Hoi An night market

Located along the banks of the poetic Hoai River, opposite the ancient town, Hoi An night market is one of the most prominent destinations of the heritage city. Every evening, when the lanterns begin to light up, the market comes alive, attracting thousands of domestic and foreign tourists to explore. This is not only a place for shopping or enjoying cuisine, but also a unique cultural experience, where you can feel the nightlife of Hoi An.

About Hoi An Night Market

Hoi An Night Market is mainly located on Nguyen Hoang Street, Minh An Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province. The market usually opens from around 5:00 pm and lasts until 11:00 pm, with the busiest time being from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. With a length of about 300-500 meters, this market has about 50 fixed stalls and many mobile stalls, creating a diverse shopping and culinary space.

Unlike traditional daytime markets, Hoi An Night Market has a unique beauty with a combination of ancient architecture and the shimmering light of lanterns. Visitors can walk leisurely, admire the stalls, or simply immerse themselves in the bustling atmosphere of the market. This is an ideal destination for those who want to learn more about local culture and enjoy typical dishes.

Lantern space and the night beauty of Hoi An night market

The highlight that makes the brand of Hoi An night market is the lanterns. Hundreds, even thousands of lanterns of all shapes, sizes and colors are hung all over the stalls, on the small streets and along the banks of the Hoai River. From traditional round lanterns, lotus-shaped lanterns, to lanterns with intricate patterns, all create a brilliant and magical picture of light.

When night falls, the light from the lanterns reflects on the river surface, creating a romantic and poetic scene. This is the ideal time for visitors to take photos and capture beautiful moments in Hoi An. Many shops also allow visitors to make their own lanterns or participate in the decoration process, providing an interesting interactive experience. Lanterns are not only decorations but also symbols of luck and prosperity in Vietnamese culture.

Explore Street Food at Hoi An Night Market

Hoi An Night Market is a street food paradise, where you can find countless delicious dishes with typical flavors of the Central region. The dishes here are often affordable, suitable for many types of tourists. Here are some dishes you should not miss:

Cao Lau Hoi An: A unique noodle dish that is not only available at Hoi An night market but also famous throughout Hoi An, with special chewy noodles, thinly sliced char siu, crispy fried pork skin, raw vegetables and a little rich sauce. The flavor of Cao Lau is said to come from Ba Le well water and ash from a local tree.

Hoi An Bread: Dubbed “the best bread in the world” by many tourists and culinary experts. The bread has a crispy crust, with a variety of fillings from grilled meat, sausage, pate, eggs, herbs and special sauce.

Banh xeo: Crispy pancake made from rice flour, turmeric, shrimp, pork and bean sprouts. The cake is fried in a hot pan, served with raw vegetables, rice paper and sweet and sour dipping sauce.

Banh vac (white rose cake): A small, pretty cake, transparent like rose petals, with shrimp or minced pork filling. The cake is steamed and sprinkled with fragrant fried onions, served with sweet and sour fish sauce.

Mi Quang: A popular noodle dish in Quang Nam, with thick noodles, rich broth from stewed bones, shrimp, chicken or pork, quail eggs and raw vegetables.

Various types of sweet soups: The night market has many types of sweet soups such as corn sweet soup, green bean sweet soup, lotus sweet soup, black sesame sweet soup… very suitable for dessert after meals.

Ice cream rolls and refreshments: In addition, you can also find modern snacks such as ice cream rolls, fresh fruit juices, smoothies…

When enjoying the cuisine at Hoi An night market, you should try many different dishes to have an overview of the rich cuisine of the ancient town.

Shop for souvenirs and handicrafts

Hoi An Night Market is a great place to shop for souvenirs and unique handicrafts. The stalls sell a wide range of items, from small items to exquisite works of art.

Hoi An lanterns: This is the most popular souvenir. You can choose to buy finished lanterns or buy tools to make your own lanterns to experience and bring home. Lanterns can be folded conveniently when traveling.

Silk and tailor-made clothes: Hoi An is famous for its traditional tailoring. You can buy silk products such as scarves, ao dai, or order custom-made clothes in a quick time.

Thanh Ha pottery village: Ceramic products are handcrafted from Thanh Ha pottery village, famous for its traditional techniques. You can find dishes, vases, figurines and other decorative items.

Bamboo and wood products: Bamboo and wood handicrafts such as fans, handbags, jewelry, keychains, figurines… all demonstrate the ingenuity of local craftsmen.

Paintings and calligraphy: Many street artists and shops sell paintings of Hoi An landscapes, portraits or meaningful calligraphy works.

Handmade leather goods: Bags, wallets, shoes made from genuine leather with unique designs are also an option.

Jewelry: Jewelry made from silver, gemstones or other natural materials.

Note: when shopping at Hoi An night market is that you can try bargaining, especially for items that do not have clear prices. Bargaining is part of the shopping experience at traditional markets in Vietnam.

Entertainment and cultural activities at Hoi An night market

In addition to shopping and cuisine, Hoi An night market also offers many interesting entertainment and cultural activities, helping visitors understand more about the spiritual life of local people.

Releasing flower lanterns on Hoai River: This is one of the most popular activities. On the boat, you will be given small flower lanterns to release into the river, praying for good things. This activity is especially sparkling on the full moon nights of the lunar month, when the old town turns off the lights and is only lit by lanterns.

Listen to Bai Choi singing: Bai Choi is a traditional folk art form of Central Vietnam, recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. At Hoi An night market, you can find Bai Choi performances held near the riverbank. Players will buy cards and listen to the singer to find their cards. This is a fun and highly interactive game.

Other folk games: Some stalls also organize folk games such as smashing clay pots, blindfolded duck catching, or other simple games, bringing laughter and relaxation to visitors.

Street art performances: Sometimes, you can also come across traditional music groups, lion dances, or other street art performances, contributing to the vibrant atmosphere of the night market.

Ideal time to visit and notes

To have the best experience at Hoi An night market, you should note the following:

Best time: The market starts to bustle from around 18:00 to 21:00. This is when the lanterns are most bright and the atmosphere is most vibrant. If you want to avoid the crowds, you can come a little earlier around 17:00 or later around 21:30.
Full moon day of the lunar month: On the 14th and 15th of the lunar month, Hoi An will turn off the electric lights and only light the lanterns. This is a special time to feel the ancient and magical beauty of the old town, and participate in releasing flower lanterns.
Keeping personal property: Because the market is quite crowded, you should be careful with personal property to avoid theft.
Wear comfortable clothes: You will have to walk quite a lot, so choose comfortable clothes and shoes.
Weather: The dry season in Hoi An (February to August) is the ideal time to visit. During the rainy season (September to January), some areas may be slightly flooded, but the market is still open and has its own beauty.

Other related places to visit in Hoi An old town

After exploring the Hoi An night market, don’t forget to visit other famous places in the old town and nearby areas to have a complete trip:

Chua Cau (Japanese Bridge): The symbol of Hoi An, a unique architectural work with a combination of Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese styles. The Cau Pagoda is located right next to the night market area, very convenient to visit.

Fujian Assembly Hall: One of the largest and most beautiful assembly halls in Hoi An, built by the Fujian Chinese community. It has impressive architecture and is a place to worship Thien Hau Thanh Mau.

Tan Ky Ancient House: One of the most beautiful and well-preserved ancient houses in Hoi An, featuring traditional Vietnamese architecture combined with Japanese and Chinese elements.

Tra Que Vegetable Village: Located not far from the old town, Tra Que Vegetable Village is famous for its organically grown herbs. Visitors can experience being a farmer, learn how to grow vegetables and enjoy dishes made from fresh vegetables.

Bay Mau Coconut Forest: A large coconut forest where visitors can experience basket boating, watch basket dance performances and enjoy rustic dishes.

An Bang beach and Cua Dai beach: If you want to relax after hours of exploring the old town, you can visit the nearby beaches to swim and enjoy fresh seafood.

Hoi An Night Market along with nearby attractions create a comprehensive picture of a Hoi An that is both ancient, vibrant and rich in cultural identity. Surely, your trip here will leave many memorable memories.

Hoian Ancient town, Things to do