3 Days in Hoi An — Complete Itinerary

Daily Budget €10 EUR–150 EUR
Best Season April–October
Destination Hoi An
Duration 3 Days
Day 1
Morning

Thu Bon River Sunset Cruise

Glide past ancient Japanese Covered Bridge at 6:30 AM on a traditional junk boat (2-hour tour departing from 30 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai pier). Spot fishermen hauling nets and locals practicing tai chi on riverbanks.

Budget tip: Book via Facebook page "Hoi An Boat Tours" for 12 EUR (skip 25 EUR tourist traps at the Old Town entrance).
Afternoon

Tra Que Vegetable Village

Tour family-run organic farms (10km south of Old Town) growing 300+ varieties of vegetables. Harvest herbs with farmers at 10 AM then cook lunch using your harvest at a homestay (75 Nguyen Van Hoi).

Budget tip: Pay 3 EUR for farm entry (includes lunch) - avoids 10 EUR "cultural experience" scams.
Evening

An Hoi Beach Sunset & Seafood

Watch sunset at An Hoi Beach (2km west of Old Town) with locals grilling fresh catch. Eat at 80% cheaper seafood stalls (e.g., Hoa Binh Seafood at 121 Nguyen Pho street) than Old Town restaurants.

Budget tip: Order "bò nướng" (grilled beef) for 3 EUR - same price as touristy "seafood" at Old Town.
Day 2
Morning

Cua Dai Beach Surfing

Join 8 AM beginner lessons at Cua Dai Beach (3km east of Old Town) with local instructor Minh (50 EUR for 2 hours, includes board). Learn in calm waters with zero crowds.

Budget tip: Book via Instagram @HoiAnSurfSchool - avoid 75 EUR "private lessons" at Old Town.
Afternoon

Sa Huynh Ancient Temple

Explore 12th-century Cham temple complex (12km west) with 180-degree river views. See original sandstone reliefs (open 7-11 AM, 1-4 PM) - fewer tourists than My Son.

Budget tip: Pay 1 EUR entry fee (no hidden fees like My Son's 20 EUR).
Evening

Night Market Cooking Class

Join 5 PM class at 18 Tran Phu (Old Town) to make cao lầu with chef Nga. Learn to make broth from local pork and rice noodles.

Budget tip: 15 EUR includes all ingredients - cheaper than 25 EUR "food tour" packages.
Day 3
Morning

Hoi An Craftsmen's Workshop

Visit 150-year-old silk weaving studio (45 Nguyen Thai Hoc) to learn hand-loom techniques. Buy hand-dyed scarves directly from weavers (20 EUR vs. 50 EUR at Old Town shops).

Budget tip: Bargain to 15 EUR (not 20 EUR) - sellers expect it.
Afternoon

Japanese Covered Bridge Photo Walk

Capture sunrise photos at the iconic bridge (open 6-8 AM). Walk across to the 18th-century Assembly Hall of Fujian Chinese (178 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai) for empty streets.

Budget tip: Arrive before 6:30 AM - avoids 15 EUR "photographer" fees.
Evening

Bamboo Bridge Dinner

Dine at restaurant on the 300m bamboo bridge (3km south) with views of Thu Bon River. Order "mắm nêm" (fermented shrimp paste) with fresh spring rolls.

Budget tip: Eat 30% cheaper at 7 PM than 8 PM - avoid tourist rush hours.

Local Insider Tip

Skip the Old Town at 9 AM - the "historical center" is empty before 10 AM (most tourists arrive at 10 AM), making it perfect for photography without crowds.

About These Attractions

Verified descriptions from Wikipedia · Last checked 2026-04-12

Thu Bồn RiverRiver in Vietnam [Wikipedia]

The Thu Bồn River is a river in central Vietnam, located in the municipality of Da Nang. It is formed by the confluence of the Tranh and Tiên Rivers on the boundary of Việt An and Hiệp Đức communes. It flows through several parts of the Da Nang municipality, among others the town

Sa Huỳnh cultureFormer culture in central and southern Vietnam [Wikipedia]

The Sa Huỳnh culture was a culture in what is now central and southern Vietnam that flourished between 1000 BC and 200 AD. Archaeological sites from the culture have been discovered from the Mekong Delta to Quảng Bình province in central Vietnam. The Sa Huynh people were most lik

Night marketStreet markets operating primarily at night [Wikipedia]

Night markets or night bazaars are street markets which operate at night and are generally dedicated to more leisurely strolling, shopping, and eating than more businesslike day markets. The culture of night markets originates from China and have spread globally with overseas Chi

Source: Wikipedia — CC BY-SA 4.0

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