PM | End of tour. Hotel-check-out. |
12:30 PM | Lunch (VND 90,000 – PHP 200) |
01:40 PM | Bus to Da Nang |
You can replace Day 3 with Cham Islands Tour:
| Day 3
| CHAM ISLANDS
|
| 07:30 AM | Meet up for tour |
| 08:00 AM | Speedboat to Cham Islands |
| Bai Lang | |
| Au Thuyen, Hai Tang Pagoda, and fishing village | |
Snorkeling at Bai Xep | |
Swimming at Bai Chong | |
12:00 PM | Lunch |
02:30 PM | Back to hotel. Sleep. (Hotel – VND 207,000 – PHP 480, good for 2 pax) |
See the detailed budget breakdown below for the above Hue itinerary.
DAY 1 | Hoi An old Town Tour |
Da Nang to Hoi An bus | VND 140,000 – PHP 325 (USD 6 – SGD 8 – MYR 25) |
Hotel (good for 2 persons) | VND 207,000 – PHP 480 (USD 9 – SGD 12 – MYR 37) |
Lunch | VND 90,000 – PHP 200 (USD 4 – SGD 5 – MYR 16) |
Hoi An Old Town | VND 120,000 – PHP 279 (USD 5 – SGD 7 – MYR 21) |
Dinner | VND 90,000 – PHP 200 (USD 4 – SGD 5 – MYR 16) |
DAY 1 TOTAL EXPENSES | VND 521,000 – PHP 1,484 (USD 28 – SGD 37 – MYR 115) |
DAY 2 | My Son Tour |
My Son Tour | VND 233,122 – PHP 543 (USD 10 – SGD 14 – MYR 41) |
Lunch | Free with tour |
Dinner | VND 90,000 – PHP 200 (USD 4 – SGD 5 – MYR 16) |
Hotel (good for 2 persons) | VND 207,000 – PHP 480 (USD 9 – SGD 12 – MYR 37) |
DAY 2 TOTAL EXPENSES | VND 530,122 – PHP 1,223 (USD 23 – SGD 31 – MYR 94) |
DAY 3 | Hoi An Countryside Tour |
Hoi An Countryside Tour | VND 654,027 – PHP 1,509 (USD 28 – SGD 38- MYR 116) |
Lunch | VND 90,000 – PHP 200 (USD 4 – SGD 5 – MYR 16) |
Bus to Da Nang | VND 140,000 – PHP 325 (USD 6 – SGD 8 – MYR 25) |
DAY 3 TOTAL EXPENSES | VND 884,027 – PHP 2,034 (USD 38 – SGD 51 – MYR 157) |
GRAND TOTAL | VND 1,935,149 – PHP 4,741 (USD 69 – SGD 119 – MYR 366) |
*If you want to save, instead of the Countryside full day tour on Day 3 , you can avail of the Countryside Afternoon Tour for only VND 140,000 – PHP 325 (USD 6 – SGD 8 – MYR 25) : RESERVE TOUR HERE
This will bring the cost down to about VND 1,295,122 – PHP 3,557 (USD 67 – SGD 89 – MYR 275).
Hoi An 5 Days 4 Nights Itinerary (with Hue + Da Nang itinerary)
For this Hoi itinerary for 5 days 4 nights that includes Hue + Da Nang itinerary, take note that for Day 1- 3, hotel is in Hoi An, while on Day 4 – 5, hotel is in Da Nang. So, if you’ll book your hotel, book 3 nights hotel in Hoi An and 1 night in Da Nang. Feel free to tweak this Hoi An itinerary depending on your budget, schedule and likings.
Take note that this itinerary is supposing:
you are a solo traveler in Hoi An
you are staying in a VND 207,000 – PHP 480 hotel in Hoi An for 4 days/3 nights
you are staying in a VND 215,000 – PHP 500 hotel in Da Nang for 2 days/1 night
your food budget is (VND 90,000/PHP 200) per meal (per lunch and dinner only)
*Souvenirs, airfare from your origin country to Vietnam, and transportation between Ho Chi Minh and Da Nang not included (only transportation between Hoi An and Da Nang is included).
DAY 1 | HOI AN OLD TOWN TOUR |
10:30 AM | Da Nang to Hoi An by bus |
12:00 PM | ETA Hoi An |
12:15 PM | Hotel Check-in. Freshen up. (VND 207,000 – PHP 480) |
01:00 PM | Lunch (VND 90,000/PHP 200) |
01:30 PM | Hoi An Old Town Tour |
Quan Cong Temple | |
Chinese Assembly Hall | |
Tam Ky House | |
Museum of Trading Ceramics | |
Japanese Covered Bridge | |
Hoi An Riverside | |
05:30 PM | Shop for souvenirs |
07:30 PM | Dinner (VND 90,000/PHP 200) |
08:00 PM | Back to hotel |
| DAY 2 | HUE DAY TOUR |
07:00 AM | Meet up for Hue tour |
08:15 AM | Hai Van Pass |
09:00 AM | Lang Co Beach |
11:30 AM | ETA Hue. Lunch (Included in Hue tour package) |
12:30 PM | Hue Imperial City (The Citadel) |
Thien Mu Pagoda | |
Tomb of Tu Duc | |
04:00 PM | ETD Hoi An |
07:00 PM | ETA Hoi An. Dinner. (VND 90,000/PHP 200) |
08:00 PM | Back to hotel. Sleep. (Hotel – VND 207,000 – PHP 480) |
DAY 3 | CHAM ISLANDS TOUR |
07:30 AM | Meet up for Cham Island tour |
08:00 AM | Speedboat to Cham Island |
Bai Lang | |
Au Thuyen, Hai Tang Pagoda + fishing village | |
Snorkeling at Bai Xep | |
Bai Chong | |
12:00 PM | Free with tour |
02:30 PM | End of tour. Back to Hoi An. |
02:45 PM | Back to hotel. Freshen up. |
04:00 PM | Walk around old town. Shop for souvenirs. |
06:00 PM | Watch Teh Dar Show (optional) |
Dinner. (VND 90,000/PHP 200) | |
08:30 PM | Back to hotel. Pack things. |
10:00 PM | Sleep. (Hotel – VND 207,000 – PHP 480) |
| DAY 4 | MY SON TOUR |
08:00 AM | Meet up for My Son Tour |
Ancient Cham Temples tour | |
12:30 PM | Back to Hoi An. Lunch. (VND 90,000/PHP 200) |
01:00 PM | Hotel check-out. |
01:15 PM | Head to Hoi An Sinh Tourist Bus |
01:45 PM | Bus to Da Nang. (VND 169,000 /PHP 393) |
02:30 PM | ETA Da Nang |
02:45 PM | Da Nang hotel-check in.(VND 215,000– PHP 500) |
Freshen up | |
03:15 PM | Da Nang Beaches by Hop-on Hop Hop-Off Bus |
My Khe Beach (Bus Stop #11) | |
My An Beach (Bus Stop #12) | |
Sao Bien Public Beach (Bus Stop # 13) | |
The Marble Mountain (Bus Stop # 18) | |
06:30 PM | End of Tour. Back to hotel |
07:00 PM | Freshen up |
08:00 PM | Dinner |
09:00 PM | Back to hotel. |
DAY 5 | DA NANG TOUR |
07:00 PM | Check out. Leave luggage at reception. |
07:30 AM | Meet up for Da Nang tour |
09:00 AM | Ba Na Hills Cable Car Station |
L’ Jardin D’Amour: Tihn Tam Garden, French table, 100-year-old pomelo tree, and old villas | |
Golden Bridge | |
Linh Ung Pagoda | |
Loc Uyen Garden | |
Quan Am Pavilion | |
11:30 AM | Debay Station. Visit Nui Chua Peak |
12:00 PM | Lunch at Ba na Hills restaurant (included in the tour) |
Fantasy Park | |
Wax Statue Museum (optional) | |
Linh Chua Lu Temple | |
04:00 PM | ETD Da Nang |
05:00 PM | End of tour. Back to hotel. Claim luggage. |
05:30 PM | Shuttle to Da Nang Airport |
06:30 PM | ETA Da Nang Airport. Flight check-in. |
07:00 PM | Dinner (VND 90,000/PHP 200) |
08:30 PM | Flight to Ho Chi Minh |
10:00 PM | ETA Ho Chi Minh |
Here’s the sample budget breakdown for the Hue itinerary discussed above.
DAY 1 | Hoi An Old Town Tour |
Da Nang to Hoi An bus | VND 140,000 – PHP 325 (USD 6 – SGD 8 – MYR 25) |
Hotel (good for 2 pax) | VND 207,000 – PHP 480 (USD 9 – SGD 12 – MYR 37) |
Lunch | VND 90,000 – PHP 200 (USD 4 – SGD 5 – MYR 16) |
Hoi An Old Town | VND 120,000 – PHP 279 (USD 5 – SGD 7 – MYR 21) |
Dinner | VND 90,000 – PHP 200 (USD 4 – SGD 5 – MYR 16) |
| DAY 1 TOTAL EXPENSES | VND 539,000 – PHP 1,484 (USD 28 – SGD 37 – MYR 115) |
DAY 2 | Hue Day Tour |
Hotel (good for 2 pax) | VND 207,000 – PHP 480 (USD 9 – SGD 12 – MYR 37) |
Hue Day Tour | VND 956,000 – PHP 2,223 (USD 41 – SGD 56 – MYR 169) |
Lunch | Free included in the tour package |
Dinner | VND 90,000 – PHP 200 (USD 4 – SGD 5 – MYR 16) |
| DAY 2 TOTAL EXPENSES | VND 1,253,000 – PHP 2,903 (USD 54 – SGD 73 – MYR 222) |
| DAY 3 | Cham Islands Tour |
| Cham Islands Tour | VND 700,000 – PHP 1,627 (USD 30 – SGD 41 – MYR 124) |
| Dinner | VND 90,000 – PHP 200 (USD 4 – SGD 5 – MYR 16) |
| Hotel (good for 2 pax) | VND 207,000 – PHP 480 (USD 9 – SGD 12 – MYR 37) |
| DAY 3 TOTAL EXPENSES | VND 790,207 – PHP 2,307 (USD 43 – SGD 58 – MYR 177) |
DAY 4 | My Son Tour |
Hotel in Da Nang | VND 215,000– PHP 500 (USD 9 – SGD 13 – MYR 38) |
My Son Tour | VND 385,000 – PHP 895 (USD 17 – SGD 23 – MYR 68) |
Bus to Da Nang | VND 169,000 – PHP 393 (USD 7 – SGD 10 – MYR 30) |
Da Nang Hop-on Hop-off Bus | VND 153,000 – PHP 356 (USD 7 – SGD 9 – MYR 27) |
Dinner | VND 90,000 – PHP 200 (USD 4 – SGD 5 – MYR 16) |
| DAY 4 TOTAL EXPENSES | VND 101,200 – PHP 949 (USD 18 – SGD 24 – MYR 73) |
| DAY 5 | Da Nang Tour |
Da Nang Tour | VND 865,000 – PHP 2,012 (USD 37 – SGD 51– MYR 153) |
Lunch | Free with tour |
Shuttle to Da Nang Airport | VND 129,000 – PHP 298 (USD 6 – SGD 8 – MYR 23) |
DAY 5 TOTAL EXPENSES | VND 994,000 – PHP 2,310 (USD 43 – SGD 59 – MYR 176) |
GRAND TOTAL | VND 3,667,407 – PHP 9,953 (USD 186 – SGD 181 – MYR 648) |
HOI AN TRAVEL TIPS + REMINDERS
Walk while you can at Hanoi Old Town.
Most restaurants close at 9:00 PM, so have dinner early.
Make use of the free bikes at your hotel.
Watch your bag and purse at night markets. Pickpockets and purse-snatchers are quite common at night.
Don’t miss eating Hoi An traditional street food and dishes.
Always count your change, short-changing is pretty common in Hoi An.
Make sure you are paying using the correct banknotes, it can be confusing because of the many zeros and almost same color, if you make a mistake, some vendors might not correct you.
Shop until you drop! The goods are pretty affordable here!
If you are a solo traveler, joining group tours will save you time. Tours are really cheap in Hoi and you’ll be able to cover the top destinations in half day or 1 day.
ALSO READ:
HUE TRAVEL GUIDE + ITINERARY
HO CHI MIN ITINERARY
MUI NE ITINERARY
HANOI + HALONG BAY ITINERARY
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