What to Do and Where to Stay in Hoi An, Vietnam on a Budget, Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An has become our favorite destination in Central Vietnam. Its old world charm - recognized with a UNESCO World Heritage designation, variety of restaurant options, and full moon lantern festivals draw visitors from around the world to this unique port town. While tourism does overwhelm certain parts of Hoi An, we still found it very worthwhile to visit.

Our first stay in Hoi An was for 11 nights in October 2016, just outside the touristy Old Town. After that, we kept dreaming about returning to our wonderful homestay (more on the homestay soon) and enjoying all the wonderful, cheap food. We soon found ourselves booking an even longer stay - six weeks in early 2018.

Lantern festivals celebrate the full moon each month and are one of the biggest draws to this town. Colorful lanterns adorn the streets of the Old Town year-round, so you can always get those picturesque photos any time you go. But when the moon is full, Old Town becomes pedestrian-only (bicycle and motorbike parking is available along the outskirts for a small fee), building lights are dimmed to highlight the lanterns, and crowds flock to the river.

Floating lanterns are sold for about 25 cents, the idea being that you make a wish and release it into the river. It’s actually become quite a commercial event, where tourists were the only ones really participating in the tradition. Sometimes there’s also live music on the streets. Many visitors find restaurants with patios where they can watch all the activity while enjoying dinner or drinks. As tourism increases, it seems that floating lanterns and boat rides are available every night. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).