What to Do Around Hoi An: 8 Amazing Day Trips You Can’t Miss

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There’s so much more to Hoi An than just tailor shops and lanterns. Whether you’re craving mountains, beaches, or quiet countryside, Hoi An makes the perfect base for some of central Vietnam’s best day trips. You can spend your time exploring the nearby areas and head over to Cham Island for some snorkeling, explore caves and temples near Da Nang or visit the historic city called Hue.

Best Day Trips From Hoi An

There are so many amazing things to do not far from Hoi An, so if you decide to base yourself here for a while I recommend adding a couple of trips a bit further from the city. If you’re also basing yourself in Danang, some of them are better done from there, but still easily accessible from Hoi An.

The Marble Mountains

The Marble Mountains are a group of limestone and marble hills with caves, temples, and panoramic viewpoints. It’s an easy half-day trip from Hoi An and can easily be combined with a beach stop in Da Nang or a visit to the Lady Buddha.

You can climb to the top for some amazing views of the coastline, or explore inside the cool caves and beautiful temples.

If you go on your own, book a Grab to Gate A. That’s where you’ll find the ticket booths and the elevator to take you to the top.

It’s good to know that there are two different ticket booths. The first and less crowded one is for the the first cave and only that, and the next ticket booth is just around the corner and will let you buy a ticket to the bigger area as well as a ticket to the elevator to the top where you can explore a huge area filled with caves, temples and pagodas.

It’s a much bigger area than I imagined, so make sure to set aside enough time to fully explore it.

Hoi An: Full-day Mystical My Son And Marble Mountains Adventure

Combine a visit to the Marble Mountains with a visit to My Son Sanctuary with this guided tour

Morning Small group to Marble Mountains - Am Phu Cave - Monkey Mountain

Combine a visit to the Marble Mountains with a visit to the Lady Buddha with this guided tour

Exploring Marble Mountain

The Lady Buddha (Linh Ứng Pagoda)

Closer to Da Nang, the Lady Buddha (or Linh Ứng Pagoda) on the Son Tra Peninsula is an easy half-day or full-day trip that combines stunning views, peaceful temples, and a scenic coastal drive.

Standing at 67 meters tall, the Lady Buddha is one of the tallest statues in Vietnam, it’s even visible from as far as My Khe Beach in Da Nang.

Day Trip to Lady Buddha

The site is free to enter and beautifully maintained, with intricate pagodas, bonsai gardens, and panoramic views over the sea and city below.

It takes about an hour to reach from Hoi An by car or motorbike. You can choose to combine this with a trip to the Marble Mountains and/ or stop for a swim at My Khe Beach.

Many people choose to just do a quick stop here to see the tall Lady Buddha statue, but I recommend spending a bit more time to explore the surrounding area. There are so many beautiful temples and cozy gardens, and since most people skip it I had them almost to myself which was so lovely.

Morning Tour to Lady Buddha & Marble Mountains

Combine a visit to see the Lady Buddha with a visit to the Marble Mountains with this guided tour

Day trip to Linh Unh Pagoda

Da Nang City & My Khe Beach

Da Nang is just 40 minutes away, but it feels completely different from Hoi An. With wide boulevards, modern cafés, and the famous Dragon Bridge, it’s the perfect place to escape for a day of urban energy and ocean views. Start your day with a stroll along My Khe Beach. After a lazy morning by the water, explore the city’s highlights like the Dragon Bridge, Son Tra Peninsula, Linh Ung Pagoda, or one of Da Nang’s stylish coffee shops overlooking the Han River.

My Khe Beach

If you stay until the evening during a weekend you can watch the dragon breathe fire on the dragon bridge. This happens every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 9PM.

Ba Na Hills – The famous golden bridge & Amusement Park

If you’re in the mood for something completely different, head to Ba Na Hills, about 1.5 hours from Hoi An. If you’ve ever seen the famous picture of the golden bridge being held up by enormous stone hands, this is where you’ll find it.

I actually decided to skip Ba Na Hills during my time in Central Vietnam, mostly because I wasn’t too excited about the big amusement park vibe. But honestly, it does look like a fun and photogenic spot for a day trip from Da Nang or Hoi An.

If you enjoy theme parks, quirky architecture, or just want to see one of Vietnam’s most Instagrammed landmarks, Ba Na Hills is definitely worth a visit.

Book transport to Ba Na Hills from Hoi An here

My Son Sanctuary – Ancient Temples in the Jungle

About an hour west of Hoi An, My Son is a collection of ancient Hindu temples hidden in the lush jungle. It’s often called “Vietnam’s Angkor Wat in miniature”. It was built by the Cham civilization between the 4th and 13th centuries and is one of the country’s most important archaeological sites and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The whole area is absolutely stunning and a must visit in my book. We booked a half day tour there and could’ve easily spent even more time wandering around and exploring.

My Son Sanctuary

It’s a bit remote so you can either choose to rent a car or choose to do a group tour, which is what I recommend. There are lots of tours that take you there and you can choose between morning, sunset, guided or just a drop-of for a more budget friendly visit. Below are some of the most popular tours to choose from.

This is the most popular guided morning tour to My Son Sanctuary

Buy tickets to a shared shuttle to My Son Sanctuary here

Cham Islands – Snorkeling & Island Bliss

If you visit during dry season and have nice weather, a trip to Cham Island might be just the thing! Just of the coast of Hoi An, you will find a cluster of islands, part of a protected marine biosphere called Cham islands. Here you can spend the day snorkeling or diving among the colorful reefs, explore cute fishing villages or just spend time on the beach.

Since we visited during the rainy season, a trip to Cham Island never became a reality even though I really wanted to go there. I’ll save it for mye next visit!

I didn’t find any tours online I would book myself, so I recommend checking with your Hotel when you arrive and book through them or a tour agency in the city.

Best Areas to Stay in Hoi An

Hoi An may be a small town, but where you stay can really shape your experience. Depending on your preference you can choose more history, beach or country side. We stayed here at the Silk River Villa just outside of The Old Town and if you’re looking for a spot to stay a while I can definitely recommend it. The rooms vere huge, the breakfast really good and they had a very nice pool.

Below are some other options for different budgets I would recommend based on what area you prefer.

Best Places to stay in Hoi An Old Town

Staying in or near the Old Town puts you right in the middle of the action, with lantern-lit streets, historic houses, and markets at your doorstep.

De Vivre Hotel ($30 per night)

This is a lovely little boutique stay just a short stroll from Old Town with a peaceful pool. A great pick for a budget friendly stay

Hoi An Historic Hotel ($80 per night)

This is one of the town’s classic stays. It’s a beautiful, colonial-style property surrounded by tropical gardens right in the heart of the Ancient Town

Anantara Hoi An Resort ($300 per night)

A stunning boutique property with colonial-style architecture, spacious rooms, and impeccable service

Best Places to Stay Near the Beach

If you want to combine Hoi An’s charm with beach time, staying near An Bang or Cua Dai Beach is ideal.

Under The Coconut Tree Homestay ($25 per night)

A cozy, bamboo-style homestay just steps from An Bang Beach

AIRA Boutique Hotel ($90 per night)

A stylish boutique hotel close to the sand with an outdoor pool and spa

The Four Seasons ($900 per night)

The ultimate splurge, with private villas, infinity pools, and world-class dining

Best Places to stay in the Countryside & Rice Fields

For a peaceful escape surrounded by rice paddies, choose a homestay or villa outside the main town.

Red House Homestay ($20 per night)

A family-run homestay surrounded by rice fields known for its warm hospitality

Secret House Boutique Hotel ($40 per night)

This is a cozy and beautifully designed hideaway tucked down a quiet lane not far from the Ancient Town

Final Thoughts: Best Day Trips from Hoi An

Hoi An may be small, but it sits in the heart of one of Vietnam’s most diverse regions, so mountains, beaches, villages, and ancient ruins are all within reach. Whether you spend your day snorkeling, exploring temples, or simply cycling through the rice fields, every journey out of town offers a new layer of charm to fall in love with.

I hope this guide was helpful and that you have an amazing time visiting Hoi An and Central Vietnam. If you have any questions about Hoi An or travel in Vietnam in general, or just want to follow along as I travel the world full time, don‘t hesitate to reach out to me on social media. I would love to connect and help out!

-Ingrid