What to do
The first thing people can do is sew clothes, because it’s cheaper than other big cities and they are good and fast too. People brings their catalogs or pictures of the dresses and tailors can make it for you. Of course if you are in hurry, they can do it within 24hours.
You must know that you have rights to make changes, lets say your dress is little big than just tell them. They will do it for you, the tailors claim “fix and change until you are satisfied”, which is true. But remember to write down the colors, material / fabric and prices, one of my friend got a “wrong color” item, which they must had mixed up when they browse through different fabric and color. A mistake is a mistake, but if the tailors already made a item/dress then it’s hard to change right? Price are negotiable, definitely. Another way to know a nice tailor is watch out the “advertises”, a sign with pictures and recommended text in English with photos of foreigners.
You can find these stores/shops at:
- Tran Phu: Because this is a well known street, i expect higher price.
- Nhi Trung: Alot of stores at this road, in front of the vegetable field.
- Phan Dinh Phung: A good place to compare prices, a little bit “outside” so it could be cheaper here i think.
It’s a fact that these tailors charge “high” price, while they don’t sew the dresses. Once they measured your body, write down the number, show you a price, they will send it to a real tailors. I spoke to a real one, she said she only gets 20.000vnd (1$ is 16.000vnd) for a dress, and the store charge you maybe 20-30$ that dress. Just so you know how you should bargain. But still it’s cheaper than Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh or your home town.
A beach is near to town, which you can walk or rent a bike (cost 10.000vnd for whole day). There are no diving, no snorkeling so it is just a nice beach. Usually the beach is quite empty in the morning since all tourists are gone to different 1day tours, for example My Son tour. Visit the town is not so bad if you have a bike or walk around. Some places like temples, you will have to pay to get in. Tran Phu str. is properly a main street, which you can’t miss it. It is where you can find the old Japanese bridge. On this street, you will find lanterns, painting stuffs, restaurants. Food are not cheaper here, price for a meal (one person) should be around 30.000vnd. There is a restaurant, which is cheap food and breakfast, you can find it at Phan Dinh Phung, right at the corner to Nhi Trung st.. It calls “Same Same but different”, i think. And it’s next to a ATM/bank too.

Get there
By bus is easy, if you are at Hue, Nha Trang or Danang, book a seat at one of the bus companies. I recommend the SinhCafe company since they are a big and well-organize, many buses come and go daily. Here is the price from them:
- Hue to Hoi An 3$ or 48.000vnd.
- Nha Trang to Hoi An 5.66$ or 90.000vnd
Danang to Hue is about 30min so it should cost less than 2$. Taxi is another option but hey….it’s a high price but this is an option if you fly to Danang and head to Hoi An.

Move around
Because the town is quite small, you could reach most area by foot or bike. Rent a motorbike if you want to try out. It’s much less traffic in Hoi An than other cities so it’s safe to take a ride yes. Remember to lock your bike! This is a disavantage if you have a bike or motorbike, you have to keep an eye, meanwhile if you explore the town by foot, take a swim, then you just do it.
There are taxi available, good choice if you are going to fly from Danang airport.

Place to sleep
You can find most cheap hotels at Nhi Trung st., also known as Hai Ba Trung st. The price are from 100.000 to 200.000/night. A room with 1double bed plus one single bed costs 200.000vnd but this is a ok price. Certainly you can find it cheap, walk around the Nhi Trung st. and within this area.
Thai Phien st. and Tran Van Cao has also hotels, including Phan Dinh Phung (near Nhi Trung st.) has few hotels as well.
As the Xe Om or other “helper” ask you about hotel, just ignore them. It’s better to find it by your self and know what you get, negotiate price.

Money
ATM is available yes, as well as banks. Ask your hotel receptionist near ATM.

How safe?
I haven’t seen or heard any robbery around here, even the local people admit this town is safe for tourist to walk alone. Although, you should be careful at any place, at any time.