What to see around Hoi An: pottery and carpentry villages, coconut forest, beaches, Cham Islands
Where to go beyond Hoi An's old town: Thanh Ha potters, Kim Bong carpenters, Bay Mau coconut forest, An Bang and Cua Dai beaches, the Cham Islands, VinWonders and Memories Land, My Son. Distances, hours and a 1–2 day route.
For one day around Hoi An, start with what is close: Thanh Ha pottery village, Kim Bong carpenters, Bay Mau coconut forest and An Bang beach, all 2–5 km from the old town. Give a second day to the Cham Islands (boat from Cua Dai pier) or to My Son sanctuary (40–50 km). The old town itself has its own guide: “what to see in Hoi An's old town”. Since 1 July 2025 Hoi An has been three wards of Da Nang city (Hội An, Hội An Đông and Hội An Tây), so addresses and signs now say "Đà Nẵng". All places are in the Hoi An sights section.
Sights and attractions: addresses and contacts Open in Telegram
Where can you go from Hoi An?
| Place | Where and how far | Hours | Time needed (our estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thanh Ha pottery village | about 3 km south-west of the old town | 8:00–18:30 (Google Maps) | 1–2 hours |
| Kim Bong carpentry village | across the Thu Bon river, about 2 km in a straight line from the old town (our estimate from Maps) | no hours found; ask the Hoi An Heritage Centre | 1–1.5 hours |
| Bay Mau coconut forest | about 3 km from the old town | roughly 7:30–8:00 to 17:00–18:30, sources differ | 1.5–2 hours |
| An Bang beach | 3–4 km from the old town, 15–20 minutes by bike | no hours | half a day |
| Cua Dai beach | 4–5 km east of the old town, under 15 minutes | no hours | 1–2 hours |
| Cham Islands | Cua Dai pier; islands 15 km offshore, speedboat 15–30 minutes | boats leave about 7:30–9:00, return about 13:00–15:00 | full day |
| VinWonders Nam Hội An | south of Hoi An, Thăng An; about 13 km in a straight line from the old town (our estimate) | Mon–Fri 9:00–18:00, Sat–Sun 9:00–19:00, approximate | full day |
| Hoi An Memories Land | Cồn Hến island on the Hoai river, next to the old town | park 16:00–22:00, show at 20:00 except Tuesday | evening |
| My Son sanctuary | 40–50 km, 1.5–2 hours each way | about 6:30–17:00 | half a day |
What is Thanh Ha pottery village?
Thanh Ha is a potters' village about 3 km south-west of the old town. It took shape in the 16th century, and Thanh Ha pottery has been national intangible heritage since 27 August 2019. Visitors watch craftsmen trim clay on the wheel and can try it themselves; entry is by ticket. On Google Maps the village is open daily 8:00–18:30. Go in the morning, before the tour groups arrive.
What is Kim Bong carpentry village?
Kim Bong is a carpenters' village on the right bank of the Thu Bon river, opposite the old town. Builders, furniture makers, boat builders and carvers work here; according to the Hoi An World Heritage Conservation Centre, they take part in restoring old houses. You can visit the exhibition house, watch the craftsmen and the boatyard, and try woodworking. The craft has been national intangible heritage since 21 November 2016. No opening hours are published, so call the Hoi An Heritage Centre (+84 843 428 888) before you go.
Why visit Bay Mau coconut forest?
Bay Mau is more than 100 hectares of water-coconut palms where the Hoai, Thu Bon and De Vong rivers meet, in Hội An Đông ward (formerly Cẩm Thanh commune), about 3 km from the old town. You ride round basket boats, watch the basket dance and net fishing, and make souvenirs from palm leaves. Sources give different hours: 7:30–18:30 (MIA.vn, September 2026), 7:00–17:00 (Vinpearl), and in winter 8:00–17:30 (VnExpress, 2024). Go in the morning, and call the number on rungduabaymau.vn if you plan to arrive near closing time.
What about An Bang and Cua Dai beaches?
An Bang is 3–4 km from the old town, 15–20 minutes by bike, and Vietnam Airlines says a rescue team is on duty. Cua Dai is 4–5 km east and has been eroding for years. VnExpress reports the shore lost hundreds of metres a year from 2014; in 2020 erosion ran along about 5 km from Cua Dai to An Bang (Nhân Dân, 22.10.2020). From June 2020 to September 2024 a submerged breakwater over 2.3 km long was built and sand was pumped in: by VnExpress on 12 April 2025 the beach was more than 100 m wide and restaurants had reopened. The next 5.2 km stage began on 20 March 2025, due in 2026. Check recent photos and news for how the beach looks today. From October to March be careful when swimming: Vietnam Airlines warns of strong currents. At seaside restaurants, look at the menu with prices first.
How do you get to the Cham Islands, and when do boats not run?
Boats to the Cham Islands (Cù Lao Chàm) leave from Cua Dai pier: a speedboat takes 15–30 minutes (sources say 15–20, 25 and 25–30), a wooden boat about 90. Since 26 May 2009 Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An has been a UNESCO biosphere reserve (Vietnam Government News, 27.05.2024). The sea is calmest from March to September; from October to February winter winds often cancel crossings, sometimes for days (Vietnam Tourism, 11.10.2026). Example: on 20 September 2024 Hoi An authorities stopped taking tourists to the island and asked boats to suspend trips because of bad weather ahead of storm No. 4 (Báo Văn Hóa). The sources show no fixed seasonal closure, and we found no 2026 notice. In autumn and winter do not book a flight for the same evening, and check the forecast.
What else is nearby: VinWonders and Hoi An Memories Land?
VinWonders Nam Hội An is a theme park in Thăng An commune south of Hoi An with five zones: a port, a folk-culture island, River Safari, an adventure land and a water park. The park site calls its hours approximate — Mon–Fri 9:00–18:00, Sat–Sun 9:00–19:00 — and suggests confirming on hotline 1900 6677 (press 5). Hoi An Memories Land is a park on Cồn Hến island with an evening open-air show: per the Da Nang tourism portal, daily except Tuesday, 20:00–21:00, with mini-shows in the park 17:00–20:00. Sources give different addresses (Maps: 200 Nguyễn Tri Phương, the park's site: 88 Trần Quang Khải), so show your driver the map pin.
And My Son sanctuary?
My Son (Mỹ Sơn) is a Cham temple complex, a UNESCO site since 1999, 40–50 km from Hoi An: 1.5–2 hours each way. It is open roughly 6:30–17:00 or 17:30. Details are in our guide to the “My Son sanctuary”. Put My Son in the morning and keep the villages for the afternoon.
How do you fit it into 1 or 2 days?
1 day. Morning: Thanh Ha pottery village (opens at 8:00), then the Kim Bong carpenters. Afternoon: Bay Mau coconut forest and a basket boat. At sunset: An Bang beach. If you have energy left, catch the Memories Land show in the evening (not on Tuesday).
2 days. Day one as above. Day two, your choice: the Cham Islands for the whole day (boat in the morning, back after lunch, watch the weather) or My Son in the morning and the old town in the afternoon. VinWonders is a separate day if you travel with children.
For getting around, see Vehicle rental and Transfers; from Da Nang, “Da Nang to Hoi An”. When to go: “season by month”.
Frequently asked questions
What to see around Hoi An in one day? Thanh Ha and Kim Bong villages in the morning, Bay Mau coconut forest in the afternoon, An Bang beach at sunset. All within 2–5 km of the old town.
How far is Thanh Ha pottery village? About 3 km south-west of the old town (Hoi An World Heritage Conservation Centre). On Google Maps it is open 8:00–18:30.
Can you swim at Cua Dai beach? The shore has been eroding for years; a submerged breakwater was finished by September 2024 and the next stage is due in 2026. Check recent news before you go, and mind the currents from October to March.
When do boats not run to the Cham Islands? From October to February crossings are often cancelled because of wind. In September 2024 Hoi An authorities stopped taking tourists to the island ahead of storm No. 4. On the morning of your trip, ask your operator whether the boat is running.
How long is the boat to the Cham Islands? From Cua Dai pier, 15–30 minutes by speedboat or about 90 minutes by wooden boat. The islands are 15 km off the Hoi An coast.
Are the Cham Islands a UNESCO site? Yes, Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An has been a UNESCO biosphere reserve since 26 May 2009. That is not the same as a World Heritage site like My Son.
What time is the Hoi An Memories show? Daily except Tuesday, at 20:00. On Google Maps the park opens at 16:00.
Which city is Hoi An in now? Since 1 July 2025 it has been three wards of Da Nang city: Hội An, Hội An Đông and Hội An Tây (Resolution 1659/NQ-UBTVQH15).
Sources and checks
Thanh Ha and Kim Bong villages: Hoi An World Heritage Conservation Centre and Google Maps (pages opened 22–23.10.2026). Coconut forest: MIA.vn (24.09.2026), VnExpress (02.02.2024). Beaches: Vietnam Airlines (no date on the page), VnExpress (12.04.2025), Nhân Dân (22.10.2020). Cham Islands: Vietnam Tourism (11.10.2026), Vietnam Government News (27.05.2024), Da Nang tourism portal (18.08.2025), Báo Văn Hóa (20.09.2024), vietnam.travel. Parks: VinWonders site (01.01.2026), Da Nang tourism portal (24.09.2025), the Memories Land site, Google Maps. Hoi An's wards: Resolution 1659/NQ-UBTVQH15, article 1. No hours for Kim Bong or the beaches were found in open sources, hence "check". "Straight line" distances and visit times are our estimate. No prices: they change. Text updated 23.10.2026.