The Best 3-Day Hoi An Itinerary for Solo Travelers in 2024

This is the best 3-day Hoi An itinerary for solo female travelers! Back in 2022, I spent three days shopping in street markets, sipping on Vietnamese coffee, photographing picturesque streets, and eating my way through Hoi An’s best restaurants. Keep reading to find out how to spend a long weekend in Hoi An Vietnam.

Hoi An is a quaint, colorful, and charming ancient town located only a short drive from the bustling metropolitan city of Da Nang. Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to spend a whole month traveling around Vietnam experiencing and eating the best that this vibrant country has to offer. Before I ever arrived in Southeast Asia, I knew Hoi An was a must-see for any first-time Vietnam visitor. My Hoi An itinerary is filled with my favorite travel tips, authentic Vietnamese restaurants, the best cultural attractions, the prettiest photo spots, and more things to do in Hoi An. 

Sneak peek of the beautiful Thu Bon River pictured below!

The Lazy Girl’s 3-Day Hoi An Itinerary

Step #1: Buying a Ticket to Old Town Hoi An

If you’d like to admire the city’s ancient heritage sites when you visit Hoi An, the Hoi An Old Town Ticket is going to be the right move. Many of the best attractions in Old Town require a pre-purchased entry ticket that can be bought at one of the many ticket stands around town. The ticket costs 120,000 VND (around 5 USD) and buys you entrance to five sites of your choosing.

Keep in mind that Old Town bans all motorized vehicles after 3:00 PM. It’s a lot more enjoyable to wander around the city in the afternoon!

Day One: Tailored Clothing, Phuc Kien, Hainan Assembly, Japanese Bridge, and the Night Market

Let’s get to the good part—what to do in Hoi An. Hoi An is a magical city…with photo spots around every corner. If you follow my Hoi An itinerary, you’ll see the best that this UNESCO World Heritage Site has to offer, and have the photos to prove it. 

Your first day in Hoi An will be filled with some seriously delicious coffee, three of the city’s most famous landmarks, yummy traditional meals, and a visit to the night market. And don’t worry if you’re visiting Hoi An solo—it’s definitely possible to capture amazing photos as a solo traveler.

Enjoy Hoi An’s Coffee Culture

Vietnam is known for serving some of the best coffee in Southeast Asia—and Hoi An is no exception. If you love your morning cup of Joe, make sure to enjoy Hoi An’s coffee scene during your 3-day Hoi An itinerary. 

During my time in Hoi An, I visited three exceptional coffee shops: 92 Station, Faifo Coffee, and The Espresso Station. Both 92 Station and Faifo Coffee were 3-story shops with gorgeous rooftop views of Old Town from floor #3. The Espresso Station was a quaint and colorful little coffee shop with phenomenal espresso and a large garden seating area. 

Get Custom Clothes Made

Hoi An is well-known in the traveling community as the place to order custom-made clothes. The city is dotted with tailor shops, and NONE of them are shy about wanting your business. Expect to be constantly harassed by shop owners as you walk down the street.

Although I had limited suitcase space, I wanted to get one piece made in Hoi An (you know—for the mems). A friend I met in the hostel suggested Peace Tailors, so we headed over to browse their designs. 

I looked through a design book (that was mostly screenshots from Shein 😂) and settled on a simple dress with spaghetti straps (the red dress featured in the Chua Long Tuyen Pagoda shots below). I picked out my fabric and the tailor took my measurements. The next day, we stopped by for the first fitting and the tailor made a few changes. The following day, my dress was ready for pickup! 

Although I enjoyed my overall experience with Peace Tailors, my advice would be to shop around before deciding on a shop. I realized (too late) that I wasn’t in love with any of the fabric options and should have browsed the nearby shops for fabric I liked more. 

Have Lunch at Banh Mi Phuong

According to Anthony Bourdain, Hoi An’s Banh Mi Phuong is home to the best banh mi sandwich in Vietnam. Although, I wouldn’t go quite that far (my personal favorite is listed on my Ho Chi Minh City itinerary), I did thoroughly enjoy my banh mi with avocado! With prices ranging from 15,000-35,000 VND ($0.65-$1.50), this is not a banh mi spot to be missed on your Hoi An itinerary.

Phuc Kien Assembly

Admiring the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall (or Fukien Assembly Hall) is one of the best things to do in Hoi An—especially for solo travelers. Built in 1690, this assembly hall was originally built for a Chinese group from Fujian to socialize. Later, it was converted into a temple to the diety Thien Hau: the Goddess of the Sea. It was believed that she protected sailors from danger. 

Conveniently, the Phuc Kien Assembly does not require an Old Town ticket. Entrance is free!

Hainan Assembly Hall

The Hainan Assembly was built in 1851 as a memorial to the merchants traveling from Hainan to Hoi An who were killed in Quang Nam after being mistaken as pirates. The front hall, main hall and open air courtyard are all ornately decorated and stunningly beautiful. It’s clear why the Hainan Assembly Hall is one of the most visited structures in Hoi An!

To enter the hall during your 3 day Hoi An itinerary, you’ll need a valid Old Town Ticket.

The Japanese Bridge

The Japanese Covered Bridge is a long-standing symbol of Hoi An. It was constructed way back in 1590 by the Japanese community as a link to the Chinese quarters. 

Unfortunately, due to insane crowds, I wasn’t able to wander over the actual bridge. However, keep in mind that walking over the bridge does count as one of your five attractions on the Old Town Ticket.

Next to the Japanese Bridge is one of the cutest stores in town—Sunday in Hoi An. Stop by to browse their jewelry and home goods collection and enjoy their photo-worthy, pastel decor!

Morning Glory Restaurant

This street food-stye restaurant was the site of my favorite meal in Hoi An. The region is known for a dish that’s a little hard to find around the rest of the country: crispy pancakes. Morning Glory’s Hoi An Crispy Pancakes with Grilled Pork Skewers consisted of crispy rice flour pancakes filled with pork, shrimp and beansprouts. The dish is accompanied by barbecued pork skewers, salad, dipping sauce and fresh spring roll wrappers. 

The waitress was kind enough to give me a quick lesson on how to eat this scrumptious dish. First, cut the crispy pancake into strips. Next, roll up the pancake, salad, and bean sprouts into the rice paper to make a DIY spring roll. Dip into the sauce, and you’ve got a delicious Vietnamese lunch! 

If you make it to Morning Glory, I also suggest ordering the White Rose Dumplings. Consisting of rice flour dumplings filled with shrimp and mixed veggies, these are another delicious dish well-known around Hoi An.

Visit the Nguyen Hoang Night Market

One of Southeast Asia‘s biggest appeals are the unique and exciting night markets that dot every city in every country. Hoi An’s famous night market, Nguyen Hoang, is a must-see on any Hoi An itinerary. From 5:00 -11:00 PM every day, the street in front of the Japanese Bridge comes alive with street vendors selling lanterns, local cuisine, and all sorts of trinkets and souvenirs. 

Pro tip: after sunset, snap a pic with the light up lanterns at one of the many lantern vendor stalls!

Day Two: Cooking Class, Chua Long Tuyen, Heritage Museum, Banh Mis, and Nightlife

Hopefully you’re already head-over-heels in love with the city, because it’s time for day #2 on your Hoi An itinerary! Today will be filled with a traditional cooking class (one of my personal favorite activities in any new city), a visit to Chua Long Tuyen (one of the most stunning spots in Hoi An), a lap through the Precious Heritage Museum, and dabbling in Hoi An’s nightlife scene.

Don’t worry—I didn’t forget about the most important part. You’ll find another of my favorite Hoi An restaurants on day #2: appropriately named the Banh Mi Queen.

Take a Cooking Class

It’s no secret that I love an international cooking class. I signed up for a lovely cooking class in Hanoi which, since I visited on the tail end of the pandemic, ended up being a private class for the regular price. After a market tour, Chef Duyen taught me how to make traditional dishes like caramel pork, banana flower salad, and Vietnamese fried spring rolls.

If you love Vietnamese food, then I highly recommend adding a local cooking class to your 3-day Hoi An itinerary. This top-rated Vietnamese cooking class is bookable from both Hoi An and Da Nang and is only $22 for two and a half hours of instruction. You’ll learn how to make some of the most popular dishes in the Quang Nam Province like fresh spring rolls, beef noodle soup, and crispy pancakes (my personal favorite).

If you’re looking to check a couple of things off your bucket list, some cooking classes in Hoi An also include basket boat rides and fishing!

👉🏼 Click here to book your Hoi An Cooking Class!

Chùa Long Tuyên

The Chua Long Tuyen pagoda was one of my favorite spots I visited during my Hoi An 3-day itinerary. The temple’s bright colors and ornate details make it one of the most beautiful examples of old architecture in Hoi An (and a great spot for some Insta-worthy photos!). 

Construction began on the temple in 1913 and it was named “Long Tuyen” because of the way the spring flows and is shaped like a dragon. No ticket is needed for this stunning temple, just bring your camera and plenty of water—the heat that day was a doozy.

Precious Heritage Museum and Art Gallery

I stumbled upon the Precious Heritage Museum in Hoi An with a Dutch friend I met at the hostel. This fascinating and charming museum is the permanent home of Réhahn’s Precious Heritage Collection.

The five rooms in this 19th century French home feature hundreds of portraits, over 60 traditional costumes from ancient Vietnamese tribes and tribal songs. The museum is meant to document Réhahn’s decade-long journey to document and preserve traditions from 54 ethnic tribes left in Vietnam. 

The museum is open daily from 8:00 AM-8:00 PM and entrance is free.

Wander the Hoi An Central Market: Cho Hoi An

The Cho Hoi An market can be summed up in two words: exciting and overwhelming. If you plan to visit this market during your 3 days in Hoi An, get ready to bargain! Here—everything is negotiable. 

To get the most out of your visit, I suggest visiting a few stalls before buying anything. Especially when it comes to the food court at the intersection of Tran Phu St and Nguyen Hue. Open from 5:00 AM-6:00 PM daily, this food court is stocked with vendors selling fresh fruit smoothies, local Vietnamese dishes, coffees, and more delicious snacks! 

You’ll also find tons of stalls selling handmade souvenirs, kitchen utensils, and accessories. And don’t forget the rows of fresh produce, fish, and meat—although this will probably interest you less if you’re not staying in an Airbnb.

Madam Khanh—The Banh Mi Queen

When you search “the best banh mi in Hoi An,” you get two hits: Banh Mi Queen and Banh Mi Phuong. Luckily for you, I tried both and I’m here to deliver my reviews 👏🏼

Between the two, I got the sense that the Banh Mi Queen might have been a bit more authentically Vietnamese. However, I would have to choose Banh Mi Phuong as my favorite based on taste. I did love the bread from the Banh Mi Queen, but the filling wasn’t my favorite.

I ordered the BBQ Banh Mi with veggies, BBQ pork, pate, egg sauce, papaya, cucumber and tomato. It’s hard to beat 30,000 VND ($1.20) for lunch!

Experience Hoi An’s Nightlife Scene

With Mad Monkey’s (my hostel’s) surplus of common areas and alcoholic drinks, I was guaranteed to meet fellow solo travelers to experience the Hoi An nightlife scene alongside. Although the bar scene in this ancient town isn’t on par with Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An has its fair share of nightclubs and bars. The hostel even offers its own pub crawl for only $8!

If you’re looking to meet other solo travelers, backpackers, and an all-around fun crowd, then head to what they call the An Hoi Islet across from Old Town. This is where you’ll find bustling outdoor bars filled with travelers downing Saigons and very affordable cocktails. Most of the clubs and bars shut down early-ish, but if you’re a night owl, you’ll have better luck at Funky Monkey and King Tiger Tiger Bar.*

If upscale, sophisticated cocktails are more your vibe, head over to Mezcal Cocteleria! And for those dance-floor-addicted travelers, the Velvet Night Club or the Hair of the Dog Bar will be more your scene.

*Stay safe! Unlicensed taxis hang out outside these bars and try to sell rides to drunk tourists. Never 🙅🏽‍♀️ accept a ride from a random car in Vietnam. Instead, order a safe and trackable ride on Grab or Gojek. However, although some bars and clubs stay open until around 3:00 AM, it can sometimes be impossible to find a taxi after midnight. My best advice is to use the buddy system and never let a friend (or yourself!) walk home alone.

Day Three: Take a Day Trip!

Unfortunately, the injury I sustained while living in Thailand lasted throughout my entire month in Vietnam (and my four months in Canggu). The wound on the bottom of my right foot made it difficult to walk and impossible to swim or enjoy any water-adjacent activities.

Because of my injury, I didn’t have the mobility to embark on all the exciting day trips accessible from Hoi An. But that doesn’t mean you should miss them! Keep reading for a sneak peek of the best day trips from Hoi An—but first, get ready for a lil’ brunch…

Grab Breakfast at Buttercup by Rosie’s

Start day #3 on your Hoi An itinerary with a delicious brunch at Buttercup by Rosie’s! This charming breakfast spot can be a little tough to find since it’s nestled in Hoi An’s winding alleyways. However, once you find it and grab a table, you’ll be surrounded by leafy plants, flowers, and minimalist decor. 

I ordered the Avo Bagel with a fried egg on toasted sesame and an iced specialty coffee. Everything was delicious and it definitely won’t break the bank! 

Day Trip #1: My Son Sanctuary

The My Son Sanctuary is a 1,600-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Site from the Champa Kingdom. The Cham Tower complex, featuring the 20 temple towers still standing, has vast cultural and historical significance in Vietnam, not to mention it’s stunningly beautiful. Picture the Cambodian temples of Angkor Wat but more spread out and framed by mountains.

Although you could visit the My Son Sanctuary on your own, I would recommend skipping the hassle and booking an extremely affordable and top-rated tour on Viator—like this tour which includes round-trip transportation, a dance show, and a boat cruise back to Hoi An for only $23. If you want to be a little bougie with it, this tour is completely private for only $68.

👉🏼 Click here to book your My Son Sanctuary tour from Hoi An for only $23!

Day Trip #2: Basket Boat Rides at Hoi An’s Coconut Village

Cam Thanh, or the Coconut Village, is located just a few kilometers east of Hoi An’s ancient town. This village is known worldwide for their “basket boats.” Legend says that the boats were a way for fisherman to get around paying taxes during the French Colonial rule. Others say the baskets were simply a more effective way of getting around. Whatever you believe, a basket boat ride in Cam Thanh would be a day to remember!

Although you could make your way to Cam Thanh on your own, I highly recommend booking a coconut village tour that includes pickup and drop off in an air-conditioned vehicle (a must-have in Hoi An) for only $20/person.

👉🏼 Click here to reserve your basket boat ride!

Day Trip #3: the Golden Hand Bridge

It’s been months and I’m still DEVASTATED I missed visiting the famous Vietnamese Golden Hand Bridge in the Ba Na Hills. Chances are, you’ve seen photos of this unique bridge on Instagram. If you get the chance, carve out some time in your Hoi An itinerary to experience this magical bridge and get some awesome IG shots in the process.

The bridge is almost a two-hour drive from Hoi An, so it’s easiest to book a spot on a tour. This top-rated tour offers round-trip transportation to the Ba Na Hills from Hoi An for $48/person. However, your park fees (roughly 36 USD each) are not included—so the cost quickly adds up. Instead, I recommend splurging on this more expensive tour that includes transportation, park fees, lunch, cable car tickets, and a stop at the famous Marble Mountains before heading back to Hoi An—all for $125.

👉🏼 Book your day trip to the Golden Hand Bridge and the Marble Mountains here!

Day Trip #4: An Bang Beach

Featured in CNN’s best 50 beaches in the world, a beach day on An Bang Beach is a perfect addition to your 3 days in Hoi An Vietnam—especially since it’s only three miles away from Old Town Hoi An.

Beach lovers can enjoy snorkeling, scuba diving, or simply relaxing with a good book and soaking up the rays. If your three days in Hoi An have left you a bit tired (trust me—I feel that), a day trip to An Bang Beach might be exactly what the doctor (or the travel agent) prescribed. Pack a bag, lather up that sunscreen, and grab a Grab (haha) from your hotel to the beach.

Dinner at Cao Lau Khong Gian Xanh Restaurant

Last, but definitely not least, is the Cao Lau Khong Gian Xanh Restaurant! This is the perfect spot to try one of Hoi An’s specialty dishes on your last night in town—cao lau. This dish consists of smoky, chewy rice noodles, sliced pork, crackling pork, bean sprouts, lettuce and herbs. 

Cao Lau Khong Gian Xanh serves some of the best Hoi An cao lau. The best part? This huge bowl of noodles only set me back 35,000 VND ($1.50). It’s the perfect meal to wrap up your 3 days in Hoi An itinerary.

How to Get to Hoi An from Around Vietnam

The easiest way to get to Hoi An is to fly to the nearby Da Nang International Airport (DAD) and hire a Grab taxi to Hoi An. Although you can book a train ticket from Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi on 12Go, the ride will take you around 18-20 hours one way. 

With flights around 90 USD, it seems worth it to save yourself 17 hours. However, if you’re already in Hue, you can easily grab a train to Hoi An for around 7 USD (the trip is around 2.5-3 hours).

Where to Stay in Hoi An

📍 Budget-Friendly: Mad Monkey Hoi An Hostel

Since I was visiting Hoi An as a solo female traveler, the hostel life was definitely the way to go. I booked four nights in the Mad Monkey Hoi An Hostel and it was the perfect accommodation for the best price. The hostel offered spacious and clean dorm rooms (with the option of all-female dorms) and included a bar, restaurant, and outdoor swimming pool. 

The only downside of staying at the Mad Monkey Hostel is the location outside of Old Town. If you’re comfortable booking a Grab or Gojek scooter, you can get an easy ride to Old Town in 10 minutes for less than $1. If you’re not comfortable on a scooter, you can book a slightly more expensive (but still budget-friendly) Grab taxi. (OR—if you’re looking for something more in the center of things—check out the Imperfect Downtown Hoi An Hostel in the middle of Old Town Hoi An.)

For less than 7 USD per night, Mad Monkey is the perfect budget-friendly accommodation for solo travel to Vietnam.

📍 Mid-Level: Hoi An Nostalgia Hotel & Spa

If the hostel scene isn’t your thing (no judgment!), Hoi An has no shortage of quaint, boutique hotels that won’t break the bank. With rooms starting at only 25 USD per night, the Hoianese Hotel is the perfect spot for a solo female traveler who values her personal space. 

For those spa-inclined travelers, check out the Hoi An Nostalgia Hotel & Spa! Rooms start at only 21 USD per night and you can relax in style with the luxurious spa treatments.

📍 Luxury: Little Riverside Hoi An

If you’re a sucker for a rooftop bar and living a life of luxury for crazy low prices, then Little Riverside Hoi An is the accommodation for you. With 9.3 stars on Booking.com, a convenient location near Old Town, and tons of luxurious amenities, you’re never going to want to leave this Hoi An resort.

Take advantage of the resort’s free bicycles to explore the ancient town, book a relaxing massage in their on-site spa, or just relax on the rooftop bar with views of the Thu Bon River and a tasty cocktail in hand!

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Final Thoughts

Although I enjoyed everywhere on my Vietnam solo travel itinerary, I can honestly say that Hoi An was my favorite stop on the trip. I loved the colorful walls, the vibrant flowers, and the affordability of everyday life. I plan to come back one day when I’m not injured, but even with very low mobility, this was a trip to remember.

If you have extra time on your Hoi An itinerary, you could consider adding a day trip to Da Nang, the Cham Islands, or the Marble Mountains. There’s no shortage of exciting sites in this beautiful region of Vietnam. 

If you enjoyed my Hoi An itinerary for solo female travelers, you might enjoy my related guides below! And don’t forget to follow along for the adventure on Instagram @madisonsfootsteps. 

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