When’s the best time to visit Hoi An?
Our reply to this frequently asked question didn’t require much thought or research and the simple answer to ‘when’s the best time to visit Hoi An is…between 7 and 8 in the morning. (5 to 6 in the afternoon being a close second.)
With a coastal position, just south of Danang and situated very approximately halfway between Hanoi and Saigon, the charming and historic port of Hoi An has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List for 25 years now and is a justifiably popular destination. A slight drawback, however, is that Hoi An is small, and its picturesque old town is even smaller. Regardless of weather considerations, it will be relatively busy all year round. and note that – even if you removed all the ‘Western’ tourists – increasing numbers of well-heeled locals flock to Hoi An from the big cities of Saigon, Danang and Hanoi on any public holiday or weekend. (Also goes without saying that it’s popular with Chinese visitors.)
In the context of say a 2-week tour of Vietnam, you can’t avoid weekends – you’ll always be somewhere on a Saturday and Sunday and, as in your home country, whatever visit-worthy destination you take in, will be busier. In so far as Hoi An is a cultural visit – historic sites, architecture, museums – what the weather is doing is, in our opinion, secondary. (You’re not lying on a beach so if it rains – just take an umbrella – and if it’s sticky, you’re not hiking through the jungle so…) We will come on to climate considerations shortly but our recommended time to visit Hoi An is therefore one that minimises crowds.
Opening soon, early morning at a Hoi An coffee shop So, head down early while most other visitors are tucking into their buffet breakfasts and you’ll have the quaint streets and historic buildings almost to yourself. Locals will of course already be out and about and the market should be in full flow but the only people obstructing your snaps will be local vendors with conical hats rather than tour groups. Many of the heritage buildings are today, inevitably souvenir shops, boutiques and coffee shops but at that time in the morning, only some of the latter will be operational. So much the better as no one will be trying to sell you anything but you can ensconce yourself in a local cafe – to replace the caffeine hit you missed at the hotel – and watch early morning Hoi An wander by. (Note, while we’re not a big shopper, there are plenty of tempting knick-knacks, clothes, souvenirs etc on display but if you hang around a bit, you’ll be the first customer at opening time anyway.)
The historic old town isn’t huge so an early start gives you plenty of time to take in the sites, architecture and atmosphere and still get back to your hotel before brekkie finishes.
During the mid part of the day we’re inclined to chill by the pool – or if one’s feeling energetic, head down to the beach or pick up a bicycle and explore the surrounding countryside. Dusk, when most visitors are returning to their hotels for a rest and shower is consequently our second favourite time to visit Hoi An. The town’s waterfront is south-facing and you won’t get a direct sunset but often the light at that time of day is spectacular so, no need to go to a fancy bistro, head down to the al fresco quayside cafes where the locals go and order yourself a cold one.
Sundowners on the waterfront Best time to visit Hoi An – climate?
As is our wont, we’re sitting on the fence somewhat in regards to the weather factors. The dry season traditionally runs from January through to April so this is peak season for Hoi An. May and June are warmer but also have showers, so they tend to be more humid months, while July and August see the onset of the rainy season. October and November are the wettest months while December is the coolest. Floods have been known to occur in October but obviously, these are unpredictable phenomena. (On a general note, a tour travelling from say Hanoi all the way to Saigon covers some 1500 kms of zones, terrain and micro-climates and there is no single ideal time to travel. Whether in Halong Bay, Hoi An or the Mekong Delta, there will always be some risk of inclement weather.)
A corollary of the above is that dry season sees a considerable increase in visitor numbers while wetter months see far few visitors. In a small town that can get very crowded, that is a consideration.
2-way traffic in Hoi An’s Old Town Hoi An on our tours
Picturesque Hoi An is a shoo-in on both our Vietnam small group tour itineraries, Hanoi to Saigon and World Heritage Sites of Vietnam as well as our Vietnam family tour. While we avoid the wettest month of October, a 2-day, 2-night visit to the town is scheduled for all other months of the year. As we explained above, Vietnam’s complex geography entails a certain weather risk at most times, but as usual in the region, take an umbrella or sit out the short downpour in a coffee shop.
