Hoi An Activities (2026): The Ultimate List of Things to Book & Do

Every Hoi An activity in one place — the lantern-lit Old Town, basket boats, cooking classes, tailoring, beaches and day trips — with prices and where to book each one.

Last updated & checked: June 2026

Hoi An activities in 30 seconds

The essentials: the UNESCO Old Town, the lanterns and a river boat, and a set of tailored clothes.
Hands-on: a cooking class, a basket-boat ride and a cycle through the rice paddies.
Beach & nature: An Bang and Cua Dai beaches and the Tra Que herb village.
Day trips: My Son, the Cham Islands, the Marble Mountains and Da Nang.
Book the classes & trips ahead — compare Klook and KKday to save.

What’s in this guide
1. Every Hoi An Activity at a Glance
2. The Old Town & Culture
3. Lanterns & the River
4. Countryside, Cycling & Water
5. Food & Cooking
6. Tailoring & Shopping
7. Spa, Massage & Wellness
8. Beaches
9. Day Trips & Excursions
10. Family Activities
11. How to Book, Save & Plan

Hoi An is small but packed: a lantern-lit UNESCO town, world-famous tailors, a brilliant food and cooking-class scene, basket boats and rice paddies, beaches and ancient ruins — all within a short ride. This is our complete, bookable directory of every Hoi An activity, grouped by type, with what each costs and where to book it. Scan the table for the full picture, then dive into the section that fits your trip. (Planning it all? Start with our complete Hoi An travel guide and the Hoi An itinerary.)

Lanterns glowing over the river in Hoi An's Old Town at night — The lanterns and a river boat — the signature Hoi An activity, every evening. (© Christophe95 / CC BY-SA 4.0)

1. Every Hoi An Activity at a Glance

The full menu. Here’s every major Hoi An activity, its type, a rough price and where to book — the rest of the guide goes deeper:

Activity	Type	Rough price	Book
Ancient Town & old houses	Culture / sightseeing	120,000₫ ticket	On-site
Lanterns & a river boat	Evening / culture	≈50,000₫ boat	On-site
Lantern-making class	Craft workshop	≈$10–20	Klook / KKday
Cooking class	Food experience	≈$25–55	Klook / KKday
Street-food tour	Food experience	≈$25–45	Klook / KKday
Basket-boat ride (Cam Thanh)	Countryside / water	≈$10–20	Klook / KKday
Tra Que herb village & cycling	Countryside	≈$10–25	Klook / KKday
Custom tailoring	Shopping / craft	Suit ≈$200–400	On-site
An Bang & Cua Dai beaches	Beach	Free	—
Spa & massage	Wellness	≈$10–40	On-site
My Son / Cham Islands day trips	Day trips	≈$25–55	Klook / KKday
Marble Mountains & Da Nang	Day trips	≈$15–45	Klook / KKday

💡 Save money: the classes and day trips (cooking, basket boats, My Son) are usually cheaper booked online in advance — compare Klook and KKday before you go.

2. The Old Town & Culture

Hoi An’s beating heart is its UNESCO Ancient Town, best on foot:

The Ancient Town ticket (≈120,000₫) covers the heritage sites — the Japanese Covered Bridge, old merchant houses, assembly halls and museums.
Wander the lanes early before the crowds, or late for the lanterns.
What to see and do is in our things to do in Hoi An guide; getting in (it’s a pedestrian zone) is in our getting around guide.

3. Lanterns & the River

The activity Hoi An is famous for happens every evening:

The lanterns: at dusk the Old Town goes car-free and the streets and river glow with silk lanterns.
A river boat & floating a candle: take a small boat (≈50,000₫) and release a paper lantern on the Thu Bon.
The An Hội night market for snacks, lanterns and souvenirs.
A lantern-making class: make your own silk lantern to take home.
The full-moon Lantern Festival (once a month) turns it up to eleven.

4. Countryside, Cycling & Water

Just outside the lanes lie the rice paddies and water-coconut palms:

A basket-boat ride through the Cam Thanh water-coconut forest — paddling, spinning boats and crab-fishing; great fun for all ages.
The Tra Que herb village: cycle out to the organic gardens, try farming and a herbal foot soak.
Cycling the paddies: flat, scenic back-roads — many stays lend bikes free.
Pair it with the rides in our things to do guide.

A basket boat in the water-coconut palms of Cam Thanh near Hoi An — A basket-boat ride through Cam Thanh — one of Hoi An’s most fun hands-on activities. (© mishmoshimoshi / CC BY 2.0)

5. Food & Cooking

Eating and cooking are headline Hoi An activities:

A cooking class: usually a market tour and often a basket-boat trip, then you make cao lầu, white rose or fresh spring rolls.
A street-food tour: a local guide and the dishes you’d never find alone.
Just eating: the famous cao lầu, white rose and Bánh Mì Phượng — all in our what to eat in Hoi An guide.

6. Tailoring & Shopping

Hoi An’s signature activity is having clothes made:

Custom tailoring: a suit, dress or shirt made to measure in a day or two — order early so there’s time for fittings. The how-to, prices and best shops are in our Hoi An tailors guide.
Leather & shoes: custom bags, jackets and made-to-measure shoes.
The market & night market for souvenirs, silk and crafts.

7. Spa, Massage & Wellness

Hoi An is a lovely place to slow down:

Spa & massage: from affordable foot massages to full spa days — a perfect break between fittings and sightseeing.
Herbal foot soaks at Tra Que and yoga at the beach.
Beach time at An Bang to recover — see below.

8. Beaches

The coast is a short ride from the Old Town:

An Bang Beach: the liveliest, with bars, seafood and swimming, ~15 minutes by bike.
Cua Dai Beach: quieter, with bigger resorts.
Loungers, water sports and seafood shacks along the sand.

A cooking class with fresh Hoi An ingredients — A cooking class — a market tour and the local dishes, made by you. (© Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0)

9. Day Trips & Excursions

Some of the best activities near Hoi An are a short trip away:

My Son Sanctuary: ancient Cham temple ruins, best at sunrise — about an hour away.
The Cham Islands (Cu Lao Cham): a snorkelling and beach boat trip.
The Marble Mountains & Da Nang: caves, viewpoints and the city, on the way back to Da Nang.
How to reach them is in our getting around Hoi An guide.

10. Family Activities

Hoi An is wonderful with kids:

The basket boats and lantern-making.
Beach days at An Bang and gentle cycling through the paddies.
A family cooking class and floating lanterns on the river at night.

11. How to Book, Save & Plan

Get the best price and a smooth trip:

Book classes & day trips online ahead — cooking classes, basket boats and My Son are usually cheaper and guarantee a spot.
Compare Klook and KKday: both list the major Hoi An experiences; prices and combos differ, so check both (the boxes throughout).
Order tailoring on day one so fittings fit your schedule.
Save evenings for the lanterns — don’t schedule over them.
Put it all together with our Hoi An itinerary and pick a base with our where to stay guide.

🎟️ Book this experienceCompare on Klook Compare on KKday
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Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What are the best activities in Hoi An?

The signature activities are exploring the lantern-lit Ancient Town and taking a river boat at night, having clothes custom-tailored, doing a cooking class, riding a basket boat through the Cam Thanh water-coconut palms, cycling to the Tra Que herb village, and day trips to My Son and the Cham Islands. Add the beaches and a spa for a full few days.

Q. What can you do in Hoi An at night?

Evenings are for the Old Town: it goes car-free, the lanterns light the streets and river, you can take a small boat and float a paper lantern, and the An Hội night market buzzes with snacks and crafts. The monthly full-moon Lantern Festival is the most magical night of all.

Q. How much do Hoi An activities cost?

Roughly: the Ancient Town ticket ≈120,000₫, a river boat ≈50,000₫, a lantern-making class ≈$10–20, a cooking class ≈$25–55, a basket-boat ride ≈$10–20, a custom suit ≈$200–400, and day trips ≈$15–55. The beaches and the lanterns themselves are free. Booking classes and trips online usually saves money.

Q. Where should I book Hoi An activities — Klook or KKday?

Both platforms list the major Hoi An experiences (cooking classes, basket boats, food tours, My Son and Cham Islands trips). Prices, inclusions and combos differ, so it’s worth comparing — we link both for each activity. KKday is especially popular with travellers from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan.

Q. Is a cooking class in Hoi An worth it?

Very — it’s one of Hoi An’s most popular activities. Classes usually start with a market tour and often include a basket-boat trip to the Tra Que herb village before you cook local specialities like cao lầu, white rose or fresh spring rolls. Book ahead in peak season.

Q. What is the basket-boat ride in Hoi An?

It’s a ride in a round bamboo coracle through the water-coconut palms of Cam Thanh, just outside town — with paddling, spinning-boat shows and crab-fishing. It’s cheap (≈$10–20), great fun for families and often included in cooking classes; book online to save.

Q. What free activities are there in Hoi An?

Wandering the Old Town lanes, seeing the lanterns light up the streets and river at dusk, the An Hội night market, and the beaches of An Bang and Cua Dai are all free (you only need the Ancient Town ticket for the heritage houses). Many of Hoi An’s best moments cost nothing.

Q. What day trips can you do from Hoi An?

The classics are My Son Sanctuary (ancient Cham temple ruins, best at sunrise, about an hour away) and the Cham Islands (snorkelling and beaches). The Marble Mountains and Da Nang’s sights also pair well, especially on the way back to Da Nang. See our getting-around guide for how to reach them.

Q. What activities are best in Hoi An for families?

Basket-boat rides, lantern-making classes, beach days at An Bang, gentle cycling through the rice paddies, a family cooking class, and floating paper lanterns on the river at night are all family favourites. Hoi An is compact and easy-going, so the pace suits kids well.

Q. How many days do you need for Hoi An activities?

Two days covers the essentials — the Old Town and lanterns, tailoring, a cooking class, a basket boat and the beach. Three days lets you add a day trip to My Son or the Cham Islands without rushing. See our Hoi An itinerary for ready-made plans.

Q. Do you need to book Hoi An activities in advance?

For cooking classes, food tours and day trips to My Son or the Cham Islands it’s wise to book ahead in peak season, and to order tailoring on your first day so fittings fit your schedule. The Old Town, the lanterns and the beaches need no booking — just turn up.

Q. Is Hoi An or Da Nang better for activities?

They complement each other: Hoi An is about the lantern-lit Old Town, tailoring, cooking classes, basket boats and a relaxed pace, while Da Nang has the big theme parks, beaches and water sports. Most travellers base in one and day-trip to the other — they’re only about 45 minutes apart.

🏮 Complete Hoi An Travel Guide 2026 →