How much is the Hoi An Ancient Town ticket in 2026, and do you need one to walk around?

Ticket prices and tiers in 2026

On 28 January 2026 the Hoi An World Cultural Heritage Conservation Centre published two ticket tiers:

• 80,000 VND (≈ $3.1): the old town landscape, one monument (Japanese Covered Bridge or Quan Công Temple) and two other monuments of your choice.

• 120,000 VND (≈ $4.7): the old town landscape, one monument (Japanese Covered Bridge or Quan Công Temple), one museum and three other monuments of your choice.

The official notice describes the tiers by content, not nationality, but Da Nang's 2026 tourism price list still shows 80,000 VND (≈ $3.1) for Vietnamese and 120,000 VND (≈ $4.7) for international visitors, which matches long-standing practice. Expect to be sold the 120,000 VND (≈ $4.7) ticket at booths, and ask if you only want the smaller package. Children under 16 are free, and groups buying eight or more tickets get a free guide.

What the ticket covers

Each ticket is a strip of coupons. One is torn off at each site you enter, so you choose about five visits from roughly two dozen old houses, assembly halls, temples and small museums. Good picks for a first visit: the Japanese Covered Bridge, the Phung Hung or Tan Ky old houses, the Phuc Kien (Fujian) Assembly Hall and the Museum of Trade Ceramics.

The ticket also gives access to the traditional art performances (daily at 10:15, 15:15 and 16:15, at Hoai River Square from March 2026) and the Japanese tea ceremony at the Japanese Culture Gallery on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai street (9:30 and 16:30). Keep the stub after your coupons run out; it is your proof of payment when walking back into the old town on later days.

Where tickets are checked, and when

Tickets are sold at staffed booths on the main streets leading into the old town core, along the riverfront and at the edges of the pedestrian zone. You will be asked for your ticket at the sites themselves and, at busy times, at booths on the way in.

The old town is pedestrian-only (walking and bicycles) from 9:00 to 21:30 in summer and 9:00 to 21:00 in winter, and the heritage centre asks visitors to buy before entering. In practice, checks on simply walking the streets are inconsistent, especially in the evening, but the rules say you need a ticket, and you cannot enter the houses, halls or the bridge interior without one. Ticket sales were also paused on some public holidays, including Tết 2026 (16–19 February), so check if you visit then. Hoi An is now administered as part of Da Nang city after Vietnam's 2025 provincial mergers, which is why official notices come from Da Nang websites.

The Japanese Covered Bridge after restoration

The Japanese Covered Bridge (Chùa Cầu), Hoi An's symbol and shown on the 20,000 VND (≈ $0.78) note, reopened on 3 August 2024 after a 19-month restoration with Japanese support. The structure and roof were repaired and stabilised, and the surroundings were tidied up.

You can see the outside freely from both banks. Walking through the bridge and seeing the small temple inside uses one ticket coupon, and it is one of the two headline sites (with Quan Công Temple) built into every ticket. Go early in the morning or at dusk to avoid the midday tour groups.

Lantern night, boats and making the ticket count

After dark the old town and riverbanks fill with silk lanterns, and small rowing boats on the Hoai and Thu Bon rivers take visitors out to float paper lanterns. Boat rides and riverside lanterns are not part of the ancient town ticket; you pay the boat owner directly, so agree the price per boat and the length of the trip before you step in. Crowds peak from about 18:00 to 21:00.

Buy your ticket on the first day and spread the coupons over your stay, since it is valid for up to three days. Many visitors combine the old town with a fitting at one of the tailors; our Hoi An tailor guide covers prices and turnaround, and our Hoi An guide covers where to eat and stay.

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