Hoi An 4-Day Itinerary

With four days in Hoi An, you get the same lantern-lit Ancient Town and beach time as a shorter trip, plus room for the one excursion most visitors wish they'd had time for: a full day at the My Son Sanctuary Cham ruins. This plan keeps you based in Hoi An the entire time, mixing historic houses, museums, and markets with a slower pace than a quick city break allows. If three days is closer to what you have, the Hoi An 3-day itinerary skips the My Son excursion and stays fully within town. For a wider Vietnam route, see the Vietnam 10-day itinerary or the Vietnam 14-day itinerary.

My Son Sanctuary

Route at a glance

You'll stay based in Hoi An for all four nights, so the route is really about how far you range out from town each day. The first two days stay close, covering the old quarter, museums, and An Bang Beach. Day three heads out to the My Son ruins for a half-day round trip, and the final morning wraps up with a few sights you may have saved for last.

Select a day to explore its route

  • Ancient Town introductionDay 1
  • Museums, Central Market & An Bang BeachDay 2
  • My Son Sanctuary day tripDay 3
  • Final sights & departureDay 4

Where this trip comes to life

A quick visual preview of the town base and the sights you'll actually reach, including the My Son ruins.

Day-by-day plan

Click a day to view the details

Planning tips for this Hoi An itinerary

Practical tips for 4 days in Hoi An

Book the My Son shuttle ahead

Shared shuttles to My Son Sanctuary fill up, especially the early morning slots that beat the heat and the tour-bus crowds—reserve at least a day in advance.

Pack for the ruins

My Son has little shade and can get very hot by midday—bring sun protection, a hat, and a refillable water bottle for the site.

Buy the Ancient Town heritage ticket

A single ticket (around 120,000 VND) covers entry to several historic houses, assembly halls, and museums in town—spread your visits across the days you're not out at My Son.

Carry small cash (VND)

Vietnam's currency is the Vietnamese dong (VND). Rural stalls near My Son and small cafés in town rarely take cards, so keep smaller notes on hand between ATM visits.

Don't drink tap water

Tap water isn't safe to drink anywhere in the Hoi An area, including on the My Son day trip. Stick to bottled or filtered water throughout the stay.

Cross streets with care

Motorbikes move through Hoi An's streets constantly, even in pedestrian zones. Walk at a steady, predictable pace when crossing rather than stopping or running.

Where to stay for this itinerary

  • Ancient Town The most convenient base for four nights, keeping you close to restaurants, the market, and most shuttle pickup points.
    Most practical
  • Cam Pho riverside A quieter alternative just north of the old quarter, still an easy walk into the historic center each day.
    Quieter option
  • An Bang Beach Worth considering if you'd rather split your stay between the sea and town, with a short ride into the Ancient Town each day.
    Beach-first

All four nights stay in Hoi An—the My Son day trip is a round trip, so there's no need to pack an overnight bag for it.

Best time to visit Hoi An

The same seasonal patterns apply whether you're in the Ancient Town or out at My Son Sanctuary.

Jan
Cool · Some rain
Feb
Best
Mar
Best
Apr
Best
May
Warm
Jun
Hot · Festive
Jul
Hot · Humid
Aug
Hot · Humid
Sep
Rain risk
Oct
Rain · Storms
Nov
Rain · Storms
Dec
Cool · Drier

Aim for February through April: dry, mild conditions make both the Ancient Town walking days and the more exposed My Son Sanctuary excursion far more comfortable. The wet season from September to November can occasionally close roads to My Son during heavy storms, so it's worth building in flexibility if you're traveling then.

Details

Hoi An 4-day itinerary overview

This itinerary extends a standard Hoi An city break by one day specifically to make room for a My Son Sanctuary excursion, without asking you to switch hotels or add extra travel days to your Vietnam route. The first two days cover the Ancient Town, its museums, the Central Market, and an afternoon at An Bang Beach. Day three is dedicated almost entirely to the Cham ruins at My Son, a round trip by shared shuttle. The final morning wraps up with a couple of historic houses and a last riverside lunch before the transfer to Da Nang International Airport.

Route at a glance

  • Single base in Hoi An's Ancient Town or Cam Pho for all four nights
  • Arrival day covers the Ancient Town, Japanese Covered Bridge, and a Thu Bon riverside sunset
  • Museum of Folk Culture, Central Market, and An Bang Beach on the second day
  • Full-day round trip to My Son Sanctuary on day three, with a stop at the on-site museum
  • Tan Ky Ancient House, a riverside market walk, and airport transfer to close out day four

Day-by-day highlights

  1. Day 1 (Hoi An arrival): Airport transfer, check-in, lunch at Morning Glory, Ancient Town walk, Japanese Covered Bridge, tea at Reaching Out Tea House, sunset by the Thu Bon River, and dinner at Cargo Club
  2. Day 2 (Museums, market & beach): Museum of Folk Culture, Hoi An Central Market, lunch at Banh Mi Phuong, An Bang Beach, Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese, and dinner at Mango Mango
  3. Day 3 (My Son Sanctuary day trip): Shared shuttle to My Son, guided ruins tour, My Son Museum, lunch near the site, return shuttle, Hoi An Museum of History and Culture, a walk through Cam Pho, and dinner at Vy's Market Restaurant & Cooking School
  4. Day 4 (Final sights & departure): Tan Ky Ancient House, coffee at Faifo Coffee, a last walk through the riverside market, lunch at Cargo Club, and transfer to Da Nang International Airport

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Complete 4-day Hoi An itinerary (day-by-day plan)

Full written version of the 4-day Hoi An itinerary, including the My Son Sanctuary day trip, transfers, meals, and highlights for each day.

Traveling with less time? The Hoi An 3-day itinerary covers the town without the My Son excursion. To keep exploring Vietnam afterward, see the Vietnam 10-day itinerary or the Vietnam 14-day itinerary.

Day 1: Hoi An arrival & Ancient Town introduction

Landing in Da Nang and settling into Hoi An, with an afternoon spent getting oriented in the Ancient Town and an evening riverside dinner.

  • 10:00 — Arrival at Da Nang International Airport
  • 11:00 — Da Nang Airport → Hoi An by taxi (~45 min)
  • 12:00 — Check-in near the Ancient Town
  • 12:30 — Lunch at Morning Glory Restaurant
  • 14:00 — Walk the Ancient Town streets
  • 15:30 — Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge
  • 16:30 — Coffee break at Reaching Out Tea House
  • 18:30 — Sunset walk along the Thu Bon River
  • 19:30 — Dinner at Cargo Club Restaurant & Bar

Transport: Taxi transfer from Da Nang Airport to Hoi An, walking within Ancient Town.

Day 2: Museums, Central Market & An Bang Beach

A fuller day balancing Hoi An's cultural sights with an afternoon at the beach and an evening assembly hall visit.

  • 08:30 — Breakfast at the hotel
  • 09:30 — Visit the Museum of Folk Culture
  • 11:00 — Explore Hoi An Central Market
  • 12:30 — Lunch at Banh Mi Phuong
  • 14:00 — Transfer to An Bang Beach (~15 min)
  • 14:20 — Relax at An Bang Beach
  • 17:00 — Return to Ancient Town (~15 min)
  • 17:30 — Visit the Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese
  • 19:30 — Dinner at Mango Mango

Transport: Local taxis and walking within Hoi An.

Day 3: My Son Sanctuary day trip

The defining day of this longer itinerary: a round trip to the Cham temple ruins at My Son, returning to Hoi An for a relaxed evening.

  • 07:30 — Hoi An → My Son Sanctuary by shared shuttle (~1h15)
  • 09:00 — Guided tour of My Son Sanctuary
  • 11:30 — Visit the My Son Museum
  • 12:30 — Lunch at a local restaurant near My Son
  • 14:00 — My Son → Hoi An by shared shuttle (~1h15)
  • 15:30 — Visit the Hoi An Museum of History and Culture
  • 17:00 — Stroll through the Cam Pho neighborhood
  • 19:00 — Dinner at The Vy's Market Restaurant & Cooking School

Transport: Shared shuttle transfers to and from My Son Sanctuary, local taxis and walking in Hoi An.

Day 4: Final Hoi An sights & departure

An unhurried last morning covering one more historic house and the riverside market before the transfer to Da Nang Airport.

  • 08:00 — Breakfast at the hotel
  • 09:00 — Visit Tan Ky Ancient House
  • 10:30 — Coffee and a light snack at Faifo Coffee
  • 12:00 — Walk along the Hoi An riverside market
  • 13:00 — Lunch at Cargo Club Restaurant & Bar
  • 14:30 — Hotel checkout and luggage collection
  • 15:00 — Hoi An → Da Nang International Airport by taxi (~45 min)

Transport: Local walking and taxi transfer to Da Nang International Airport.

FAQ

Is 4 days enough for Hoi An?

Yes—4 days lets you cover the Ancient Town, An Bang Beach, and local museums at an unhurried pace, while still leaving a full day free for a My Son Sanctuary excursion, something a 3-day trip usually can't fit in.

Should I add a My Son Sanctuary day trip to my Hoi An itinerary?

If you have 4 days or more, yes. My Son Sanctuary is a UNESCO-listed complex of Cham temple ruins about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Hoi An by shared shuttle, and it's the single most common reason travelers extend a 3-day trip to 4 days.

Where should I stay for 4 days in Hoi An?

The Ancient Town or the neighboring Cam Pho riverside area both work well as a single base for the full 4 days, keeping you close to restaurants, the market, and the pickup points for the My Son shuttle.

What is the best time to visit Hoi An?

February to April is the best time to visit Hoi An, with mild temperatures and low rainfall that also make the My Son Sanctuary day trip more comfortable. Late summer and autumn bring a higher chance of heavy rain and occasional typhoons.