---
title: "Hội An Day Trip from Da Nang: Lanterns, Tailors, Food + Phrases"
description: "Hội An day trip from Da Nang: how to get there, things to do in Hội An Ancient Town, the Japanese Bridge, the lantern festival, tailors, cao lầu, basket boats, and the Vietnamese to use."
canonical: https://vietnameseindanang.com/da-nang-life-guide/hoi-an-day-trip/
lang: en
updated: 2026-10-09
publisher: "Gia sư Việt Trí (Viettrigroup Co., Ltd.)"
---

[Learn Vietnamese in Da Nang](https://vietnameseindanang.com/index.md)  [Da Nang Life Guide](https://vietnameseindanang.com/da-nang-life-guide.md)  Hội An day trip

# Hội An day trip from Da Nang: a local's guide

Forty-five minutes south of Da Nang, the yellow lanes of Hội An glow with silk lanterns every evening. Here is how locals spend a day there, and the Vietnamese that makes it even sweeter.

Updated 9 October 2026 · 7 min read · by the teachers at Gia sư Việt Trí

![Silk lanterns strung over a street in Hội An old town at night](https://vietnameseindanang.com/assets/img/guide/hoi-an-lanterns-600.jpg)

Photo: Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan, [CC BY 2.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:H%E1%BB%99i_An_lantern_festival_(45536262991).jpg)

## Things to do in Hội An in one day

1. **Getting there.** Hội An is about 30 km south of Da Nang: around 45 minutes by Grab or taxi, or a gentle ride down the coast road on a motorbike. Many people leave after lunch and stay for the lanterns.
2. **Afternoon in the old town.** The Ancient Town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. Buy the old-town ticket ( vé tham quan) at a booth, then wander past merchant houses, assembly halls and the Japanese Covered Bridge ( **Chùa Cầu**), the bridge printed on the 20,000-đồng note.
3. **Evening on the river.** At dusk the lanterns come on along the Thu Bồn River. Take a small boat and float a paper lantern ( **đèn hoa đăng**) for good luck. On the 14th night of every lunar month, the eve of the full moon, the old town switches to lantern light only.

## Best things to do in Hội An

![Silk lanterns strung over a street in Hội An old town at night](https://vietnameseindanang.com/assets/img/guide/hoi-an-lanterns-1200.jpg)

Every evening **The old town lights up in silk** Đèn lồng đẹp quá! The lanterns are so pretty!

Photo: Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan, [CC BY 2.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:H%E1%BB%99i_An_lantern_festival_(45536262991).jpg)

- **Tailor-made clothes.** Hội An's tailors can make a suit, a dress or an áo dài within a day or two, with a fitting in between.
- **Cao lầu.** Chewy noodles with pork, greens and crunchy croutons, found almost only in Hội An.
- **Bánh mì.** The late chef Anthony Bourdain made Bánh Mì Phượng world famous in 2009.
- **White rose dumplings** ( bánh bao bánh vạc): delicate shrimp dumplings shaped like little flowers.
- **Basket boats** ( thúng chai) spinning through the Bảy Mẫu coconut forest in Cẩm Thanh.
- **Villages by bike:** Trà Quế herb gardens and Thanh Hà pottery, then a swim at An Bàng beach.
- **Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary:** Chăm temple ruins in a jungle valley about an hour away, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

## Hội An travel questions

**How do I get from Da Nang to Hội An?**

Book a Grab or taxi (about 45 minutes), take a private car, or ride a motorbike down the coast road past Non Nước and An Bàng.

**When is the Hội An lantern festival?**

On the 14th night of every lunar month. The old town turns to lantern light, and boats float paper lanterns on the Hoài and Thu Bồn rivers.

**Do I need a ticket for Hội An Ancient Town?**

Yes, a sightseeing ticket ( vé tham quan) from the booths around the old town covers entry to several heritage houses, assembly halls and the Japanese Bridge.

**How long does a Hội An tailor take?**

Usually a day or two, with one fitting in between. Order early in your trip for time to adjust.

**What should I eat in Hội An?**

Cao lầu, bánh mì, white rose dumplings ( bánh bao bánh vạc) and cơm gà, Hội An chicken rice.

## Words to know

- **phố cổ** old town
- **đèn lồng** lantern
- **đèn hoa đăng** floating paper lantern
- **Chùa Cầu** the Japanese Covered Bridge
- **vé tham quan** sightseeing ticket
- **thợ may** tailor
- **vải** fabric
- **số đo** measurements
- **áo dài** Vietnamese long dress
- **cao lầu** Hội An's signature noodles
- **thuyền** boat
- **thúng chai** round basket boat
- **rằm** full-moon day of the lunar month
- **sông Hoài** the Hoài River in the old town
- **làng gốm** pottery village

## Phrases you'll use

- **Cho tôi đi Hội An.** To Hội An, please.
- **Mua vé tham quan ở đâu?** Where do I buy the sightseeing ticket?
- **Đi thuyền bao nhiêu tiền?** How much is the boat ride?
- **Cho tôi thả một chiếc đèn hoa đăng.** I'd like to float a paper lantern.
- **Một tô cao lầu nha.** One bowl of cao lầu, please.
- **Chị may bộ này mất mấy ngày?** How many days to make this outfit?
- **Mai tôi quay lại thử đồ.** I'll come back tomorrow for the fitting.
- **Chỗ này rộng quá, chị sửa giúp tôi.** It's too loose here, please alter it.
- **Đẹp quá, chụp giúp tôi một tấm nha.** So beautiful, could you take a photo for me?
- **Mấy giờ đèn lồng sáng?** What time do the lanterns come on?

## At the tailor

**Chị thợ may** the tailor. Example conversation.

1. Chào chị! Tôi muốn may một chiếc áo dài. Hello! I'd like an áo dài made.
2. Dạ, bạn thích vải màu gì? Sure, what colour of fabric do you like?
3. Màu đỏ, giống mẫu này. Red, like this one.
4. Để chị lấy số đo nha. Let me take your measurements.
5. Bao lâu thì xong ạ? How long will it take?
6. Chiều mai bạn quay lại thử đồ nha. Come back tomorrow afternoon for a fitting.
7. Dạ, cảm ơn chị! Great, thank you!

## The Da Nang version

Hội An speaks with the warm Quảng Nam accent, close to Da Nang's. These words come up all the time.

- **mô** = đâu, where: "Chùa Cầu ở mô?" (Where's the Japanese Bridge?)
- **răng** = sao, why or how: "Răng đẹp rứa!" (How is it so pretty!)
- **rứa** = vậy, like that: "Rứa hả?" (Really?)
- **chừ** = bây giờ, now: "Chừ đi ăn cao lầu nha." (Let's go eat cao lầu now.)
- **tê** = kia, over there: "Quán bên tê ngon lắm." (The place over there is really good.)
- **mi** = mày or bạn, you (between friends): "Mi ăn chi?" (What are you eating?)

## Make the most of Hội An

- Arrive in the late afternoon: golden light for photos, then lanterns at dusk.
- Check the lunar calendar and plan your visit for the full-moon lantern night.
- Order clothes early in your trip so there is time for a second fitting.
- Wear comfortable shoes and carry a little cash for boats, lanterns and snacks.
- Rent a bicycle for the villages, the rice fields and An Bàng beach.
- Rainy season (October to November) can flood the riverside lanes: check the forecast first.

## Say it like you belong in the old town.

Groups of four with a certified teacher, $8 an hour, with a Vietnamese buddy included. Your first lesson is on us.

[Book my free lesson](https://vietnameseindanang.com/#book)

## More from the Da Nang Life Guide

- [**Renting an apartment** Rent, deposit and bills](https://vietnameseindanang.com/da-nang-life-guide/rent-apartment-da-nang.md)
- [**The seafood market** Buy the catch of the morning](https://vietnameseindanang.com/da-nang-life-guide/seafood-market-da-nang.md)
- [**Feeling unwell** Pharmacy first, then 113, 114, 115](https://vietnameseindanang.com/da-nang-life-guide/hospital-pharmacy-da-nang.md)
- [**The full guide** Phrases, food, places, quiz](https://vietnameseindanang.com/da-nang-life-guide.md)

## Next actions

- Book a free trial lesson: https://vietnameseindanang.com/#book
- See prices and packs: https://vietnameseindanang.com/learn-vietnamese/#prices
- Pay a seat deposit or a full pack: https://vietnameseindanang.com/learn-vietnamese/#pay
- Email: hello@vietnameseindanang.com
- Site index for agents: https://vietnameseindanang.com/llms.txt
- Up: https://vietnameseindanang.com/da-nang-life-guide.md