Hoi An · HISTORICAL TOURS
This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 13 historical tours worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Spend about an hour in a private electric car with HoiAnGO, tracing Hoi An’s riverfront, yellow houses, islands, an ancient home, and photo stops. Driver-guide Tin is praised for giving first-day orientation, with flexible stops for photos and a close look at local life.
“Wonderful orientation around Hoi An on our first day. All the main sights covered and Tin was an amazing guide.”
At Green Mango in Hoi An’s old town, you’ll learn Vietnamese cooking in a 180-year-old heritage-listed restaurant. Choose from five menus, cook with chefs such as Pinky, Que, or Jam, then sit down to eat your five-course meal. A local market visit is available as an add-on.
“It was our first asian cooking class and didn’t know what to expect. We had Pinky as the head chef. She was fun, entertaining and good but it was very ‘chop chop’. We would have preferred to have more explanation as to why we use Read more”
Spend four hours exploring Hoi An with an English-speaking guide, visiting the market, Fujian Assembly Hall, folk museum, Tan Ky House, and Japanese Covered Bridge. The route also includes a traditional art show, a local herbal drink, hotel pickup, entrance fees, and bottled water.
“Even though it was raining, we enjoyed the tour very much. Emily, our tour guide, was wonderful and very attentive with my elderly mom. Thank you so much. We definitely recommend this tour.”
From Hoi An or Da Nang, visit the narrow Ky Anh Tunnel with a local war witness, Chien Dan Cham Tower, and Vietnam’s largest Heroic Mother Statue. Expect private transport, entrance fees, water, and a morning sticky-rice snack. The tunnel is cramped and not suitable for people with heart or high blood pressure.
“Amazing opportunity to meet a vietnam war veteran and go in the tunnels however other larger groups can make it difficult to be included - as a family of four, we found the other much larger group dominated space and asked so many Read more”
Spend nine hours visiting My Son Sanctuary and Hoi An Ancient Town with an English-speaking guide such as Viet, Emily, or Snow. The small-group tour includes hotel pickup, transport, entrance fees, lunch, and a walking tour of bridges, museums, ancient houses, and assembly halls.
“Tour guide was amazing and gave a lot of detailed information at each stop. The history of My Son and the city of Hoi An came alive.”
Travel by motorbike from Hoi An with Quyen Easy Rider, stopping at Marble Mountains, My Khe Beach, Dragon Bridge, Hai Van Pass, and Lang Co Beach. Expect a private 6 to 8-hour day with coastal scenery, temples, history, and free time for lunch by the sea.
“I had the most amazing time with Quyen. I met quyen in Hoi An and we struck up a conversation and when I mentioned that I was travelling to Hue he told me about his tours. I was a little reluctant at first to travel via motorbike but I thought to give it a go and I’m so glRead more”
Travel from Da Nang to Hoi An for a five-hour guided walk through the Old Town. With an English-speaking guide such as Hung, you’ll visit the market, Fujian Assembly Hall, folk museum, Tan Ky House, and Japanese Covered Bridge. Private groups and other languages are available for an added fee.
“We had a very nice trip with Hung. He is a very talented young guide. We had so much fun on our tour!!”
Walk Hoi An Ancient Town with an English-speaking guide, sampling local street food while learning about its architecture and daily life. Guides such as Thau, Mei, Tin Tin, and Billy have led past tours. Hotel pickup, bottled water, and food are included, but the 120,000 VND Ancient Town ticket is extra.
“We had a half-day tour in Hoi An with Tin Tin which included a streetfood Tour. We were very impressed by Tin Tins huge knowledge of Hoi An and we just can recommend her!”
Spend the evening at Hoi An Memories Land, open from 4:00 to 9:00 PM, then watch a one-hour outdoor show at 8:00 PM. More than 500 Vietnamese artists use ao dai, music, poetry, lighting, and large-scale stage work to tell Hoi An’s story as the old Faifo trading port.
“We loved the show. Great spectacle and costumes. It goes for one hour. You need to arrange your transport there and back to hotel before you go. Starts @ 8pm. Also you need to sit on the correct side of stage so you can read the story in your language. We sat on left side to read the story for n English as the show progressed. Restaurants are open near theatre at night if you want to eat there before the show you can. The rest of the park is a theme park which is closed at night.”
Spend 3.5 hours exploring Hoi An after dark with an English-speaking guide. Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, Sa Huynh Culture Museum, Tan Ky ancient house, and Bai Choi performance, then enjoy dinner, a 15-minute lantern boat ride, and the night market. Hotel pickup, entrance fees, and insurance are included.
“The tour was ok, shorter than advertised and the guide wasn't really interested in telling us much about Hoi An. The couple of activities were lovely - particularly the bingo but I had a random person aiding me as the guide wasn't interested at all. I felt we were a bit of a hindrance to him and that he couldn't really be bothered.”
Start at 5am with guide Ha or another local guide for a private day through My Son Sanctuary, Marble Mountains, a lantern workshop, and Bay Mau Coconut Forest. You will travel in an air-conditioned vehicle, make a lantern to take home, and see local crafts and daily life.
“The trip to Hoi A would have never been the same without a tour with Ha. We really appreciated his knowledge and his passion for his country and his hometown. Thank you so much for opening up the curtain on the life of locals, showing us some lovely hidden spots and mostly for your energy ❤️”
See Hoi An after dark with an English-speaking guide, visiting the Japanese Covered Bridge, an ancient house, a museum, Bai Choi music, and the night market. Dinner, entrance fees, transfers, and a 15-minute lantern boat ride are included. Guide Nhi has earned special praise for her attentive style.
“Our first night in Hoi An was spent on a tour of the nighttime sights, sounds, food, and fun of old Hoi An. The tour was amazing, and we especially enjoyed the boat ride and launching candle-lit lanterns on the river. Old Hoi An is beautiful and vibrant. I highly recommend this tour!”
You’ll spend about three hours exploring Hoi An’s Ancient Town with an English-speaking guide, visiting the market, museum, old houses, Chinese-style assembly halls, and Japanese Covered Bridge. Morning and afternoon departures, hotel pickup, transport, water, and entrance fees are included.
“The walking tour was about 1.5 hours, not a half day. It seemed over-priced for the ampunt of imformation passed on and the number of sights we saw. I'm sure there are better value walking tours available.”
Pick a boat, a kitchen or a road out of town.
