10 Best Places to Take Photos in Hoi An Old Town
Morning reflection on the Thu Bon River in Hoi An Old Town.
The 10 Best Places to Take Photos in Hoi An
1. The Yellow Wall in Hoi An
2. Japanese Bridge
3. Rooftop View of Hoi An
4. An Hoi Island — Across the River
5. Hoi An Market
6. Any facade in Hoi An Ancient Town
7. Thu Bon River
8. Hoi An Alleys
9. Lanterns at night in Hoi An
10. Merchants in Hoi An
Want to know where to take photos in Hoi An Old Town? Here is a list of 10 of my favorite places to photograph in the UNESCO “Yellow City” of Vietnam, Hoi An Ancient Town.
A few years back I wrote an article on the 10 best Instagram locations in Hoi An. That post highlights areas that are nice for the average Instagrammer. However, I wanted to make a list more geared toward photographers. There are cross-overs with that list, but this one is perhaps more useful for photographers wanting to photograph in Hoi An Old Town.
1. The Yellow Wall in Hoi An
An inverted view of The Yellow Wall in Hoi An after a storm
About The Yellow Wall in Hoi An
This is one of the longest, “cleanest” yellow walls in Hoi An. It is also relatively open as it is along the waterfront/Thu Bon River. This makes it easier to photograph people going by. It’s also a favorite place for locals who pose for pictures like Dai.
Where is The Yellow Wall in Hoi An?
The yellow wall is along the waterfront on Bạch Đằng Street in Hoi An. It’s the other side of the Old House of Tan Ky and Reaching Out Arts and Crafts (both places that are worthy of a visit).
2. Japanese Bridge
Two vendors walking near the Japanese Bridge on a warm afternoon in Hoi An Old Town.
About the Japanese Bridge:
The Japanese Covered Bridge is an iconic symbol that defines Old Town Hội An. This beautiful arched bridge was built in the 1590s to connect the Japanese quarter to the Chinese quarter, back during a time when Hội An was a bustling international port town. Take a look inside at the monkey and dog protectors on either end of the Japanese Covered Bridge for some close-up pictures, as well as the temple inside the bridge.
Where is the Japanese Bridge?
The Japanese Bridge can be found on Goole Maps as “Japanese Covered Bridge”. It is on Tran Phu Street not far from the waterfront on the Western end of Hoi An Old Town.
Don’t forget to also see it beautifully light up in the evening. And, like the rest of Hoi An Old Town, there will be fewer people early in the morning.
3. Rooftop View of Hoi An — Faifo Coffee
The classic view of the rooftops of Hoi An can be found at Faifo Coffee.
About the best rooftop view in Hoi An:
Views over the terracotta rooftops of Hoi An offer a different perspective of the old town. My favorite is at Faifo Coffee. No need for a drone. Just order a coffee and head through the narrow staircase to the roof.
Where is the best rooftop view in Hoi An?
Faifo Coffee is located at 130 Tran Phu Street in Hoi An Old Town. The hours are 8:00 am to 9:30 pm 7 days a week.
You must first order on the ground floor. The view is on the rooftop (3rd floor).
4. An Hoi Island — Looking Back at Hoi An Across the River
Morning reflection of Hoi An Ancient Town
About the view from An Hoi Island:
Probably my favorite view of Hoi An Old Town is from across the Thu Bon River looking back at Hoi An. From here you can get the widest view of the Old Town with the most buildings. The reflection in the river is also nice. My favorite time in Hoi An is early in the morning and the view here is no different.
Where is the view from An Hoi Island?
To get to An Hoi Island you must cross the Thu Bon River. The Thu Bon River is the focal point of the Old Town and where you’ll find all of the floating lanterns and boat rides at night. The bridge to cross the river is close to the Japanese Bridge. On Google Maps it’s called “Cau An Hoi” (Bridge An Hoi) or “Bridge of Lights”. There are many places to shoot from across the river.
5. Hoi An Market
About the Central Market in Hoi An:
The open-air market in old town Hoi An is a perfect place to photograph the colors and chaos that are the markets of Vietnam. If you’ve never been to a local market in Asia then you’re in for a treat. Just approach it with an open mind and respect the vendors. This is their job and they are there to sell their food/wares.
Where is the Central Market in Hoi An Old Town?
The Hoi An Market in on the Eastern end of the Old Town. On Google Maps it’s labeled as “Hoi An Market”. The liveliest part of the market is on Bạch Đằng Street (the street that runs along the river/waterfront). Follow this street East all the way down until it turns into the market.
6. Any Building Facade in Hoi An Ancient Town
The building facades in Hoi An are like an outdoor studio
About the Buildings in Hoi An:
Hoi An really is like an outdoor studio. In places, it reminds me of the small towns constructed on the backlots of studios in Hollywood. But real. I recommend having a stroll through the town and just looking at each of the buildings. There is lots to shoot and lots of interesting and unique details to discover.
Where to find the best Old Buildings in Hoi An?
There isn’t a particular location in the Old Town that has better old buildings than another. The beautiful thing about Hoi An is that there are so many unique buildings, with so much to discover. Pictured here is a building in what is typically referred to as the “French Quarter”. The Hill Station Cafe, which incidentally is a great place to stop by for happy hour and 2‑for‑1 glasses of wine.
7. The Thu Bon River
Sunrise on the Thu Bon River in Hoi An
About the Thu Bon River:
The Thu Bon River is what I consider the focal point of Hoi An. For hundreds of years, ships from around the world sailed through here to dock in what was once a thriving trading port.
What used to be the primary access point to Hoi An, is now busy with a different kind of merchant. You might find fishermen in the early hours of the morning and as the day progresses locals offering boat rides. At night the river is the most active and light up with floating candle lanterns and boats covered in a dazzling display of electric lights.
Where is the Thu Bon River:
It’s hard to miss as it runs right through Hoi An Old Town. On the other side of the Thu Bon River is An Hoi Island. There are many places to shoot the activity on the river included 3 bridges that connect An Hoi Island to Hoi An. Have a stroll along the banks at different hours of the day to see how things change.
Sunrise is my favorite time to photograph here (If I haven’t mentioned it yet).
8. Hoi An Alleys
Hair with Grandma. A scene in the alleys of Hoi An
About the Alleys in Hoi An:
The alleys in Hoi An are quite narrow and on a first visit to the old town can seem a convoluted warren to get lost in. And I recommend you do just that; get lost in the alleys of Hoi An. You never know what kind of treasures you’ll discover, whether it’s a hidden restaurant or coffee shop, a ‘secret’ temple, or just a friendly local who knows a few words of English and greats you with a smile.
Where are the Alleys in Hoi An?
The alleys in Hoi An generally run North-South connecting the main streets of Hoi An which run East-West. To give you an idea as to cardinal directions, the Thubon River runs East-West and the main streets run more or less parallel to it. The alleys closer to the river tend to be quite narrow and straight, while the alleys further North of the Old Town are wider and more circuitous. Explore!
9. Lanterns at Night in Hoi An
A couple poses for photos in front of the lanterns in Hoi An
About the Lanterns in Hoi An:
Another symbol of Hoi An is the lanterns at night. Walk through Old Town Hoi An at sunset as the lanterns begin to turn on. They are strung between buildings and in front of shops.
Along the waterfront in the old town women and children will sell candle lanterns which you can release on the river (most, but not all, get cleaned up the following morning). You can also take a boat ride, on a boat covered in LED lanterns.
Where are the Lanterns in Hoi An?
Lanterns are strung up all over Hoi An Old Town in the evening. For the walls of lanterns on display (pictured), head across the bridge to An Hoi Island where the Hoi An Night Market is full of vendors selling lanterns, food, clothes, and various souvenirs.
There are lots of lanterns strung up around the streets of the Old Town. The highest concentration of lanterns is probably on Nguyễn Thái Học Street near the Morning Glory restaurant (one street up from the waterfront).
About the Merchants in Hoi An:
There are many merchants in Hoi An. Some merchants cater more to locals, while others like Đại (pictured) cater more to tourists. In the early morning, you’ll often find merchants going to and from the Hoi An Central Market. If you’re patient you might be able to photograph them as they go about their business. Other merchants have made a business selling fruit and posing for photos. These merchants are catered more toward tourists.
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Where are the Merchants in Hoi An?
In the early morning, the merchants in Hoi An are typically going to and from the market. Later in the morning and throughout the day there is usually a small group of Vietnamese women who sell fruit and pose for photos. Many times, like Đại they can be found at The Yellow Wall or somewhere along the waterfront. They are usually quite friendly and if you take a photo you should support them by buying some fruit (the fruit will of course be more expensive than usual as you are paying the person for a photo).
