Bringing a Group to Hoi An for the First Time

Oct 27, 2026 12:39:10 PM Hoang Thinh Dong

Destination notes · Hoi An

Dong DMC operations desk

Hoi An is a former trading port about 30 km south of Da Nang, and its Old Town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. For a first group program, plan the Old Town on foot in small guided groups, keep coach time for the sites outside town, and book meals and the evening walk around the lantern hours.

Hoi An in one paragraph

Boats on the Hoai River in front of Hoi An Old Town — The Hoai River and the Old Town. Photo: Dong DMC.

Hoi An sits on the Thu Bon River on the coastal plain of Quang Nam. From the 16th century it was a busy port for Japanese, Chinese and European traders, and the Old Town still shows that mix in its houses, assembly halls and the Japanese Covered Bridge. Most programs combine it with Da Nang: guests fly into Da Nang, stay in either city, and spend one or two days in and around Hoi An.

How to run the Old Town with a group

Lantern-lit street in Hoi An Old Town in the evening — An evening walk through the Old Town. Photo: Dong DMC.

On foot, in small groups. The Old Town streets are narrow and best walked. Split larger groups into small sub-groups, each with its own guide, and give them staggered start points.
Coaches stay outside. Plan drop-off and pick-up at the edge of the Old Town, with a clear meeting point and time for each sub-group.
Daytime for sites, evening for the river. Visit the houses and assembly halls in the day; keep the riverside and lantern streets for the evening.

Ten sites and how they fit a group day

Inside the Old Town

Japanese Covered Bridge. A wooden bridge of about 18 m, built by Japanese merchants around 400 years ago and the best-known landmark of the town.
Cantonese Assembly Hall. Built in 1885 by the Cantonese community, in Chinese style; a short stop on the walking route.
Tan Ky Old House. A merchant house over 200 years old that mixes Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese design; small inside, so visit in sub-groups.
Quan Cong Temple. Built in 1653 and dedicated to Guan Yu, the Three Kingdoms general; four buildings and preserved stone steles.
Night market. Lanterns and street food in the centre of the Old Town; works as free time at the end of the evening walk.

The Japanese Covered Bridge in Hoi An — The Japanese Covered Bridge. Photo: Dong DMC.

Visitors walking through the inside of the Japanese Covered Bridge — Inside the covered bridge. Photo: Dong DMC.

Lantern stall at the Hoi An night market — A lantern stall at the night market. Photo: Dong DMC.

Outside the Old Town

Tra Que Vegetable Village. About 3 km from town, known for its herbs; suits a hands-on farming and cooking session.
An Bang Beach. A quieter beach close to Hoi An, with water sports for free-time afternoons.
Cham Islands. A UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve off the coast, with fishing villages and old temples; a sea day that depends on weather.
My Son Sanctuary. A complex of Cham temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999; best as a morning trip with a guide who knows Cham history.
VinWonders Nam Hoi An. A large theme park about 17 km from the Old Town, with zones from folk culture to a water park; suits family groups and incentive fun days.

Season and timing

Yellow shophouse in Hoi An Old Town at night — Old Town shophouses at night. Photo: Dong DMC.

The dry season runs from February to August; February to April is the most comfortable for walking programs, and May to August is hot, so plan the Old Town for early morning and evening. The rainy season runs from September to January, when outdoor days and the Cham Islands need a weather back-up in the program.

Getting there and getting around

Arrival: guests fly into Da Nang from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or international routes; Hoi An is about an hour by coach.
In the area: private coaches between sites; bicycles or cyclos inside the Old Town for small groups as an experience, not as transport for the whole group.

Meals for groups

Group lunch of local dishes in Hoi An — A group lunch of local dishes. Photo: Dong DMC.

Group meal with soup, greens and local dishes in Hoi An — Shared dishes for a group table. Photo: Dong DMC.

Hoi An's local dishes — cao lau, mi Quang, Hoi An chicken rice, banh mi, banh xeo and banh dap — work well as a set menu at a group restaurant or as a guided street-food walk in small groups. Share dietary needs early so the kitchen can plan: see meal planning and special requests.

Where groups stay

Pool courtyard of a boutique hotel in Hoi An — A pool courtyard at a Hoi An hotel. Photo: Dong DMC.

Old Town edge: boutique hotels within walking distance of the Old Town, good for culture-led programs.
Cua Dai beach: beach resorts about ten minutes from the Old Town.
Nam Hoi An: integrated resorts about 20 minutes away, next to VinWonders and an 18-hole golf course.
Da Nang: larger hotels and event venues for MICE programs that visit Hoi An for a day.

Dong DMC chooses the hotel for each program and blocks rooms early for series. If a client needs rooms only, see Bedtara.

Plan a Hoi An program with Dong DMC

For routing, suppliers and on-the-ground handling, see Hoi An DMC and Da Nang DMC.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Hoi An from Da Nang?

About 30 km south of Da Nang, roughly an hour by coach.

How should a large group visit Hoi An Old Town?

On foot, split into small sub-groups with their own guides, with coaches dropping off at the edge of the Old Town.

When is the best time to bring a group to Hoi An?

February to April is the most comfortable; September to January is the rainy season, when outdoor days need a back-up plan.