Hoi An and Da Nang Itinerary | Travel Guide For First-Time Visitors To Central Vietnam

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Before I went to Hoi An, I had people telling me that spending 9 nights there was far too long. In all honesty, I’m glad I didn’t listen to them because I absolutely loved my time there. Without blowing my own trumpet (well OK, maybe a little bit), I NAILED my itinerary. In this post, I will share how I split my 11 nights up in central Vietnam and what I did each day!

Hoi An and Da Nang Itinerary

Hoi An Old Town (6 nights)

How Many Days In Hoi An?

I am not a huge fan of cities, so for me, I decided to spend the majority of my time in Hoi An. Most day trips and things to do in Da Nang can be done while in Hoi An too. By doing it this way, it meant I could see everything I wanted to, but then spend the evenings in somewhere that was easily walkable. I also felt much more comfortable doing it this way as a solo traveller.

A lot of people seem to only do a flying visit through Hoi An but I found that there was plenty to do. 9 nights was a good amount of time.

If I were to alter my itinerary, the only change I would maybe make would be to have 2 nights at the beach, rather than 3. This was my original plan, but I had a day spare, so tagged it onto the beach portion, rather than another night in the town or the city.

Day 1 – Arrive

The largest part of my time was spent based in Hoi An, close to the Ancient Town. I wrote a whole post about where to stay in Hoi An, comparing the two different hotels and areas that I stayed in. 

My first hotel was The Corner Riverside Hotel. They arranged a pick-up for me, so I was collected from Da Nang airport when my flight landed and was taken to the Old Town. It took about an hour and they just added the cost to my room rate.

I was really happy with my choice to stay at this hotel. It’s located in a quiet area overlooking the river, but only took me around 10 minutes to walk into the main old town area. The old town can get extremely crowded at night, so it was a nice escape. There was a small swimming pool and a good breakfast was included in the room rate.

Day 2 – Hoi An Ancient Town

Whenever I get to a new destination, my first day is often quite relaxed and acts as a bit of a buffer in case there are any delays with flights etc.

The Ancient Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it’s lovely just wandering around the streets and checking out all of the Assembly Halls and temples etc.

Tailor Made Clothing

A popular thing to do in Hoi An is to get tailor-made clothes. There are literally THOUSANDS of different shops to choose from. Clothes can be made in as little as 24 hours, but it’s best to get them started as early as possible in case you need any alterations. 

I had two items made but it would be very easy to get carried away and have loads done! My accommodation recommended The Vy, so this is where I went to get some cropped ‘travel trousers’ made. I had a design in mind, so went in with a couple of photos and basically asked if they could merge them all together!

They measured me up and asked me to choose a fabric and then come back in 24 hours. I paid upfront for my item on card.

I also wanted a bikini made, so went to Xuan Thu Bikini Custom Tailor Shop, as they specialise in swimwear and have great reviews. Again, I showed them a design I liked (but they also have loads on display to pick from), they measured me up and took my WhatsApp number. Just like The Vy, I paid upfront but they only accept cash. 

They actually messaged me later that evening and asked me to come in for a fitting! I did need one slight alteration that I think was lost in translation, but it was no problem.

Unicorn Bowl & Coffee

For lunch, I went to Unicorn Bowl & Coffee and had a blue latte and a bright blue unicorn smoothie bowl. It was expensive but tasted really good! Of course, I ordered it because it was blue. They use lots of organic ingredients and apparently, the blue colour was all natural!

Coffee Making Workshop

In the afternoon I signed up for a two-hour Vietnamese coffee-making workshop, that I found on GetYourGuide. This was a great first-day activity! Vietnam is the 2nd largest coffee producer in the world and they serve it in many different styles.

During the class you get to make (and then drink) 5 different Vietnamese coffees:

• Black phin filter drip coffee
• White coffee
• Egg coffee
• Salt coffee
• Coconut coffee

By trying them all in one go, I then knew my favourite ones to order for the rest of my trip! I liked the salt and coffee ones the best. At the end, they even give you a free little coffee filter as a souvenir.

Lantern Boats

When walking back through the town, I decided to join the line for the lantern boat ride. Even though the line was quite long, it only took around 15 minutes to get to the front. A boat for 1-3 people is a set fee of 150k. It lasts for around 20 minutes.

Lots of people like to release paper lanterns into the river. These cost extra and cost anywhere between 10k-50k.

Hoi An Night Market

The Hoi An Night Market is a short walk from the lantern boats, on An Hoi island. It’s more on a souvenir market, but they have a handful of street food vendors, mostly serving Vietnamese Pizza (grilled rice paper), rolled ice cream, and Nutella crepes.

Day 3 – Ba Na Hills

Ba Na Hills is located just outside of Da Nang. You can get lots of variations of group tours with pick-up in Hoi An, but I had arranged a private transfer on Klook. This way my schedule was a bit more flexible. I also prebooked my entrance ticket through Klook too.

My transfer was due to pick me up at 7am but actually arrived a little earlier. It’s a journey of just over an hour from Hoi An, so I got there at bang on opening time. 

I absolutely loved Ba Na Hills and spent around 8.5 hours there! You can read my full guide here: Is Ba Na Hills Worth It?. It’s essentially a theme park on top of a mountain and has one of the longest single-track cable cars in the world! 

It’s most famous for the Golden Bridge, which as the name suggests, is a golden bridge that looks like it’s held up by two giant concrete hands. Make sure to go early if you want photos while the bridge is ‘clear’. On some days it can get completely packed out, but I didn’t find it to be too bad during my visit.

There’s so much more though, including:

• alpine coasters
• indoor fairground rides
• 4D and 5D cinemas
• a French village
• a spiritual zone
• and gardens.

Most things are covered in the cost of the entrance fee. Usually, the alpine coaster is in this too. But as the two free tracks were being renovated, I paid 70k to ride on what would be the ‘fast track’ ones (the free ones can get long queue times when open).

You can buy entrance tickets that include a buffet restaurant, but I decided just to buy a hot dog from a food vendor.

Day 4 – Cam Thanh & Cam Nam Neighbourhood

Coconut Basket Boats

A great way to get around when in Hoi An and Da Nang is to use Grab taxis. I used an Airalo eSIM while in Vietnam, so I had data I could use when out and about. 

The coconut basket boats are around 20 minutes from the Old Town in the neighbourhood of Cam Thanh. A Grab cost me 78k and you can pay in cash or by card through the app.

There are so many companies offering boat trips. I found Làng Dừa Xanh Coconut Basket Boat Tour on Google Maps that had good reviews, so I headed straight for that one. Again, travelling solo I was quoted 150k per boat. I was able to go out straight away into the river.

I was given a life vest and a traditional hat to wear. The trip lasted around 1 hour. We went through some of the backwaters, which I enjoyed. My driver even let me try to row but I could only make it go in circles!

The river then opened up into a wider area where they are blasting Gangnam Style and guys are spinning the boats super fast. Of course, I wanted a go as a passenger, so my driver took as over to one so I could have a ride in one. You are expected to tip for this.

We also tried to catch crabs but didn’t have much luck! Yes, maybe the whole thing is a bit of a tourist trap, but I thought it was just a fun lighthearted activity.

The Lantern Lady

From the coconut boats, I got another Grab taxi but this time I asked to be dropped off at The Lantern Lady. I arrived at 11am and was able to join a lantern-making session straight away, but any later than this, and people were being turned away and told to come back later!

It costs 140k to make a 20cm folding lantern from scratch and lasts approximately 90 minutes. They have a couple of different options if you wanted to make bigger ones or have a pre-made frame. There are several ‘shapes’ you can choose from too. I chose the traditional ‘Hoi An’ shape. 

You are shown how to stick everything together and then cover the frame with pieces of silk. They have loads of colours and designs to pick from too. Once completed, it is folded into a tube shape, so it fits in luggage a little easier. I did struggle a bit to try and get it open again when I got home though!

Hoi An Memories Show

In the evening I went to the Hoi An Memories Show. The main show starts at 8pm and was a HUGE production. There were so many cast members! It tells one of the stories from Hoi An’s history and is really good.

Before this, they have 13 mini-shows. In all honesty, this was a bit of a weird setup. You end up doing a couple of laps of the park, being led to different areas. There is then a short show where they ‘tell’ a cultural story through dance. By the 13th show, people started to sit on the ground as it’s a lot of standing around the walking!

Another alternative is the Bamboo Circus, which I have heard is good. Find a guide of 4 Things To Do In Hoi An At Night here.

Day 5 – Free day in the Old Town

This turned into a bit of a free day, because I ended up combining a lot of the activities on days 2 and 4. It was more like a food and drink crawl around the Old Town!

I spent the morning relaxing at Cà phê vườn phố hội, which is a cute little coffee shop in a rice field. It’s literally a 5-minute walk from the Old Town.

The coffee menu is quite limited but they have bean bags and teepees and swings. It was really nice just to slow down and watch the world go by. I highly recommend it, I ended up going back again on day 7.

If you want to try a food dish that is a Hoi An specialty, head to Bup Cafe to try Cao Lau. This is a noodle dish with vegetables, pork, and croutons and a bargain at only 30k.

The Reaching Out Teahouse is a peaceful tea shop along one of the main streets. It employs staff that have speech and hearing difficulties, so communication is done through sign language or wooden blocks. I used to use Makaton sign language when I worked in a school years ago, so I was happy to find that it was pretty universal.

There’s just a very calming atmosphere where most people were just reading or writing. The tea was all loose leaf and the coconut snacks are well worth having too!

Another Hoi An specialty is MOT juice, made with ginger, lime, lemongrass, and other ingredients, served in a cup with a bamboo straw and a Lotus petal. It’s a very refreshing drink! The cafe is located almost opposite Reaching Out Teahouse.

Day 6 – Marble Mountain and Monkey Mountain

This was another day trip day. Both places are actually in Da Nang but I was collected from my hotel in Hoi An as part of a small group trip. I booked a Marble Mountain & Monkey Mountain small group tour on Viator.

These two places can be done independently but I was so glad I opted for a tour. The first stop was Marble Mountain which was actually used as a hospital during the Vietnam War. 

It’s a location that links to Buddhism. There aren’t really any information boards, so I benefited from having a local guide to explain all the different beliefs. First up is a cave system that symbolises the underworld, before you climb up a whole load of steps to get to the top of the mountain. 

There is so much to see, and it was a surprising highlight of my trip. I enjoyed the ‘stairway to Heaven’, which was a climb through a tunnel in the rocks, which led to a high-up viewpoint. 

Lunch was included as part of the tour. It was pork and rice with vegetables and soup.

The last stop was Monkey Mountain, which as the name suggests, has monkeys! It is also home to Lady Buddha, a giant 16 story high statue. Buddhism in Vietnam is different from what is believed in Thailand and other surrounding countries. Most only believe in a male Buddha but in Vietnam they also worship Lady Buddha too.

Cua Dai Beach, Hoi An (3 nights)

Day 7 – Cua Dai Beach

After a lazy morning in Hoi An, taking photos of the Ancient Town and drinking coffee in rice fields again, I headed to the beach area of Hoi An. There are two main areas: Cua Dai Beach and An Bang Beach.

I opted for the quieter Cua Dai Beach and stayed at the Hoi An Beachfront Resort. This was the most expensive of my hotels in Vietnam. It had 2 swimming pools, including an infinity pool overlooking the river, and a private section of Cua Dai Beach.

I found food to be a little morning expensive in the beach area, compared to the old town. I went to Cua Dai Central Restaurant and had pineapple fried rice which was nice!

Day 8 – Massage & Rice Fields

Day 8 was another chill day. I had a traditional Vietnamese massage at the hotel spa. From my research, in general massages in Vietnam tend to be a lot more expensive than the equivalent in Thailand. 

If you are travelling around, I’d probably skip the Vietnamese one and just get your massage fix in Thailand. I had two while I was there and they were a bargain and so good.

In the afternoon I went for a walk through the rice fields, as there was a track that started close to my hotel. Most people opt to hire bikes to go through the rice fields, but I really enjoyed my walk. Doing it late in the afternoon the temperature had dropped slightly but make sure to still take plenty of water.

The rice field trails were used by scooters, bikes and people walking, but not cars. It was good to see yet another face of Hoi An.

The rice field cafe that I mentioned above was just next to a small field in the old town in Thanh Ha. But the main rice fields are in the Cam Chau neighbourhood between the old town and the beaches. There are more cafes in this area too, but I didn’t manage to get to any during my visit.

I had dinner at Chiên Kitchen Restaurant & Bar and had the best spring rolls I have had in my whole life. Delicious. Then walked back to my hotel via the beach at sunset!

Day 9 – An Bang Beach

An Bang Beach is the more popular ‘busy’ beach in Hoi An. It took me around 1 hour to walk from Cua Dai Beach to An Bang. You’ll also pass Coconut Beach and Hidden Beach, but these are much smaller. Check out: A Guide To 5 Hoi An Beaches to see what all the beaches along this stretch are like.

An Bang Beach has LOADS of beachfront restaurants and bars. There are tables and chairs set up on a higher level and then sun loungers along the beach. Many advertise that if you buy food or a drink, you then get use of the sun loungers for free.

I had Cao Lau and a juice at Phuong’s Beach and then a coconut coffee from Sound of Silence coffee shop. 

Personally, I preferred the peace of Cua Dai Beach but if you are looking for a more social setting, with more budget-friendly accommodation, then An Bang may be good for you. An Bang Beach reminded me a bit of Klong Dao Beach in Koh Lanta Thailand…if it got overrun by backpackers…

Da Nang (2 nights)

Day 10 – Asia Park

*I believe that Asia Park has permanently closed since my visit (Feb 2026)*

I spent my last two nights in Da Nang, mainly so I was closer to the airport for my flight out. In all honesty, I didn’t really like Da Nang, but then I’m also not really a huge fan of cities in general.

My accommodation was lovely though. I stayed at the Daisy Boutique Hotel and my room smelt and looked like a spa. There was also a small courtyard swimming pool and breakfast was included in my room rate.

In the evening I decided to head to Asia Park, the sister park of Ba Na Hills, but located in the city centre. I wrote a whole blog post about what I thought and my tips for visiting, which you can read here: Asia Park Da Nang: Is It Worth It?. 

In hindsight, I shouldn’t have gone at opening time at 3pm. Instead, if I were to go again, I wouldn’t get there any earlier than about 6pm. Purely because nothing opens at 3pm and there is a whole lot of waiting around doing nothing.

I had high hopes after Ba Na Hills, but I was left a little disappointed. I think it would be better suited to those with younger kids.

Day 11 – Da Nang Beaches

Although the actual city doesn’t really have a huge amount of personality, especially after coming from Hoi An, the beaches are nice. It reminded me a lot of the Gold Coast in Australia, they look almost identical.

I loved all the art projects along the beach. From painted coconut basket boats, to painted surfboards and ‘wing’ murals. I think some of these may have still been on display from the New Year celebrations, so I’m not sure if they are kept up throughout the year.

Unlike An Bang Beach, I found that most of the sun loungers did all have their own fee, even if you bought food or drink. 

You can also get surfboard rentals as it’s good for surfing too. During my visit, it had red flags though as the sea was rough. There was a very small area that was sectioned off for swimming, but surfing was still allowed.

I ate at Paradise Beach. I didn’t rate the chicken and pork skewers very much though, but it’s a nice place for a beer on the beach. They also have a giant cinema screen for after-dark entertainment.

Day 12 – Depart

My flight out was quite early. I had pre-booked a taxi on 12Go, but I could have easily got a Grab for cheaper. For my route, the app was displaying 100k. Unfortunately, you can’t plan routes without being in the location, so I had no idea how much it would cost!

Da Nang Airport is quite cute. But be warned, after having nearly 2 weeks of cheap coffee, the coffee in the airport is more like UK/USA prices!

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