Hoi An Travel Tips: 8 Things to Know

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Most of what trips people up in Hoi An isn’t culture shock, it’s a handful of specific, avoidable mistakes. Here’s the actual list.

8 things to know before you go

  1. Get your e-visa only from evisa.gov.vn . Most nationalities need one, roughly $25-50 and about 3 working days, valid 90 days; a shorter list of countries get 45 days visa-free (verify the current list). Copycat sites charge two to three times the official fee for the same document.
  2. Currency is the Vietnamese dong (VND); carry cash. ATMs are common in the old town but charge withdrawal fees, and smaller vendors and market stalls run on cash, not cards.
  3. Tap water isn’t potable. Stick to bottled or filtered water, including for ice at less established places.
  4. The Old Town “ticket” is a coupon booklet, not an entry fee. Walking the streets is free; the ~120,000 VND booklet buys five coupons redeemable at any five of roughly 20 heritage sites, enforced at each site’s own door.
  5. The Ancient Town core is pedestrianised during set hours. Vehicles are restricted at points through the day, so plan on walking, cycling, or an e-cart rather than driving into the core.
  6. Use Grab, not a tout’s fixed-price offer. It shows the fare before you get in and is reliably cheaper than the drivers who approach you directly, especially at the airport. Motorbike rental needs an international driving permit and carries an insurance caveat many riders skip; check before you sign anything.
  7. Tipping is genuinely more expected here than elsewhere in Vietnam. Round up taxis, tip 5-10% at restaurants, and 50,000-100,000 VND for a spa treatment is normal rather than excessive.
  8. If you’re getting anything tailored, treat the deposit as a test. Real bespoke needs 3-5 days and an in-person fitting; get two or three quotes, order one test item first, photograph the agreed fabric, and pay around 20% upfront, not the full amount.

What should I wear to the assembly halls and old houses?

Modest dress, shoulders and knees covered, the same standard as any temple or family chapel elsewhere in Vietnam. Comfortable shoes matter too: old-town streets are uneven cobblestone in places.

Is bargaining expected?

In markets and at street stalls, yes; in fixed-price shops and restaurants, no. Tailoring sits in between: quotes are genuinely negotiable, especially if you’re ordering more than one piece.

Check current Hoi An hotel rates and confirm your area’s walk to the pedestrianised core before booking. For the fuller picture of when to go and what floods, see our Hoi An guide , and for the food specifics behind tip 6, our where to eat in Hoi An guide.