Is Hoi An Worth Visiting? Honest Answer and Review from Personal Experience

These lanterns make thousands of people travel to Hoi An. Is it worth it?

▶ Animate photo with AI

The Truth About Hoi An: Is It Worth the Effort in 2026?

We first came to Hoi An more than 15 years ago. Back then, it was a quiet, slightly sleepy, incredibly romantic town where time flowed slowly. Today, we see a different city before us: popular, overcrowded with tourists, at times resembling a conveyor belt for serving guests. And it is precisely because of this duality that many people ask the question: "Is it even worth visiting Hoi An now?"

In this guide, we will give an honest, unvarnished answer based on recent trips. We won't tell fairy tales about an "untouched paradise," but we also won't indiscriminately criticize a popular place. We will show both sides of the coin, tell you what has changed here, and help you decide: is Hoi An in 2026 right for you or not.

Why We Love Hoi An: 5 Main Pros

• 1. Incredible Beauty and Atmosphere of the Old Town (UNESCO)

  This is the main, absolutely undeniable advantage of Hoi An. When hundreds of silk lanterns light up, and the yellow facades of colonial houses are illuminated with warm light, you understand why people come here from all over the world. The entire historical center is a living open-air museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walking here is a journey into the past.

  

• 2. Best Shopping in Vietnam: Everything Made to Order

  Hoi An is a city of artisans. If you want to order a suit, dress, coat, or pair of shoes to your measurements and from the fabric of your choice — you've come to the right place. In 1-3 days, they will make anything for you, and at very reasonable prices. In addition to tailors, there are countless shops with paintings, silk, ceramics, and those very lanterns.

  

• 3. Excellent Beaches 15 Minutes Away

  Hoi An is not just history. 4-5 km from the center lie the magnificent sandy beaches of An Bang and Cua Dai. Wide, clean, with a gentle entrance and traditional round basket boats. A perfect place to relax after walking around the city.

  

• 4. Rich Cultural Program and Culinary Experiences

  Here you can not just walk around, but participate: launch night lanterns on the river, attend cooking classes, make a lantern with your own hands, watch traditional shows. Food is a separate art form. From street stalls at the night market to restaurants in historic buildings on the embankment.

  

• 5. Convenient Base for Exploring Central Vietnam

  From Hoi An, it's easy to get to the My Son ruins (another UNESCO site), the Marble Mountains, Da Nang, and even imperial Hue. This makes the city an excellent hub for traveling around the region.

  

The Downside: 5 Main Cons of Modern Hoi An

• 1. Crowds of Tourists, Especially in the Evening

  This is the main problem. Hoi An has become a victim of its own popularity. After 5:00 PM, a "tourist landing" is brought into the city on dozens of buses from Da Nang and other resorts. The embankment and main streets turn into a stream of people. Finding a free table at a good restaurant without a reservation is almost impossible, and enjoying the views in peace is difficult.

  

• 2. Beaches Are Far from the Historic Center

  This is important to understand when planning your trip. If you stay in the Old Town to be in the thick of things, you'll have to get to the beach by taxi, motorbike, or bicycle (15-20 minutes). Combining beach time with sightseeing in one day is inconvenient. The solution is to stay in the beach area, but then trips to the center will also take time. A detailed analysis of this issue is in our guide "Hoi An Districts and Beaches: Where to Stay".

• 3. Prices in the Center Are Inflated, Food in Restaurants Has Become "Conveyor Belt"

  Due to the influx of tourists, many historic restaurants have turned into establishments where they might rush you to free up the table. The quality of food in the most promoted places sometimes suffers, and prices on the embankment are noticeably higher than in Da Nang or in local cafes on the outskirts of Hoi An.

  Our advice: To dine calmly and deliciously, grab a table at restaurants on the embankment by 5:30-6:00 PM. After 7:00 PM, it's very difficult. For authentic and inexpensive food, head to food courts like the one at Cho Ban Le market.

• 4. Aggressive Service and Touts

  In the center, at every step, you will be offered tours, taxis, boat rides, souvenirs. For some, this is a downside that ruins the atmosphere and peace.

• 5. Risk of Floods in the Low Season

  From September to December is the rainy and typhoon season in Central Vietnam. In Hoi An, located by the river, this often results in floods. The streets of the Old Town can be flooded by half a meter or more, paralyzing the city's life.

  

Our Videos About Hoi An: Watch to Avoid Regrets

Better to see once. In our video guide, we honestly show and tell what Hoi An looks like today, with all its pros and cons:

• 🎬 What Happened to Hoi An — Be Sure to Watch Before Your Trip
  Watch on: RuTube | VK Video
• 🎬 Breaking Down Hoi An, Part 1: Getting to Know the City, Hotel, About Shopping
  Watch on: RuTube | VK Video
• 🎥 Breaking Down Hoi An, Part 2: Diving Deeper into the City and Getting to Know the Infrastructure
  Watch on: RuTube | VK Video
• 🎬 Breaking Down Hoi An, Part 3: Sights, Single Ticket, Beaches and Conclusions
  Watch on: RuTube | VK Video

Who Will Definitely Like Hoi An, and Who Won't

• ✔ You Will Definitely Like Hoi An If You:

  • Are a romantic, aesthete, and photographer, willing to tolerate crowds for incredible shots.
  • Are a history and culture lover wanting to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of an old trading port.
  • Want to update your wardrobe and have something unique made at a tailor.
  • Are a foodie who loves not just eating but getting culinary experiences in atmospheric places.
  • Travel for 4-5 days or more to combine sightseeing, shopping, and beach time without rush.
  • Have already seen Da Nang and want contrast — history instead of modernity.

• ❌ You Should Consider Other Resorts If You:

  • Travel primarily for a peaceful beach vacation right by the sea (then your choice is Da Nang).
  • Travel with young children (narrow crowded streets and the need to travel to the beach can be tiring).
  • Seek seclusion and quiet — Hoi An is no longer a quiet place.
  • Plan a short trip of 1-2 days and don't want to waste time on logistics between the beach and the city.
  • Get irritated by aggressive sellers and large crowds.
  • Are on a very tight budget — living in central Hoi An will be a bit more expensive than in many other Vietnamese cities.

How to Plan Your Trip So It Goes Perfectly

If, after weighing everything, you decide to go, here are some tips that will drastically improve your experience:

1. Choose the right time of year. The best months are from March to August (dry, sunny, calm sea). Avoid October-November (high risk of rain and floods).
2. Solve the "center vs beach" dilemma.
   • Want to be in the thick of things and walk — look for accommodation in the Old Town or within a 10-15 minute walk from it.
   • Want to combine culture and beach — stay in the An Bang or Cua Dai beach area and rent a bike/use taxis for trips to the center. Details — in our guide to Hoi An districts and beaches.
3. Set your time priorities correctly.
   • Morning (before 11:00 AM) — best time for photos and peaceful walks on empty streets.
   • Daytime — visiting museums with the single ticket, shopping at tailors, trip to the beach.
   • Evening (by 6:00 PM) — grab a table at a restaurant, and after dinner enjoy the lantern lights.
4. Buy the single ticket (120,000 dong). It gives the right to visit 5 out of 25 sites (museums, old houses, assembly halls). Without it, you won't get inside key attractions. All details about the ticket and routes in the article "What to See in Hoi An".
5. Plan a trip to the beach separately. Set aside half a day or a full day for it. A taxi one way will cost about 60,000 - 80,000 dong.

Final Verdict: Is It Worth Visiting?

So, our final answer to the question "Is it worth visiting Hoi An in 2026?" — YES, but with a clear understanding of where and why you are going.

Hoi An has stopped being a quiet retreat, but it hasn't stopped being beautiful. It's a city that requires a bit more planning and proper expectations from you. If you accept it as a vibrant, dynamic, slightly theatrical, but insanely beautiful open-air museum — you'll get unforgettable impressions. If, however, you are looking for peace and seclusion, you will be disappointed.

We ourselves return to Hoi An again and again, despite all its changes. Because when those lanterns light up, all the minor shortcomings fade into the background. The main thing is to be prepared for them.

Additional planning materials:

• How to Get to Hoi An: All Routes and Transport
• Complete List of Sights and Activities in Hoi An
• Da Nang Guide — an excellent alternative or addition to a trip to Hoi An.

Hoi An is worth it. Just approach it wisely.