Hoi An Old Town Ticket: What’s Included + Is It Worth It?
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The Hoi An Old Town Ticket confused us as soon as we arrived in Hoi An.
There was a sign at our guesthouse saying you had to buy a ticket to enter the old town. But when we arrived in the old town, thousands of people were streaming in day and night. We thought there was no way everyone had paid for a ticket.
Some reviews online said that the ticket was a scam, while others said they enjoyed the experience.
After a few weeks, we eventually decided to buy the ticket to see for ourselves what it is all about.
Overall, we enjoyed the experience, but I would not say that it is a must do in Hoi An.
If you are wondering whether you need a Hoi An Old Ticket and whether it is worth paying for, here is my honest review.
Do I Need A Ticket To Enter Hoi An Old Town?
The short answer is no, you can enter the old town without a ticket. Technically, according to the official rules, you are supposed to have a ticket to enter the old town.
But this is not enforced; rules are flexible in Vietnam! Thousands of people enter the old town day and night, and there is no one checking tickets. The crowds are so big that it would be impossible to check everyone.
Because of this, some travellers leave reviews saying the Hoi An old town ticket is a scam. They read the rules saying you need a ticket. Then see thousands of people walking straight into town without checks and understandably feel ripped off.
What Do I Need An Old Town Ticket For?
The only thing you need an old town ticket for is to enter certain temples, museums, and cultural attractions around Hoi An.
So you should only buy the ticket if you feel like visiting these locations. More on what they are later.
Another great option if you are interested in the history of Hoi An is to do a walking tour.
If you are truly interested in history, a walking tour can be a good idea, because there is not much information at the attractions included in the old town ticket.
Where Can I Buy A Ticket?
The easiest way to get a ticket is buy a ticket online with Klook. The ticket is the same price as if you buy it at a ticket booth, and you do not have to find a ticket booth.
If you prefer to buy in person, then there are several ticket booths around town. We bought ours at the booth in the photo below. You can find the booth at this pin.
The tickets cost 120,000 VND, which is 5 USD. You will need cash to pay for the ticket.
If you are buying your ticket in the morning, I recommend stopping at Uncle Huans for a coffee. It is right next to the ticket booth and one of our favorite cafes in Hoi An.
Hoi An Old Town Map
With your ticket, you will also receive a map with all of the attractions marked.
All of the attractions are located fairly close together. So the best way to get around Hoi An Old Town is on foot.
What Is Included In The Ticket?
With the ticket, you can choose to visit 5 attractions from a list of 25. The attractions include
- temples
- historical houses
- museums
- one traditional performance
There may be a lot of attractions available, but many of them are quite rundown and not the most amazing places in the world.
So if you pick one at random, be prepared that you may be disappointed. Below I will tell you which ones we thought were worth visiting.
Traditional Art Performance
You can attend a show at the Hoi An Traditional Art Performace House as part of the ticket.
The performance is an interesting mix of traditional dances, music, and singing. It is not the most amazing performance but is still good fun.
Plus, the theater is air-conditioned! So it is a nice escape from the heat if you are sightseeing during the day.
Shows are held at 10:15, 15:15, and 16:15. Seating is first come first served so try to arrive early if you want to choose your spot.
After the performance, you will have to choose which attractions to visit. Since we could not visit all of them, below I will review the attractions we visited.
EDIT : As of 25 May 2026 the The Hoi Traditional Art Performance House is under renovation. So performances have been moved to Sông Hoài Square. But make sure to check if the renovations have been completed when you are there.
TIP: If you do not like the heat, then try exploring Hoi An in the early morning or evening because it is always very hot. Although if you dislike crowds more than the heat, explore during the day because there will be far fewer people.
Temples We Visited (And Which Are Worth It)
Hội Quán Phước Kiến (Our Favorite)
Of the temples that we visited, my favorite was the Hội Quán Phước Kiến temple. Built by Chinese immigrants in the 16th Century its a peaceful place right in the middle of the old town.
The temple is full of classic Chinese details such as colorful dragon statues, bright red lanterns, and intricate paintings. All of the temples in Hoi An have a similar Chinese style to them. But this one stood out to me as being the most beautiful.
One of my favorite parts of the temples in Hoi An is the spiral incense hanging from the roof. Incense sticks are super common at asian temples, but these spiral incense sticks are special and something I had never seen before.
The incense can burn for weeks, and you can pay to make a wish and have it attached to an incense. The slow burn of the spiral upwards is said to carry your wish to the gods above. I thought it was quite cool, even though I only found out what it meant after I left!
TIP : There is not much historical information at the attractions. So I recommend looking up some information on your phone and becoming your own tour guide!
Cantonese Assembly Hall (Quảng Triệu)
My second favorite temple that we visited was the Quảng Triệu Assembly Hall, which is listed on Google Maps as the Cantonese Assembly Hall.
Like other temples, it also features the beautiful spiral incense hanging from the ceiling. Some ceramic dragon fountains add a cool touch to the courtyards.
Quang Cong Temple (Skippable)
The third and final temple that we visited was the Quang Cong Temple. This was quite a small temple that I was not that impressed by, to be honest. So if other attractions on the ticket look more interesting to you, I would recommend skipping this one.
Historic Homes and Museums
Old House Of Tan Ky (Best House To Visit)
The most popular old home to visit as part of the ticket is the Old House of Tan Ky.
When you arrive, a guide will take you through the house and share some of its history, which makes the visit more interesting.
The interior of the home is beautifully decorated with traditional furniture and antiques, but what I found most interesting were the flood lines marked on the walls.
Hoi An regularly has serious flooding, and sometimes the old town is completely underwater. When you see how high the water levels rise, it is amazing that these historic houses have survived so long.
Museum Of Folk Culture
The last attraction we visited with our ticket was the Museum of Folk Culture.
Inside the museum are displays about the culture and history of the region, covering things such as traditional clothing and local crafts.
It was quite interesting in parts, but the museum definitely needs some maintenance.
Some of the displays were also in hilariously bad shape! We had a few laughs at how creepy some of the mannequins in the displays looked.
My advice is to set your expectations low when using the ticket. None of the attractions are mindblowing, and they are not maintained very well. But they are all interesting enough to check out, considering the low price of the ticket.
Japanese Covered Bridge: Do You Need A Ticket?
The Japanese Covered Bridge is one of the most photographed places in Hoi An, and for good reason. At night, it is a beautiful spot as the lights reflect on the river below, creating one of the most beautiful scenes in town.
You will see that the Japanese Covered Bridge is included on the ticket, and technically, you need to use the ticket to cross the bridge. But just like with the old town, this is not usually enforced. For most of the day, you can walk across the bridge without a ticket.
It seemed like they only checked the ticket when it was busy, such as in the evenings.
Rules in Vietnam are enforced very erratically! So you need to have patience when travelling there.
There is, however, a small room on the bridge that you have to use your ticket to enter. But it is a very small room and not very interesting. So I recommend using your ticket elsewhere.
Off Ticket Must See: The Precious Heritage Museum
If you are interested in Vietnamese culture, then I think the best attraction in Hoi An is not included in the Old Town Ticket.
In my opinion, the best museum in Hoi An by far is the Precious Heritage Art Gallery Museum. Created by a Frenchman who has spent many years travelling in Vietnam, it is full of his stunning portraits of the country’s ethnic tribes.
Over the years, he has made it a mission to take beautiful photos of the ethnic tribes of Vietnam and document their traditional clothing before it disappears.
The photos in the museum are stunning, and it is amazing to see how dedicated the photographer is to documenting Vietnamese Culture.
It is free to enter the museum, so I think it is a must-do when you are in Hoi An.
Do you need a ticket just to walk around Hoi An Old Town?
No, you can walk around the streets without a ticket. You only need it to enter certain attractions such as temples, old houses, and museums.
Is the Hoi An Old Town ticket a scam?
No, the Hoi An Old Town Ticket is not a scam, but it is confusing. Some people buy it thinking they need it to enter the old town, so they think it is a scam. But the ticket is for heritage sites and not for entering the old town itself.
What Attractions Are Included In The Hoi An Old Town Ticket?
The ticket allows you to visit 5 attractions from a list that includes temples, assembly halls, small museums, and a traditional performance. You cannot visit all available attractions, so you must choose 5.
Is The Japanese Covered Bridge Free To Visit?
You can usually walk across the Japanese Covered Bridge without a ticket, especially during the day. But the bridge is officially included in the Hoi An Old Town Ticket, and ticket checks sometimes happen during busy periods. A small room on the bridge always requires a ticket but it is not very impressive.
Is The Hoi An Old Town Ticket Worth It?
Based on my experience, I would say that the old town ticket is worth it. But you are definitely not missing out on too much if you decide to skip it.
The temples and old houses are interesting to visit. But none of the attractions are that amazing if I am being honest. There is also a lack of information at the sites, and the museums are pretty run-down.
But because it only costs 120,000 VND, 5 USD, you are not losing out on much if you don’t like it. However, if you are on a super tight backpacker budget, my advice is to give it a skip.
Instead, spend your money on Banh Mi and all the delicious food and coffee in Hoi An instead!
Make sure to check out all our other Hoi An Articles below!
