- UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Yes
Good to know
Good to Know
- Hoi An Ancient Town is a living, inhabited heritage site—844 of 1,107 buildings are on the UNESCO World Heritage list, and the original 15th-century street grid remains intact.
- The Precious Heritage Art Gallery Museum is free to enter, making it an exceptional cultural experience at no cost.
- The Japanese Covered Bridge is technically a ticketed attraction, but you can cross it freely; only entering the small temple inside requires a ticket stub.
- Some museums like the Museum of Folk Culture offer live demonstrations of traditional crafts and performances, particularly during daylight hours.
- You must use one ticket stub to visit each site—you cannot visit both Tan Ky House and Phung Hung House with a single ticket if they are in the same category.
- The Terracotta Museum in Thanh Ha pottery village lies outside the immediate Old Town but is within reach for a half-day excursion and offers hands-on pottery workshops.
- Free entry to certain areas: walking the lantern-lit streets, crossing the Japanese Bridge itself, and browsing shops require no ticket, so you can experience much of Hoi An's charm without spending on entry.
Museums
Precious Heritage Art Gallery Museum
- Hours
- 8am to 8pm daily
- Description
- Free museum housed in a 19th-century French colonial house showcasing French photographer Réhahn's decade-long project documenting Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups through large-scale portraits, traditional costumes, and personal stories.
Hoi An Museum of History and Culture
- Description
- Located within Quan Am Pagoda, showcases 212 original artifacts spanning 2,000 years of Hoi An's development from Sa Huynh period through international trading port era, including ceramics, bronze items, and historical documents.
Museum of Trade Ceramics
- Description
- Housed in a beautifully preserved 19th-century wooden house (operating since 1995), displays 430 rare ceramic artifacts from the 9th-19th centuries sourced from Central Asia, India, China, Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam, reflecting Hoi An's global trading heritage.
Museum of Sa Huỳnh Culture
- Description
- Minimalist design museum highlighting over 1,000 archaeological artifacts including burial jars, stone tools, jewelry, and metal items from the ancient Sa Huỳnh civilization dating back 2,000+ years, believed to be early inhabitants of Central Vietnam.
Museum of Folk Culture
- Description
- Located in a 150-year-old two-story wooden Chinese trading house, showcases traditional performances ('tuong' and 'bai choi'), artisan crafts, daily-life artifacts, regional customs, and occasional live demonstrations of weaving and folk singing.
Terracotta Museum (Thanh Ha Pottery Village)
- Description
- Located outside the main Old Town, features brick-crafted structures and terracotta sculptures, exhibition zones with miniature world wonders, and displays of Thanh Ha pottery tradition (centuries old). Offers pottery workshops guided by local artisans.
Art Galleries
Réhahn's Private Studio
- Description
- Located on Truong Minh Luong street in Hoi An Ancient Town. Open by reservation only. Houses photographer Réhahn's favorite images from Vietnam, Cuba, and India, including private collection focused on Collector's Original Limited Editions on ultra-premium metallic paper.
Must See Sites
Hoi An Ancient Town (UNESCO Heritage Area)
- Description
- UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring preserved 15th-19th century merchant houses, temples, assembly halls, and the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge reflecting Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese architectural influences.
Japanese Covered Bridge
- Description
- 16th-century wooden pedestrian bridge constructed by Japanese merchants connecting the Japanese and Chinese quarters, now a signature landmark of Hoi An.
Tan Ky House
- Description
- Built in 1741 as an 18th-century merchant's home, occupied by seven generations of a Vietnamese family. Features the "One Hundred Birds" lacquered board with 100 bird images written in calligraphic strokes.
Phung Hung Ancient House
- Description
- Built in 1780 by a Vietnamese merchant who traded spices, silks, and ceramics. Features wooden beams, balconies, and traditional furniture; family descendants live there and offer tours.
Practical Tips
Practical Tips
- The Old Town ticket grants access to the heritage area itself; you can walk the main streets freely, but individual heritage buildings require the ticket.
- The ticket is valid for your entire stay, not just one day, so pace visits over multiple days.
- Walking or cycling are the best ways to explore the compact historic district.
- Peak season crowding makes night visits attractive for photography, particularly when lanterns are lit.
- Several museums are located within a 5-minute walk of the main Old Town area, making them easily accessible.
- Free maps are provided at ticket booths in English and Vietnamese.
- Best time to visit is February-April for mild temperatures and little rain; September-November is less crowded.
- Expect a full day to see main sights; allow 2-3 days to experience the town at a relaxed pace and revisit in different times of day.
Entry Pass System
- Name
- Hoi An Old Town Ticket
- Includes
- Access to 5 chosen attractions from 22 heritage sites; ticket includes 5 tearable stubs (one per venue)
- Flexibility
- Visitors can choose any 5 sites of interest; additional attractions require purchase of another ticket
- Purchase Locations
- Official ticket booths at multiple Old Town entrances including Tran Phu Street, Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Bach Dang Street, An Hoi Bridge area
- Price Foreign Visitors
- ₫120,000
- Price Hoi An Residents
- Free with ID
- Price Children Under 16
- Free
- Price Vietnamese Visitors
- ₫80,000
- Description
- Single unified ticket granting access to heritage area and 5 of 22 heritage attractions including museums, ancient houses, assembly halls, temples, and cultural performance venues. Valid for entire stay in Hoi An.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Yes
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this history, museums & sightseeing research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
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Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.