5 Days in Hoi An: First-Timer Plan
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Five days adds a full island boat trip to the essential Hoi An plan: the Ancient Town and a tailor fitting, My Son, a Da Nang day trip for the Golden Bridge, a beach-and-village day, and Cu Lao Cham. For less time, see the 4-day version; for more, 6 or 7-day plans add an Hue day trip.
Book these before you go
- A My Son sunrise tour : book the early slot, it sells out first
- A Golden Bridge and Marble Mountains day trip : a full-day tour out of Hoi An
- A Cu Lao Cham boat trip : weather-dependent, confirm the day before
- Your Hoi An hotel : book ahead, especially Sep-Nov flood season
This 5-day plan, at a glance
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Ancient Town heritage walk, a tailor measurement, a lantern evening |
| 2 | My Son sunrise tour, tailor fitting |
| 3 | Da Nang day trip: Marble Mountains and the Golden Bridge |
| 4 | An Bang Beach, Tra Que village, a Cam Thanh basket-boat ride |
| 5 | Cu Lao Cham island boat trip, tailor pickup, departure |
Day 1: The Ancient Town
Arrive via Da Nang International Airport (roughly 250,000-350,000 VND by Grab, 30-45 minutes) and spend the afternoon in the Ancient Town : the Japanese Covered Bridge, the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, and a merchant house like Tan Ky. Walking is free; the coupon booklet (roughly 120,000 VND) only matters for entry to specific sites. Get measured for a tailor order, then join the lantern-lit streets in the evening.
Day 2: My Son and a tailor fitting
Head out early to My Son Sanctuary , Cham ruins about 40km and an hour away, partly destroyed by bombing in August 1969. Go early for the heat and crowds. Back in town by afternoon, return to your tailor for a fitting.
Day 3: Da Nang, the Marble Mountains, and the Golden Bridge
A full day trip north: the Marble Mountains’ stairs and caves, then Ba Na Hills for the giant stone Golden Bridge, opened in 2018. It’s touristy, and worth the day regardless.
Day 4: Beach, herbs, and a basket boat
Cycle to An Bang Beach, then the Tra Que herb village, then a Cam Thanh basket-boat ride through the water-coconut palms in the afternoon, ask for a quieter departure time to skip the tourist boat-jam version.
Day 5: Cu Lao Cham and departure
Take a morning boat out to Cu Lao Cham, a marine UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, for snorkeling and clearer water than the mainland beaches offer. Trips are seasonal and weather-dependent, confirm the day before. Back in town, collect your finished tailor order before heading to Da Nang Airport for departure.
One concrete tip: confirm your Cu Lao Cham boat trip the evening before, not the week before. Sea conditions can cancel a sailing on short notice, and having a backup half-day plan, like Cam Kim island by bike, saves the day if it does.