Ten days in Hoi An can easily drain your wallet if you fall for the tailor shops, lantern-lit boat rides, and westernized cafes. But if you swap the taxis for a rented bicycle and eat where the locals sit on low plastic stools, this riverside town is one of the most affordable bases in Vietnam (베트남 / 越南 / ベトナム).
This day-by-day itinerary keeps your daily spend under 500,000 VND ($20 USD) while showing you the side of Hoi An (호이안 / 会安 / ホイアン) most tourists miss.
Day 1 — Ancient Town on Foot
Start by getting your bearings in the yellow-walled alleys of the UNESCO-listed Ancient Town. While there is an official entry ticket costing 120,000 VND for historic sightseeing temples, you do not need it just to walk the streets. Save that expense for later.
For lunch, head to Quan Cao Lau Thanh at 26 Thai Phien Street. A bowl of "cao lau"—chewy noodles, sliced pork, and fresh herbs doused in a rich soy-based broth—costs just 35,000 VND.
Off-script suggestion: Skip the crowded evening lantern boats on the Thu Bon River. Instead, walk the dark alleys north of Phan Chau Trinh Street after 9:30 PM when the day-trippers from Da Nang have left and the local families sit outside to chat.
Day 2 — An Bang Beach by Bicycle
Rent a bicycle from your homestay for 20,000 VND. Ride 5 km northeast through the rice paddies along Hai Ba Trung Street to An Bang Beach. Avoid the aggressive parking attendants at the main beach entrance who charge 20,000 VND; instead, park further back at a local cafe for the price of a 15,000 VND green tea.
For lunch, grab a classic "banh mi" at Madam Khanh (The Banh Mi Queen) on Le Loi Street for 30,000 VND.
Off-script suggestion: Walk 1 km south along the sand to Tan Thanh Beach. It is far quieter than An Bang, with fewer deck chairs and cheaper fresh coconuts.
Day 3 — The Local Market & Coffee Culture
Wake up at 6:00 AM to see the Hoi An Central Market at its peak. The indoor food hall is a budget haven. Find a stall serving "mi quang"—turmeric-yellow rice noodles with pork, shrimp, and a crunchy rice cracker—for 30,000 VND.
Afterward, find a street-side stall for a glass of "ca phe sua da" (iced coffee with condensed milk) for 15,000 VND.
Off-script suggestion: Head to the Ba Le Market on Le Hong Phong Street around 3:00 PM. This is a purely residential market where you can get fresh "banh xeo" (savory crepes) for 10,000 VND each.
Day 4 — Cam Kim Island
Cross the steel bridge south of the Ancient Town to Cam Kim Island. This is rural Hoi An, where woodcarving and farming are still the main ways of life. There are no entry fees here, just quiet paved paths winding through cornfields and boat-building yards.
Off-script suggestion: Skip the bridge on the way back. Find the small, informal ferry pier near the Kim Bong carpentry village and pay a local boatman 10,000 VND to ferry you and your bicycle back to the Hoi An docks.
Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels
Day 5 — Day Trip to Da Nang
Rent a semi-automatic motorbike for 120,000 VND and ride 30 km north along the coastal road to Da Nang. Stop at the Marble Mountains (40,000 VND entry) to climb the stone steps into the cavernous Buddhist sanctuaries.
For lunch, eat "bun cha" (grilled pork with rice noodles) at a local joint in Da Nang, which generally costs 20% less than in Hoi An.
Off-script suggestion: Ride up the Son Tra Peninsula to the chess-playing statue viewpoint. The winding road is free to access and offers panoramic views of the Da Nang skyline.
Day 6 — Tra Que Herb Gardens
Ride your bicycle to Tra Que, a small farming village sandwiched between the De Vong River and the sea. While travel agencies charge high prices for farming tours, you can walk or cycle the narrow paths between the neat rows of mint, coriander, and basil for free.
Off-script suggestion: Avoid the expensive tourist restaurants inside the village. Instead, stop at the small roadside stalls on the edge of the fields for cheap corn milk ("sua bap") for 10,000 VND.
Day 7 — My Son Sanctuary on a Budget
My Son Sanctuary contains the red-brick ruins of the ancient Champa Empire. To save money, skip the private car tours. Book a basic shared shuttle bus from any travel agent in town for about 150,000 VND return. The entry ticket to the ruins is 150,000 VND.
Off-script suggestion: Bring your own water and snacks. The cafes inside the archaeological site charge double the standard prices.
Photo by Võ Văn Tiến on Pexels
Day 8 — The Hidden Alleys of Cam Chau
Spend a slow day exploring the residential neighborhood of Cam Chau. This area is packed with cheap homestays, local coffee shops, and quiet canals.
In the afternoon, look for roadside signs reading "bia hoi" (fresh draft beer). You can sit on tiny plastic stools and enjoy a cold glass of light draft beer for as little as 5,000 to 8,000 VND.
Off-script suggestion: Seek out the French colonial cemetery hidden behind the houses along the small lanes of Cam Chau. It is a quiet, atmospheric spot rarely visited by tourists.
Day 9 — Souvenir Hunting & Tailor Alternatives
If you want custom clothing but cannot afford the famous high-end shops, head to the fabric section inside the Hoi An Central Market. You can negotiate directly with the independent seamstresses. A simple linen shirt should cost no more than 250,000 to 300,000 VND.
Off-script suggestion: Instead of buying cheap plastic lanterns, buy a pack of local green tea or cinnamon bark from the dry goods vendors at the market. It is cheaper, supports local farmers, and is easier to pack.
Day 10 — River Life & Departure
Spend your final day along the Thu Bon River. Walk west toward Cam Nam island to find local eateries serving "com tam" (broken rice with grilled pork) for 30,000 VND.
Off-script suggestion: Walk to the western tip of An Hoi islet at sunset. Local kids gather here to play football on the grassy fields, and you can watch the sun go down behind the mountains without paying a single Dong.
Practical notes
Stay in a homestay in the Cam Chau or Tan An neighborhoods rather than a hotel in the Ancient Town to cut your lodging costs in half. Always agree on motorbike rental prices and bicycle parking fees before you hand over your keys.
Last updated · May 30, 2026 · independently researched, never sponsored.
