Hoi An day trip from Da Nang on a dental trip

A Hoi An day trip is the most popular outing from Da Nang, and it fits well into a dental trip on a day with no treatment. Hoi An's Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999, lies about 28 km south of Da Nang. Spend the day walking the old streets, take a boat on the Thu Bồn River in the late afternoon, and stay for the lanterns after dark. Avoid the first couple of days after an extraction or implant surgery, and leave swimming at An Bang Beach until your dentist says you've healed.

What Hoi An is

Hoi An was a busy trading port from the 15th to the 19th centuries, according to Vietnam's tourism board, and Japanese and Chinese merchants settled there. Its old houses, assembly halls and the wooden Japanese Bridge survive from that time. The Chinese community built five assembly halls, according to Wikipedia, and the town sits on the lower reaches of the Thu Bồn River.

The town is known for its yellow walls, its lanterns and its tailors. Vietnam's tourism board describes the Ancient Town as coming alive after dark, when lanterns light the streets and reflect on the river.

Which day of your trip to go

Stage of your trip	Hoi An day trip?
Before your first appointment	Good. A full day works well.
Lab days, while crowns or veneers are being made	Good, if you feel well and have no early appointment the next day.
The day of an extraction or implant surgery	No. Rest near your hotel.
The first two or three days after surgery	Better a short evening visit at most. MedlinePlus advises avoiding heavy activity for the first couple of days.
After your final check	Good. Add the beach or a cycle ride if you like.

The trip planner shows a sample day-by-day schedule for your treatment in Da Nang, with the free days marked.

Getting there

Hoi An is about 28 km south of Da Nang, according to Wikipedia. Most visitors go by taxi, ride-hailing car or an organised tour, which saves arranging the return journey. If you have an appointment the next morning, plan to be back in Da Nang the same evening. Our guide to getting around Vietnam explains how to use Grab and other apps.

What to see in Hoi An

Thing to do	What it is	Good around treatment?
Walk the Ancient Town	Old streets, merchant houses and the Japanese Bridge	Yes, at a gentle pace
Tan Ky Old House	A merchant's home built in 1741	Yes
Phuc Kien Assembly Hall	One of the town's Chinese assembly halls	Yes
Lanterns after dark	Lantern-lit streets and lanterns floated on the river	Yes
A boat on the Thu Bồn River	Sunset trips on small boats, or sunrise trips to the fish market	Yes, if you feel well
A cooking class	From the market to the kitchen, no experience needed	Yes, and you can cook soft dishes
A tailor	Made-to-measure clothes	Yes
Cycling to Cam Thanh and Cam Chau	Country lanes, gardens and duck ponds	Better once you've healed
An Bang Beach	A beach about 7 km from the Ancient Town	Sitting yes, swimming once healed

The Ancient Town

Vietnam's tourism board recommends an unhurried walk through the Ancient Town and lists the Japanese Bridge, Tan Ky House and Phuc Kien Assembly Hall as the main historic stops. An Old Town ticket, bought at the entrance, gives entry to five heritage buildings and to the temple inside the Japanese Bridge. Prices change, so check them on the day.

The river and the lanterns

Lanterns light the streets after dark, and Vietnam's tourism board suggests finding a spot by the river where lanterns are set adrift. On the 14th day of each lunar month, the town holds its lantern festival. A boat trip just before sunset is gentle and calm, and a good choice on a day when you want to sit rather than walk.

Tailors

Hoi An is known for its tailors. If you'd like clothes made, ask how long they'll take and whether you'll need a fitting, then plan a second visit on another free day if needed.

The beach and the countryside

An Bang Beach is about 7 km from the Ancient Town, according to Vietnam's tourism board. Cycle routes lead out towards Cam Thanh and Cam Chau through gardens and villages. Both are better on a day when you feel fully well. After an extraction or implant surgery, ask your dentist before you swim.

When to go: time of day and season

Vietnam's tourism board advises avoiding the harsh midday sun. Mornings are quiet, and late afternoons and early evenings are busier as the lanterns come on. A good plan on a treatment trip is to arrive in the afternoon, walk the old streets as it cools, eat early, and see the lanterns before heading back.

The UK government says central Vietnam's rainy season runs from October to December, with seasonal flooding in October and November. If you travel in those months, keep a spare day so the trip can move. Our guide to the best time to visit Vietnam covers the central coast's seasons.

Eating in Hoi An after treatment

Vietnam's tourism board lists cao lầu, white rose dumplings, hoành thánh and mì Quảng among Hoi An's specialities. White rose dumplings are soft and easy to eat. Cao lầu and mì Quảng have firmer noodles and crunchy toppings, so leave them until you can chew comfortably, or ask for the crunchy pieces to be left off. Let hot food cool if your mouth is still numb. Our guide to soft food after dental surgery has more ideas.

Hoi An day trip checklist

• Pick a day with no appointment, away from the days just after surgery
• Arrange transport there and back, and plan to return the same evening
• Avoid the midday heat, and stay for the lanterns
• Buy the Old Town ticket at the entrance
• Ask for soft food and skip crunchy toppings if you've had recent work
• Leave swimming and long bike rides until you've healed
• Carry water, your medicines and your clinic's phone number

For more outings closer to your hotel, see things to do in Da Nang. The Da Nang city guide and the clinics in Da Nang that have passed our checks will help you plan the rest of your stay.