22 Things to do in Hoi An & Da Nang
5D4N trip Itinerary and Travel Guide
Hoi An, Da Nang | Central Vietnam
Travel VIETNAM
Ancient charms with lantern-lit streets and modern vibes next to coastal beauty.
Introduction
Hoi An and Da Nang are among the top travel destinations in Vietnam.
We spent an unforgettable 5 days exploring Hoi An and Da Nang in Central Vietnam. From magical lantern nights to coconut boat rides, ancient architecture, and delicious local food, this trip was a perfect mix of culture, nature, and relaxation.
Here’s a full breakdown of things to do in Hoi An and Da Nang.
5D4N Hoi An and Da Nang Itinerary at a Glance
Hoi An Day 1
- 12:00pm – Arrival at Da Nang International Airport
- 1:35pm – Check-In Accommodation at Hoi An Riverland Villa, Hotel Review
- 2:35pm – Hoi An Old Town: Japanese Covered Bridge
- 3:20pm – Lunch at Cao lau Không Gian Xanh
- 4:35pm – Hoi An Old Town: Old House of Tan Ky
- 5:05pm – Previous Heritage Art Gallery Museum
- 5:30pm – Dinner at Banh Mi Phuong
- 6:18pm – Hoi An Old Town at Night
- 7:00pm – Hoi An River Boat Ride + Lantern
- 7:15pm – Hoi An Night Market
- 7:45pm – Enjoy a local beer next to Hoi An River at night
Hoi An Day 2
- 8:45am – Try out Vietnamese Coffee – Breakfast at Mia Coffee
- 9:55am – Coconut Forest Basket Boat Ride
- 11:20am – Tra Que Vegetable Village
- 1:00pm – An Bang Beach
- 4:05pm – Try out White Rose Dumplings at White Rose Restaurant
- 4:45pm – Lunch at Madan Khanh Banh Mi Queen
- 5:45pm – Hoi An Old Town – Museum of Trade Ceramics
- 5:55pm – Visit a Rooftop Cafe – 92 station restaurant & cafe
- 7:05pm – Try out Mot Hoi An drink
- 7:35pm – Dinner at Long Com Ga
- 8:00pm – Walk around Hoi An at night
Ba Na Hills Day 3
- 7:30am – Spend a full day Ba Na Hills
- 3:35pm – Depart to Da Nang City
- 5:35pm – Check-In Sala Danang Beach Hotel
- 6:50pm – Dinner at My Quang Ba Mua
Da Nang Day 4
- 9:15am – Breakfast at Sala Premier Lounge
- 10:15am – Visit My Khe Beach
- 11:00am – Drinks by the Beach – My Hanh Seafood
- 12:10pm – Lunch at Banh Xeo Ba Duong
- 1:35pm – Sala Danang Beach Hotel – Room Review
- 2:15pm – Enjoy a Spa Session – Zen Spa Sala Danang Beach Hotel
- 6:45pm – Walking along Han River
- 7:15pm – Explore Son Tra Night Market
- 8:15pm – Watch the Dragon Bridge Fire Show
- 9:35pm – Enjoy Seafood in Da Nang – Hai San Moc Quan
Da Nang Day 5
- 7:20am – Swimming at My Khe Beach
- 11:50am – Lunch at Bun Cha Ca 109
- Departure
Our Experience
Day 1: Arrival & First Impressions of Hoi An
Our journey begins in Da Nang, a coastal city that feels both relaxed and energetic. Quickly after landing at Da Nang International Airport, we took a Grab to our hotel in Hoi An. We check in at Hoi An Riverland Villa, where we’ll be staying for 2 nights. After a short rest and freshening up, we head out to explore Hoi An Ancient Town, conveniently located 5 minutes walk from our hotel.
1. Hoi An Old Town - Japanese Covered Bridge
We begin exploring Hoi An Old Town at the Japanese Covered Bridge, one of the town’s most iconic landmarks. Built in the 16th century, the bridge connects two historic quarters and is one of the most photographed spots in Hoi An.
2. Trying Cao Lầu - Hoi An's Signature Dish
Feeling famished, we had lunch at Cao Lầu Không Gian Xanh, a local restaurant known for serving authentic Cao Lầu, Hoi An’s signature noodle dish, perfect for our first meal of the trip.
3. Hoi An Old Town - Old House of Tan Ky
After replenishing our energy, we visit the Old House of Tan Ky, a well-preserved merchant house that reflects the architectural and cultural influences of Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese traders. The house offers insight into Hoi An’s history as a major trading port.
4. Hoi An Old Town - Precious Heritage Art Gallery Museum
The route took us to our next stop at the Precious Heritage Art Gallery Museum, featuring traditional costumes and portraits from Vietnam’s ethnic minorities. This stop adds cultural context and depth to the Old Town experience.
5. Lunch at Banh Mi Phuong
When in Vietnam, of course, we had to have our Vietnamese Baguette! All the walking and exploring got us hungry (again), so we decided to have an early dinner at Banh Mi Phuong, one of the most famous banh mi shops in Vietnam, made famous internationally by the late American celebrity chef, Anthony Bourdain.
6. Hoi An River Boat Ride & Lantern Release
With our bellies full, we strolled along Hoi An Old Town. As evening arrives, lanterns are lit across the streets. Hoi An Old Town at night is one of the best times to explore, take photos, and enjoy the town’s atmosphere. The town was full of energy at night as the weather cooled and the town started to fill with even more people.
We booked the Hoi An River Boat Ride & Lantern Release through Klook, a calm break from the busy streets. It was a short boat ride on the Thu Bon River, and we also got to release lanterns. The boat ride is one of the most iconic and popular activities here in Hoi An.
7. Hoi An Night Market
After our boat ride, just right next to the river was the Hoi An Night Market. It’s a great place to browse souvenirs, street food, and local crafts.
8. Enjoy a Local Beer at a Bar
To end our first night in Hoi An, we enjoyed a local beer at a riverside bar near the Old Town, which was also close to our hotel, perfect to wind down after a full first day before heading back to the hotel.
Day 2: Coconut Forest Basket Boat Ride and more of Hoi An
9. Breakfast at a relaxing cafe
Another new day in Hoi An. We started with breakfast and coffee at Mia Coffee, enjoying the rich Vietnamese brew before heading out.
10. Basket Boat Ride (Cam Thanh Coconut Forest)
Our adventure begins with a 15-minute car ride to the other side of town. We arrived at 9 am at the Cam Thanh Coconut Forest for a basket boat ride. Paddling through the narrow canals, surrounded by coconut palms, it was definitely an experience not to be missed!
11. Tra Que Vegetable Village
Next, we visited Tra Que Vegetable Village, a charming farming area where we could see how local vegetables are grown and catch a glimpse of traditional farm life. Based on our experience, it’s best to visit in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid the midday heat.
12. An Bang Beach
After we visited the farm, we spent a relaxing afternoon at An Bang Beach, enjoying the sunshine, the sea breeze, and a few drinks at a beachfront café. To our surprise, there were many people at the beach at this hour, sunbathing!
13. Trying out White Rose Dumpling
Back in town, we stopped by White Rose Restaurant to have our late lunch and try the iconic White Rose Dumplings – a delicate, translucent parcel with savory shrimp fillings. Love it!
14. Madan Khanh Banh Mi Queen
Of course, that was just a light snack. Not getting enough Banh Mi from our first day, we made a quick stop at Madan Khanh Banh Mi Queen, about 10 minutes walk away from the previous restaurant. This is one of Hoi An’s most beloved banh mi spots, and it really blew us away!
15. Museum of Trade Ceramics
To continue our journey, we explored the Museum of Trade Ceramics. It’s a great stop if you’re interested in history, art, and maritime commerce, or even just to hide away from the sun.
16. Cafe with Amazing View of Hoi An
Before dinner, we visited 92 Station Restaurant & Café, where you can get Instagrammable photos with awesome rooftop views of the Old Town while getting your caffeine fix. Nothing beats Vietnamese coffee at this point.
17. Mot Hoi An
While walking through the Old Town, we tried the refreshing Mot Hoi An herbal drink. You may spot many people holding this cup around the town, and we totally get why!
18. Com Ga for dinner
For dinner, we spotted this restaurant called Long Com Ga, as we wanted to try Vietnamese chicken rice. Unfortunately, the chicken was quite dry, and the meal didn’t live up to our expectations.
We ended the day with a peaceful, relaxing evening stroll, enjoying the lanterns and lively atmosphere of Hoi An at night.
Day 3: A Day in Ba Na Hills
Our third day in Vietnam is an exciting one. We’ve checked out of hotel in Hoi An, and went to one of Central Vietnam’s most famous attractions — Ba Na Hills via a private car we’ve booked through Klook. The drive took just over an hour and gradually shifted from city views to lush green hills.
19. Ba Na Hills
Upon arrival, we boarded the Ba Na Hills cable car, one of the longest cable car systems in the world. The ride itself was a highlight, offering sweeping views of forests, waterfalls, and misty mountain scenery as we ascended. We found out there’s actually a road for buses to take you up to Ba Na Hills as well, especially for those who are staying in the resort up at Ba Na Hills.
Our first major stop was the iconic Golden Bridge. Walking across the bridge, supported by massive stone hands, felt surreal.
Afterward, we explored the French Village, wandering through cobblestone streets, European-style buildings, gardens, and small cafés.
We had lunch inside Ba Na Hills before continuing to explore nearby viewpoints and attractions at a slow pace. By early afternoon, we began our descent back down the mountain and returned to Da Nang.
The evening was kept simple after a long day. We enjoyed a casual dinner and an early night.
Day 4: Exploring Da Nang
Day 4 was a slower-paced city day in Da Nang, focused on beaches, food, and evening attractions.
We started the morning with breakfast at the Sala Premier Lounge, enjoying a relaxed start before heading out. After breakfast, we made our way to My Khe Beach, one of Da Nang’s most popular beaches. The wide stretch of sand and calm water made it an easy place to walk around and unwind.
Late morning was spent enjoying drinks by the beach at My Hanh Seafood, followed by lunch at Bánh Xèo Bà Dưỡng, one of the most famous places in Da Nang to try crispy bánh xèo served with fresh herbs and dipping sauce.
In the early afternoon, we returned to Sala Danang Beach Hotel for a room review and some downtime. We then booked a spa session at Zen Spa Sala Danang Beach Hotel, which was a welcome break after several busy sightseeing days.
As evening approached, we took a walk along the Han River, enjoying the cooler air and city views. From there, we explored Son Tra Night Market, where we browsed food stalls and local souvenirs.
The highlight of the night was watching the Dragon Bridge fire show, one of Da Nang’s most popular weekend attractions. We ended the day with a seafood dinner at Hải Sản Mộc Quán, wrapping up a full but well-balanced day in the city.
Day 5: Beach & Food, airport
Our final day in Da Nang and Vietnam. We spent our morning having an awesome breakfast at our hotel. Then we head to the My Khe beach, because why not 😉 especially when the beach is only 5 minutes walk away from the hotel. Seriously, guys, My Khe beach is one of our favourite beaches by far! We then head back to the hotel to freshen up, and head out for lunch at Bun Cha Ca 109. Towards noon, we check out the hotel and head to the airport. And that wraps up our 5 days itinerary in Hoi An and Da Nang!
Where we stayed in Hoi An
Hoi An Riverland Villa
Room Type: Deluxe Double with River View
Total Paid: VND 1,440K / USD 59.25 for 2 nights
Booked through Agoda.com
Where we stayed in Da Nang
Sala Danang Beach Hotel
Sala Danang Beach Hotel
Room Type: Sala Suite with Balcony and Sea View
Total Paid: VND 4,815K / USD 197.35 for 2 Nights
Ticket Links:
1. (Klook) 5G SIM Card (DAD Airport Pick Up) for Vietnam
2. (Klook) Boat Ride Ticket and Release Lantern at Hoai River in Hoi An
3. (Klook) Hoi An Ancient Town Attractions Ticket
4. (Klook) Coconut Forest Basket Boat Ride & Tra Que Village Admission Ticket in Hoi An
5. (Klook) Sun World Ba Na Hills Ticket in Da Nang
6. (Klook) Private Car to Ba Na Hills from Hoi An
7. (Klook) Private Car to Ba Na Hills from Da Nang City and Vice Versa
*Do note that the above links for Klook and Agoda are affiliate links
Weather in Hoi An and Da Nang - May 2023
Weather
We visited Hoi An and Da Nang in mid-May 2023, which still falls within the dry season, so it was mostly sunny days throughout our trip. Beaches are ideal for swimming and relaxing, and outdoor sightseeing is very enjoyable if planned for the early mornings or late afternoons. It could get really hot during midday, so don’t forget your sunscreen!
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