Everything You Need to Know About Hoi An Old Town Entry Tickets
A frequent question is: Is the Old Town of Hoi An chargeable? No, if you just want to stroll through the streets of the old city.
Only certain specific places such as old houses, pagodas, temples, and meeting halls among others have an entry fee.
Given that you can find all sorts of information on the internet about Hoi An tickets, I have decided to give you a summary and provide all the necessary information. Follow the guide.
Entry Ticket to the Old Town
The entry ticket to the Old Town of Hoi An costs only 120,000 VND (about $5.21) per person. This is a relatively low cost for visiting the old town and its monuments. The ticket is divided into 5 detachable coupons.
This ticket grants you access to 5 locations among 22 visitable tourist sites.
The fees contribute to the maintenance and preservation of the city. The entry ticket is only necessary if you wish to visit certain specific monuments of the old town.
Therefore, if you decide not to visit any old house, Chinese temple, or museum, and simply enjoy walking the streets, you absolutely do not need a ticket.
December 4th Each Year
The city of Hoi was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on December 4, 1999. On this anniversary day, access to tourist sites is free. You can enjoy the tours without a ticket.
Where to Buy Tickets in Hoi An?
Tickets for the Old Town are only available at specific counters which are actually small stands scattered throughout the old district.
There are 11 sales stands located on the outskirts of Hoi An Old Town. However, they are usually small yellow huts, and unfortunately, they are not easy to spot.
Mainly because they blend in with all the other yellow buildings and their signage is not clear, which makes it difficult to distinguish them from others. For example, you might not even realize that you have passed one.
Locations of the counters:
- Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street
- Cong Nu Ngoc Hoa Street, at the intersection with the French restaurant Le Cabanon
- Nguyen Phuc Chu Street on Hoi Island, near the Song Hoai Square Bridge
- Nguyen Phuc Chu Street on An Hoi Island, near the An Hoi Bridge
- Intersection of Phan Chu Trinh and Hai Ba Trung Streets
- Tran Phu Street (northwestern end of the street), south of the intersection with Phan Chu Trinh Street
- Tran Phu Street and Bach Dang Street intersection, near the Japanese Bridge
- Intersection of Le Loi Street and Tran Phu Street
- Intersection of Tran Phu Street and Nguyen Hue Street
- Intersection of Tran Phu Street and Hoang Dieu Street (Tourist Office)
- Intersection of Bach Dang Street and Hoang Van Thu Street
When you purchase a ticket, you should also receive a map showing the location and tourist sites around the Old Town of Hoi An.
Opening Hours of Sales Stands
The counters in the Old Town of Hoi An are open from 7 AM to 9 PM, but many of them close around 6 PM, which is when most of the paid attractions stop admitting visitors.
Opening Hours of the Old Town
Every day, the Old Town becomes pedestrian-only: scooters and motorcycles are prohibited.
From 9 AM to 11 AM and from 3 PM to 9 PM (extended to 9:30 PM in summer), these vehicles are not allowed to circulate in the streets.
The streets are bordered by barriers to prevent the entry of vehicles.
What to See with the Ticket for the Old Town of Hoi An?
As mentioned earlier in the article, the ticket allows you to access 5 locations out of 22 tourist sites, including the Japanese Bridge, old houses, as well as museums and theatrical performances.
After visiting the 5 tourist sites and if you wish to visit more places, you will need to buy additional tickets. At each visited location, a person will detach a ticket from your ticket.
The tickets are only valid for 24 hours, which is normally enough to visit the old town.
The Japanese Bridge – A Paid Attraction
To visit the Japanese Bridge, a ticket has been mandatory for a few years. However, this depends on the staff, as I have been able to pass several times without being stopped, especially when I say that I am going to a restaurant located behind the bridge. Sometimes, there are so many people that it is impossible to control everyone.
List of Attractions Included in the Ticket for the Old Town of Hoi An
- Japanese Covered Bridge (Chùa Cầu): Emblematic of the city, this bridge was erected by the Japanese in the early 16th century over two years. Later, it was refurbished by the Chinese who established a Taoist temple on it. It also appears on the 20,000 VND bill.
- Hoi An Traditional Art Performance House: Located at 66 Bach Dang Street, this performance hall offers local artistic performances at 10:15 AM, 3:15 PM, and 4:15 PM.
- Old Vietnamese Houses: These historic homes provide an insight into local resilience through the centuries. Notable among them are the Tan Ky, Duc An, Phung Hung, and Quan Thang houses.
- Chinese Communal Halls: These structures showcase the sophisticated architecture of different Chinese groups who settled in Hoi An for political and commercial reasons. The best ones are those of Fujian (Phúc Kiến) and Guangdong (Quảng Đông), followed by those of Chaozhou (Triều Châu) and Hainan (Hải Nam).
- Museums: They feature varied collections that narrate the history and culture of the city through themes such as Sa Huỳnh culture, commercial ceramics, folk culture, traditional medicine, and more.
- Temples and Pagodas: The Quan Cong Temple, honoring the military general of the same name, is a place of daily prayer. Next to it is the Vietnamese Buddhist pagoda Quan Âm.
- Family Chapels: These spaces are dedicated to the worship of ancestors in Vietnamese families, including those of the Nguyễn Tường and Trần families.
My Recommended Visit Choices
Out of the 22 available locations, here are the 5 places I prefer and recommend in the Old Town of Hoi An:
- Japanese Covered Bridge: Emblem of the city. Impossible not to cross it.
- Old House of Tan Ky: The oldest house in Hoi An. The house was built in 1741.
- Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall: The largest communal hall in the old town with many impressive architectures and one of the most Instagrammable places.
- Old House of Duc An: Owned by Mr. Cao Hong Lanh who founded the first communist association for the youth of the city, still functioning as a bookstore and drug store. The Old House of Duc An was built in 1830.
- Museum of Trade Ceramics: Exhibition of some of the ceramics and porcelains brought from the largest underwater excavation – the wreck of the Hoi An ship. Oddly, I am immune to ceramics but I loved this museum.
- Quang Dong Assembly Hall: Located near the Japanese Bridge, it houses some of the finest architectures and cultural values of one of the largest Chinese communities, also considered sacred by the Vietnamese.
My Opinion
Personally, visiting the sites of the old town is a must. Many houses in the old quarter have been transformed into cafes, restaurants, or tailor shops, among others. The opportunity to visit ancient houses that have been inhabited for generations and are preserved is truly unique.
Obviously, these are tourist sites and some old houses have a more or less pronounced commercial aspect. But it would be a mistake to miss out on them.
The Chinese assembly halls are also breathtaking, especially Phuc Kien, which is my favorite.
