Hoi An Ancient Town Ticket

Price and where to buy it

At the time of writing the ticket costs 120,000 VND (about $5) for foreign visitors; Vietnamese visitors pay less. You buy it at the ticket booths at the main entrances to the Old Town, for example near the riverside and on the streets leading in from the north. Pay in cash (Vietnamese dong) and keep the ticket with you: inspectors at the checkpoints may ask to see it, and you need it at the door of each site.

The money goes to the conservation of the Old Town’s wooden houses, which suffer from floods and humidity every year.

What the ticket covers

The ticket gives entry to a set number of heritage sites (traditionally five) chosen from a list of around twenty historic houses, assembly halls, temples and museums. Check the current list and the number of entries printed on the ticket when you buy it. The sites most worth your entries:

• The Japanese Covered Bridge (Chua Cau). Hoi An’s symbol, built in the early 17th century and reopened in 2024 after a major restoration.
• Tan Ky Old House. A merchant house over two centuries old, where Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese styles meet; flood marks on the wall show how high the river has risen.
• Fujian Assembly Hall (Phuc Kien). The most ornate of the Chinese assembly halls, with a dragon fountain and incense coils hanging from the ceiling.
• Quan Cong Temple. A colourful temple dedicated to a Chinese general, opposite the central market.
• Museum of Trade Ceramics. A small museum in an old house telling the story of Hoi An as an international trading port.

Most sites open from early morning to early evening; individual houses are private homes and may close for lunch or family events.

What you can see for free

• The riverside and Bach Dang street, with the boats and the lanterns at dusk.
• The night market on An Hoi island, across the bridge from the Old Town.
• Hoi An Central Market, best in the morning for fresh produce and noodle stalls.
• The Old Town streets themselves outside the checkpoint area, and the cafés on the upper floors of the old houses.

Tips for your visit

• Go early. Before 8 am the streets are quiet and the light is best for photos; tour groups arrive from mid-morning.
• Return after dark. The Old Town is at its most beautiful when the lanterns come on; a lantern boat ride is the classic way to see it.
• Mind the vehicle-free hours. Much of the Old Town is closed to motorbikes and cars during the day and in the evening, which makes it easy to explore on foot.
• Dress respectfully in the temples and assembly halls: covered shoulders and knees are appreciated.

Planning the rest of your stay? Our 3-day Hoi An itinerary starts with the Old Town at 7 am.