Hoi An, the jewel of Vietnamese tourism, captivates visitors not only with its serene, ancient beauty during the day but also with the vibrant and dazzling atmosphere of its night market as evening descends. The Hoi An ancient town night market is more than just a marketplace; it’s a journey to explore culture, cuisine, and unforgettable experiences in the heart of a heritage site. Visiting Hoi An without experiencing the night market is like not truly feeling the beauty and vitality of the ancient town. Join “Du lịch khắp thế gian” to immerse yourself in the shimmering, bustling space and discover the exciting things awaiting you at Hoi An night market.
Colorful lanterns illuminate Hoi An night market, creating a magical atmosphere.
1 Discover the Most Famous Night Markets in Hoi An
Hoi An’s night market isn’t just one but a collection of unique markets, each with its own distinct character and experiences. Here are the destinations you can’t miss when exploring the ancient town’s night market:
1.1 Nguyen Hoang Night Market: Traditional Beauty by the Hoai River
Address: Nguyen Hoang Street, Minh An Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province Opening hours: 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM Price range: From 40,000 VND – 100,000 VND/ item
Located right in the heart of the ancient town, opposite the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge, Nguyen Hoang night market is like a brilliant silk strip stretching along the romantic Hoai River. With a length of about 300 meters and more than 50 stalls, Nguyen Hoang night market is a familiar destination for both domestic and international tourists.
The highlight of this night market is the stalls selling lanterns of all colors and shapes. As night falls, the lantern lights blend with the golden lights from the ancient houses, creating a shimmering, magical space. Stepping into Nguyen Hoang night market, you feel like you’ve entered a fairy-tale world where traditional beauty and modern vibrancy blend together.
Unlike other bustling markets, Nguyen Hoang night market offers a sense of simplicity, rusticity, and closeness. The goods here are mainly handicrafts, especially lanterns, silk, ceramics, and souvenirs with a strong Hoi An imprint. You can find small, lovely lanterns, soft silk scarves, or exquisite pottery made from the famous Thanh Ha pottery village.
Nguyen Hoang night market is not only a shopping place but also an ideal check-in spot. You can freely take photos with thousands of shimmering lanterns without any charge. The friendly and enthusiastic stall owners will be happy to help you get the most beautiful photos as souvenirs.
Nguyen Hoang night market adjacent to the Japanese Covered Bridge in Hoi An.
Lanterns create a shimmering ambiance at Nguyen Hoang night market in Hoi An.
1.2 Cong Nu Ngoc Hoa Night Market: A Diverse Culinary Paradise
Address: Cong Nu Ngoc Hoa Street, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province Opening hours: 4:30 PM – 11:00 PM Price range: 20,000 VND – 100,000 VND/ item
If you are a food lover and want to discover the unique flavors of Hoi An, Cong Nu Ngoc Hoa night market is a destination not to be missed. This place is known as the “culinary paradise” of the ancient town, gathering countless delicious dishes from all regions.
Stepping into Cong Nu Ngoc Hoa night market, you will be overwhelmed by the diversity of food. From street vendors imbued with street food culture to small, charming eateries, all exude an irresistible, seductive aroma. You can enjoy Hoi An specialties such as Quang noodles, Cao Lau, Banh Xeo, Nem Lui, Chicken Rice… at very affordable prices.
In addition to familiar dishes, Cong Nu Ngoc Hoa night market also offers other unique culinary experiences. You can try baby clams with crispy rice crackers, fragrant grilled corn with scallion oil, or sweet and refreshing sweet corn pudding. In particular, don’t forget to try Mot water – a typical Hoi An refreshing drink made from natural herbs.
Besides food, Cong Nu Ngoc Hoa night market also sells souvenirs, clothes, shoes, etc. However, the main attraction of this market is still its rich and attractive street food.
Visitors enjoy food and shop for souvenirs at Cong Nu Ngoc Hoa night market in Hoi An.
1.3 Night Markets on Major Roads: Vibrant Shopping and Entertainment
Address: Bach Dang, Hoang Van Thu, Tieu La, Tran Quy Cap Streets, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province Opening hours: 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM
In addition to the two famous markets above, Hoi An night market also extends along major roads such as Bach Dang, Hoang Van Thu, Tieu La, Tran Quy Cap… These markets have recently opened to meet the increasing shopping and entertainment needs of tourists and locals.
Night markets on major roads offer a more vibrant shopping and entertainment atmosphere. The stalls here are diverse in categories, from clothes, shoes, bags, fashion accessories to handicrafts, souvenirs… You can find trendy fashion items, unique gifts for relatives and friends.
Besides shopping, night markets on major roads also have many attractive entertainment activities such as street art performances, music, folk games… You can stroll around shopping while enjoying unique art performances, creating a complete and memorable night market experience.
Lanterns, ancient houses, and golden lights define the charm of Hoi An night market.
2 Unique Experiences at Hoi An Night Market: More Than Just Shopping
Hoi An night market is not only a place to shop and enjoy food, but also a vibrant cultural space where you can experience unique activities and discover the traditional beauty of the ancient town.
2.1 Enjoy Diverse and Delicious Street Food
The cuisine of Hoi An night market is a world full of colors and flavors. Strolling through the night markets, you will be attracted by the rich aroma of Central Vietnamese specialties.
Quang noodles are a must-try dish when you come to Hoi An. A hot bowl of noodles, golden noodles, flavorful braised chicken or shrimp, with fresh vegetables and crispy rice crackers, all blend together to create an unforgettable taste. Cao Lau is also another famous specialty of Hoi An, with chewy Cao Lau noodles, flavorful char siu pork, fresh vegetables, and crispy fried pork fat.
In addition, Hoi An night market also has countless other attractive street foods such as Banh Xeo, Nem Lui, spring rolls, Hoi An bread, baby clams with rice crackers, sweet soup, tofu pudding… Each dish has its own unique flavor, showing the diversity and sophistication of Hoi An cuisine. You can easily find these dishes throughout the night markets, from small street vendors to affordable eateries.
Diverse food options from street stalls to restaurants at Hoi An night market.
2.2 Immerse Yourself in the Sounds of Bai Choi: Intangible Cultural Heritage
Bai Choi singing is a unique folk art form of Central Vietnam, and Hoi An is one of the places that still preserves and develops this art form. At Hoi An night market, you can easily encounter vibrant and attractive Bai Choi singing performances.
Bai Choi is not only a form of entertainment but also a traditional cultural beauty, expressing the optimistic and life-loving spirit of the people of Central Vietnam. The rustic, simple Bai Choi songs, imbued with folk melodies, will take you into a cultural space rich in national identity.
When watching Bai Choi singing, you can not only enjoy the music but also participate in the traditional Bai Choi game. This is a highly communal game, attracting many locals and tourists to participate.
Bai Choi performance, an intangible cultural heritage, at Hoi An night market.
2.3 Hoai River Cruise: Admire the Shimmering Ancient Town from the Water
Another romantic and unique experience that you should not miss when coming to Hoi An night market is a boat trip on the Hoai River. When night falls, the Hoai River becomes more shimmering and magical than ever. Lantern lights from both sides of the river reflect on the water, creating a poetic and seductive picture.
Sitting on a boat, you can let your soul wander along the gentle river, admiring Hoi An ancient town from a completely different perspective. You will feel the peace and tranquility of the ancient town at night, in contrast to the hustle and bustle of the day.
In particular, when taking a boat trip on the Hoai River, you are also given lanterns to release into the river. Releasing lanterns is a ritual that signifies wishing for luck, peace, and happiness. Watching the shimmering lanterns gently drift on the Hoai River, you will feel your soul relaxed and lighter.
Boat ride and lantern releasing on Hoai River, a popular activity at Hoi An night market.
2.4 Return to Childhood with Folk Games
If you want to find beautiful childhood memories, the folk game area at Hoi An night market is an ideal destination. Here, you can participate in familiar traditional games such as blindfolded pot smashing, ô ăn quan (mandarin square capturing), bamboo dancing, bottle ring toss…
Folk games not only bring joy and laughter but also help you understand more about Vietnamese culture and traditions. For international tourists, this is a great opportunity to discover the unique cultural beauty of Vietnam.
2.5 Admire the Sparkling Beauty of Lantern Streets
Hoi An night market is famous for its lantern streets filled with brilliant colors. Hundreds, thousands of lanterns of all shapes and sizes are hung high on the streets, creating a shimmering, magical space.
Walking on the lantern streets, you will feel like you have stepped into a fairy-tale world. The soft, warm lantern light, harmonizing with the ancient architecture of the old town, creates a unique and seductive beauty.
Don’t forget to bring your camera or phone to capture the beautiful moments at Hoi An lantern night market. The shimmering, magical photos will be memorable souvenirs of your Hoi An trip.
Lantern-lit streets create the enchanting beauty of Hoi An night market.
See more: All you need to know: The most detailed Hoi An travel experience
3 “Pocket” Experiences When Exploring Hoi An Ancient Town Night Market
To have a complete and memorable Hoi An night market experience, keep these useful tips in your pocket:
- Bargain when shopping: Although most shop owners in Hoi An night market are very friendly, you should still bargain, especially when buying souvenirs. Don’t hesitate to negotiate to get the best price.
- Be careful with personal belongings: Night markets are usually very crowded, you should carefully protect your personal belongings to avoid pickpocketing or theft.
- Maintain general hygiene: Please dispose of garbage in the right place to contribute to maintaining a clean and beautiful landscape for the ancient town.
- Ideal time: The best time to visit Hoi An night market is from about 6 pm onwards, when the market starts to light up and the atmosphere becomes bustling and vibrant.
Hoi An night market viewed from across the river, showcasing its vibrant atmosphere.
Hoi An night market is not only a shopping and dining destination but also a place where you can experience traditional cultural beauty and enjoy the vibrant, bustling atmosphere of the ancient town at night. Come and feel the special charm of Hoi An night market, you will surely have unforgettable memories in your journey to discover Vietnam.
Ha Vy
Source: Synthesized
Keywords: hoi an night market