Hoi An Ancient Town: Sunset & Lantern Experience (2026)

Hoi An Ancient Town is one of those destinations that you feel like you’ve already seen everything once you’ve scrolled through Instagram.

I know I did before visiting. I had seen those lanterns dangling from every corner, shop, and building along the river. I had seen the boats, and streets glowing up at night.

It all looked amazing, but nothing could’ve prepared me for what visiting Hoi An was actually like.

I stayed at Namia River Retreat during my visit to Hoi An and one of the complimentary amenities included a sunset cruise into Hoi An Ancient Town.

Taking a boat made what could’ve been lackluster tourist experience unique and special from the second we stepped foot in town.

In this post, I’ll cover exactly how our evening went: including the cruise into town, walking around Hoi An at night, and getting back to our resort.

I’ll also provide helpful tips at the end so you can plan your visit accordingly!

How To Get To Hoi An Ancient Town (Sunset Cruise)

For most tourists, getting to Hoi An usually involves taking a taxi/Grab from Da Nang. The drive takes about 45-60 minutes depending on traffic.

Coming in by boat is a totally different experience.

Our sunset cruise (20-30 mins journey) departed from right inside our resort Namia River Retreat in Hoi An. As we drove further south towards Hoi An, the sun began to set and everything became illuminated with an orange glow.

The water was reflecting the colors and the whole scene seemed so peaceful and slowed down.

We slowly made our way towards Hoi An Ancient Town. Along the Thu Bon River you’ll start to notice less docked boats and vendors and slowly see more lanterns hanging down from buildings as you approach.

Honestly, cruising into Hoi An this way was actually one of my favorite parts about the evening. You aren’t just dropping into the middle of a busy street. You slowly make your way there.

Its an unexpected way to arrive that builds anticipation as you slowly float by Hoi An Town.

Plus, if you are looking for interesting things to do in Hoi An, a sunset river cruise may be higher on that list than you think. Be sure to inquire with your hotel as many offer this experience for their guests.

First Impressions Of Hoi An Ancient Town

Stepping off the boat was surreal. Like I legit felt like I was in a different world.

Hoi An Ancient Town is known for its well-preserved Ancient Vietnamese architecture mixed with Chinese and Japanese trade from centuries ago. Think: mustard yellow buildings with wooden shutters and hanging lanterns on every corner.

You know you’re in for a treat when stepping into a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What really sold me was how easy it was to walk around. Everything we wanted to see was within walking distance because the old town is small. You don’t need an itinerary in Hoi An as you can simply wander around. You can spend as little or as much time as you’d like getting lost in the streets of Hoi An.

Hoi An At Night (Exploring Lanterns)

Alright, let’s talk about the part of Hoi An most people are searching for when they look up “Hoi an Vietnam” – the lanterns.

Once the sun goes down, Hoi An comes alive with color.

Thousands of lanterns illuminate the streets and river making one of the most Instgrammable settings in Southeast Asia.

You’ll also see tons of little boats floating around with lanterns tied to them. The reflections on the water are so cool.

People visiting Hoi An for its iconic lantern nights will find the experience every bit as magical as expected.

While strolling down the river, we passed:

• Lantern sellers on the street (floating candles for purchase)
• Small wooden boats with lanterns people could pay to ride
• Street performers/music
• Busy Night Markets

The night markets were full of souvenir shops and street food vendors. While busy, it didn’t feel overcrowded. Instead, it felt lively.

Hoi An still felt intimate at night.

My favorite part was sitting by the river watching all the boats float by. There was no rush. We didn’t have an agenda. We literally just sat and enjoyed the view for a little bit.

Street Vendors, Cafe, and Night Market Vibes

I could spend all day writing about Hoi An night markets. While the lanterns are a big draw, I loved exploring the street vendors and finding random cafes with views of the river.

We explored the night market area where there were vendors selling all sorts of souvenirs and local goods. This is a great place to pick some souvenirs in Hoi An.

Some cool things we came across (what to buy in Hoi an):

• Unique lanterns you can buy as souvenirs
• Leather goods
• Tailor shops
• Vietnamese snacks (banh mi, grilled skewers, etc.)

We eventually found a cute café with seats overlooking the river. This was honestly one of the best decisions of the night.

Perching by the window watching people stroll by and the boats float past was another great way to take in Hoi An. Everything seemed to slow down.

If you’re trying to plan your trip, I would 100% recommend carving out a few hours to stroll through Hoi An’s night market. Grab a seat at a cafe and enjoy the view. Simple. But one of my favorite parts of the evening.

Family Friendly?

Hoi An was also surprisingly family-friendly. Just be careful of the trishaws as it can be quite annoying.

There were lots of kids running around and families exploring the streets. It just had a safe vibe. Part of it is because the streets are primarily pedestrian at night in the old town area. Makes it easier if you have kids.

Somewhere along the way my daughter Yuyi began twirling around gleefully in the middle of the street, surrounded by lanterns and people coming to sell food and other goods. It was one of those mini-travel-experiences that you treasure forever. Children will adore this place.

Hoi An is one of those places that works really well when you are traveling as a family.

Returning Back to Our Resort (Hoi An to River Retreat)

After a couple hours, we knew it was time to head back. We ended up booking a Grab to return to Namia River Retreat.

Here are few tips:

• Grab is super easy to find in Hoi An. You can open the app and they are readily available.
• Fares are reasonable compared to other parts of SE Asia.
• Be patient during busy hours, you may have to wait for a driver
• You will need to walk to near the outer areas of Hoi An Ancient Town, as cars are not allowed inside.

Our ride back to Namia River Retreat took about 10 minutes. The sunset cruise was a nice way to get there, but coming back by car was nice.

Here’s what I would suggest when planning:

• Come by cruise (for the experience)
• Leave by Grab/taxi (for convenience)

Helpful Tips To Visit Hoi An Ancient Town

Okay last few tips. If you are looking up “tips for traveling to Hoi An”, feel free to read the below for our tips based on our own experiences.

Best Time To Visit Hoi An?

Night. Evening. Sunset into night. That’s when you’ll want to visit Hoi An Ancient Town.

What To Wear?

Light layers. Hoi An can get humid at night so dress accordingly. You’ll be doing a lot of walking!

Cash or Card?

Bring some cash (Vietnamese Dong). A lot of smaller vendors in markets did not accept card. Remember you can bargain with street vendors.

Crowds?

Yes, it can get crowded during night time. If you don’t like large crowds, plan to arrive before sunset.

Take a lantern boat ride tip?

If you want to hop on one of the smaller lantern boats for a ride, bargain with the driver before hopping on.

Hoi An, Ancient Town: Final Thoughts

Hoi An Ancient Town was everything I hoped it would be and more.

While I thought I had a good idea of what Hoi An looked like before visiting, nothing could’ve prepared me for how magical the town actually is.

The history. The culture. The FOOD. Everything about Hoi An exceeded my expectations.

And taking a sunset cruise into town was one of the best decisions we made during our visit. It allowed us to slowly cruise down the river and take everything in as we approached Hoi An Town.

Would I return to Hoi An?

In a heartbeat. Maybe next time I stay overnight and explore the town at an even slower pace.

Hope you enjoy your trip to Hoi An as much as we did!