Common mistakes tourists make when coming to Hoi An and how to avoid them

Let's review common mistakes when traveling to Hoi An and how to avoid them, so you can have a smooth, memorable and "uncomfortable" trip.

Hoi An – the dreamy ancient town on the Hoai River – is always a favorite destination for both Vietnamese and international tourists. With its ancient beauty, gentle pace of life and unique culture, Hoi An easily makes people "fall in love". However, there are also many tourists who make mistakes that make the experience less than perfect.

1. Choosing the wrong time to travel

Crowded with tourists during the afternoon rush hour on An Hoi Bridge - Hoi An. Image: TDK.

Common errors:

• Going during the rainy season (September - November), you are likely to encounter heavy rain, floods, and flooded old town.
• Going during peak festival season but not booking services in advance, rooms are easily sold out, prices increase.

How to avoid:

• Ideal time: from February to April, cool weather, sunny, little rain.
• If you go during the holiday season (April 30, September 2, Tet), you should book rooms – bus/train tickets – restaurants at least 2 - 4 weeks in advance.

2. Just wandering around the old town – missing out on interesting spots around

Common mistake:

Just walking around the old town (Chua Cau, old houses, riverside) without knowing that Hoi An has many other special places nearby.

How to avoid:

• Spend more time exploring traditional craft villages:
• Thanh Ha Pottery Village – learn to make pottery.
• Tra Que Vegetable Village – experience being a farmer.
• Kim Bong carpentry village, Phuoc Kieu bronze casting village - places that preserve the quintessence of ancient crafts.
• Visit An Bang or Cua Dai beach if you want to relax near the sea.
• Go to Bay Mau coconut forest (Cam Thanh) to try rowing a basket boat - very fun and interesting.

3. Don't ask for the price first - you'll be easily overcharged

Common errors:

• Buying souvenirs, renting a car, eating at a roadside restaurant without asking the price first => getting charged a higher price than the actual price.
• Mistakenly thought Hoi An is a place "no rip-offs".

How to avoid:

• Ask for clear prices before buying or using any service.
• Compare prices at many shops/restaurants before deciding.
• You can bargain lightly, especially in areas where prices are not posted.Suggestion: Should buy at stores with listed prices or Hoi An night market, usually easy to negotiate and have reasonable prices.

4. Focusing too much on taking photos – forgetting to enjoy the experience

Common errors:

• So absorbed in taking check-in photos with lanterns and virtual living corners that I forgot to feel the space, people, and rhythm of life in the old town.
• Crowding to get a photo with “no people” can easily annoy others or violate regulations.

How to avoid:

• Taking pictures is good, but take time to enjoy coffee, walk, chat with locals.
• Go early in the morning (before 7am) or after 9pm, when the old town is quiet, you will have beautiful photos without too many people.

5. Misunderstanding about the lantern releasing ceremony

Common errors:

• Thinking that you can release lanterns at any time – when in fact the most sparkling lantern releasing ceremony takes place on the full moon of the lunar month every month.
• Buy lanterns in crowded places, high prices, release them in the wrong place (causing loss of aesthetics and pollution).

How to avoid:

• If you want to participate in the most beautiful lantern festival => go on the 14th day of the lunar month every month (the old town is brightly lit, no electric lights, extremely fairytale).
• Buy lanterns at the main pier – with specific instructions, prices range from only 5,000 - 10,000 VND.

6. Only eating “tourist” food – missing out on authentic local cuisine

Common mistakes: Only eat at big restaurants, famous online restaurants – where the food is “touristized”, expensive, and the taste is not authentic.

Ignoring the real specialties of Hoi An people such as:

• Original Cao Lau (different from Quang noodles!)
• Banh dap – stir-fried mussels
• Steamed buns – steamed rice cakes
• Central Vietnamese pancakes

How to avoid: Ask locals or tour guides about good – really – cheap restaurants.

7. Not taking advantage of cycling or walking to explore

Common mistake: Riding a motorbike into the old town (motorbikes are prohibited from 9am to 11am and from 3pm to 9:30pm daily).

How to avoid:

• Rent a bicycle (about 50,000 - 100,000 VND/day) to explore the old town and surrounding villages.
• Walking is the best way to experience Hoi An's slow pace of life – wear comfortable, non-slip shoes as some of the ancient stone pavements can be quite slippery.

8. Choose a hotel too far from the city center

Common errors:

• Choose a hotel far from the old town (even if it's cheap), every time you want to visit you have to take a taxi or motorbike, causing inconvenience.
• Some areas are quiet but very deserted at night, lacking shops.

How to avoid:

• You should choose a place to stay in an area 1-2 km from the old town, you can walk or cycle to the center.
• If you like quiet, you can choose a homestay by the river, near Tra Que village or near An Bang beach - but you need to rent a car to be proactive.

Conclusion: 

Avoid small mistakes, have big tripsHoi An is not only a place for "virtual living", but also a destination for slow living, deep living and real living - from cuisine to culture, from people to landscapes. Small mistakes that seem insignificant sometimes reduce the quality of the trip.

Understand correctly - prepare carefully - experience the real thing, that is the best way for you to love Hoi An properly.