The Hoi An Market (Hoi An Central Market) Complete Guide

History of the Hoi An Market

History of the Hoi An Market is closely linked to the history of Hoi An, one of the busiest trading towns in Southeast Asia. From 15^th to 19^th centuries, merchants from many countries came here to trade, such as China, Japan, Netherland, England, Portugal, France. Thanks to this, Hoi An became wealthy. Foreigners even migrated to it for living, business and marriage. They saw it as their second hometown.

Before 1841, the Hoi An Market sat in the same location as the Elephant Temple today (at 27 Le Loi St). Later, local residents moved it to the current place that was owned by Ms Ngo Thi Lanh, in front of Quan Cong temple. The tomb of a monk had to be moved to build this important facility. The new market is more convenient for buying and selling activities because it’s by the main river – Thu Bon river. Additionally, it’s also not far from other waterways and islands in the area.

In the French colonial time, the original Hoi An market was restored. Damaged in the war times later, it’s demolished and rebuilt in early 2000s, with the same size and design. Up to the present, there are no big changes here. Its roof is still covered by tiles, and its doors still open to the river and major streets of the town. Especially, local vendors still meet up here and sell local products, making it alive. That’s the soul of the Hoi An market. Thanks to these, visitors can see a “well-preserved” market today.

Read also: Hoi An Countryside: Villages, Rice Fields and Tours

Sections of the Hoi An Central Market

From the entrance at Tran Phu St, with a fresh-water well, visitors just need to walk straight through to see the interior of the Hoi An Market. It has 4 major sections in turn: prepared foods, spices and cooking utensils, fresh meats and vegetables, and fish. The end of the market is Thu Bon river.

First section houses many food stalls along the main lane and by side doors opening to outside. Inside the cabinets, visitors will see different Vietnamese and Hoi An local dishes that are beautifully presented on the plate. They look clean and yummy. Read full details in the own paragraph for eating in the Hoi An Market below.

In the end of the first hall and beginning of the second hall, visitors will see a variety of spices and cooking utensils. Nowhere else in the town, the collection is more abundant. Here, vendors invite passersby to buy something but not impolite.

Before seeing the sun again, visitors walk through the section for fresh meat. That’s why it’s quite smelly. To see vendors at work, morning is the best time. In later hours, there is nothing to see here. Locals believe that meat isn’t fresh anymore if buy it in the afternoon or evening.

Vegetables, herbs and fruits are just outside, by the side of streets. Definitely, amongst these products, visitors from other countries don’t really know many of them. So, they can come here to buy and taste. Because buyers are mainly locals, their name and price aren’t on any signs, making foreigners a bit inconvenient. At a corner, people dry cao lau noodles and squared crackers as toppings for a couple of local dishes.

By the river, that is the section for fresh fish and seafood. It’s the wettest in the Hoi An market. We advise coming here in the early morning, to see them as much as possible.

Read also: Han Market in Da Nang

Hoi An Market Opening Hours

The Hoi An Market opens from early morning until evening every single day. Travelers should visit from 9 am to 6 pm. The busiest times of the day are 6 to 8 am, before local working time and 4 to 5:30 pm, after local working time. The market is closed sometimes due to typhoons or floods caused by heavy rains in the wet season (from October to December).

Around sunrise, locals go to the Hoi An Market to sell vegetables, flowers, fruits, fishes, meats and prepared foods. Other people come here to buy something because they believe that the ones are freshest during the time. As the central market (or the biggest market), sellers from far markets also visit, to look for good quality or cheap wholesale products. By the river, fishermen from the sea dock and off-load seafood they catched. Thanks to this vibrancy and diversity, many photographers want to be early birds, in order to catch great shots about Vietnamese real life. We recommend reaching further fish markets. There, the number of fishes is richer and it seems that there are no tourists at all.

In the evening, only a few sellers stay back in the Hoi An Market. They mainly sell food for people working in town or late tourists.

Read also: Fish Markets in Hoi An

The Hoi An Market at Night

Until 6 or 7 pm, vendors inside the Hoi An market still serve food and beverages. In later hours, someone closes but someone opens, so we recommend visiting and trying foods here by 7 pm. Sure, earlier is better. In addition, something may be sold out after a long-day business. Prices are similar and clearly shown on the menu, just the same as in the daytime.  

In the evening, vendors also open their stalls around the Hoi An market, particularly on Tran Quy Cap St and Bach Dang St. Like Nguyen Hoang night market, visitors absolutely can find many souvenirs to buy and flavourful street foods to try out here. In the fact that people sell the same things in both markets. However, the sellers around the Hoi An market may say a cheaper price because tourists are less than in the other one. It’s not difficult to see small gifts, magnets, traditional handicrafts, lanterns, shirts, clothings, etc to bring home. Foodies can sample local barbecues (mainly pork, beef) grilled outdoors, or crispy grilled rice paper dishes. For dessert, che (sweet soup) or tofu pudding is the popular pick from local people. For a drink, stalls by the coconut trees have fresh sugar cane juice, with a pretty view to the river and colorful boats.

Note: Visitors should come to the Hoi An Market before 9 pm. Due to low tourists, sellers may close and go home around that time. Most stalls are on Bach Dang and Tran Quy Cap streets.  

Read also: What to Do in Hoi An at Night?

Eat in the Hoi An Central Market

Food Stalls inside the Hoi An Market

The first section of the Hoi An Market is for selling foods and beverages. Prior to being known by tourists, local people come here to eat and drink. At the present, they still do but it’s not really busy like in the past. The food court where different food options (to eat with steamed rice) continue serving lunch for locals.

Food stalls are arranged along the central lane in the market, opening to Tran Phu St. At each one, the cabinet showing food options is lightful, clean and properly sized. Behind it, the seller will prepare everything. Visitors can see the board stuck on the wall or the menu on the table. English is available.

In fact that, generally the food collection isn’t big in the Hoi An Market. However, Hoi An’s well-known local dishes are what tourists are willing to try, all there. It’s possible to see cao lau (noodle), mi quang (noodle), white rose dumplings, clear dumplings, fried wonton, chicken rice, banh mi sandwich, fresh and fried spring rolls, banh xeo pancakes, banh beo rice cake and more. While eating, people will sit on long inox chairs, face inside. The food maker gives chopsticks, spoons, fork and tissue paper.

It’s interesting that food vendors don’t sell water and beverages. Visitors need help from them or come to nearby stalls to buy.

Note: Sellers here cater with a smile when visitors request to have a small portion (or even a few pieces) on one plate. Of course, they run a business, so will expect to sell more. If her food is delicious, you can grab extra samples.  

The price in food courts of the Hoi An Market is not expensive. For a full bowl of Cao Lau noodle, visitors pay around 40,000 VND. For other noodle and rice dishes, visitors may pay the same too. Different from many local food centers in the country, the menu and name of the foods are available in English, and the price is clearly shown. Nobody can charge more.

Hoi An Market Street Foods

From late afternoon, local vendors come to the Hoi An Market to sell street foods, but outside. By the well or Quan Cong temple, they make yummy grilled pork skewers (to roll with rice paper, fresh rice paper and raw vegetables). Bo la lot, the beef wrapped in betel leaf is also there. To eat, people will sit on low stools and barbecues and side things are placed on a tray. For sure, no fork, no knife. It’s kind of fun to try real local foods and watch the world. Food tours in town choose the surroundings of the Hoi An Market to introduce local dishes.

List of street foods also includes bánh tráng nướng (“grilled rice paper”), chè (sweet soup, often for dessert), banana crepe, banh mi sandwich, noodles, and locally-sourced fruits.

The Original Banh Mi Phuong

The Banh Mi Phuong is a famous banh mi sandwich store in Hoi An. Now, a lot of tourists want to go to this place to taste “the best banh mi in the world”. Anthony Boudain, a famed American chef, praised it in his own show, namely the No Reservation. Current location (2B Phan Chu Trinh St) is not where he tried. At that time, he visited the Hoi An Market and came to Phuong’s stall.

As mentioned above, the first (original) Banh Mi Phuong is at the Hoi An Market. To see it, travelers need to walk to Tieu La St and it’s quite close to Quan Cong temple. A sign with name and the image of Anthony Bordauin eating is there to recognize the exact location. This store is small, has two tables only. Today, it’s owned and run by Phuong’s sister who still continues her recipe. If don’t want to be in long queues or avoid the crowds, visiting here is a smart choice.

Read also: Where to Eat in Hoi An Old Town?

What to Buy in the Hoi An Market and Prices

Note: To buy things to wear (fabric, clothings, shoes, etc), travelers have to go to the Hoi An Fabric Market. It’s just a short walk from the Hoi An Central Market.

During past centuries, the Hoi An Market was a bustling trading place between local people and foreign merchants. Today, trading activities are still alive and active here. Tourists will see a variety of handicraft products and fresh products that are locally originated. Vietnamese have a “bargaining culture”, so it’s possible to make the first price go down a bit. Because not so many visitors come to the market for shopping now, shoppers are recommended to not . If can’t feel it’s affordable, let’s try it in other shops and stores.

Inside the market hall, vendors sell utensils used for cooking and souvenirs. They probably say hello and introduce something to passersby, like magnets, chopsticks or manual graters.

Outside the Hoi An Market, fresh produce is for sale. Almost everything is by kilogram but sometimes, sellers provide a pack, a bunch or a piece. The price depends on the season (the fact that tourists may hear a higher rate than locals). During the hot season, products are more diverse when the weather supports farming. Therefore, it’s the best time to taste fruits in Hoi An. These are produces seen in the market:

– Vegetables and flowers: cucumber, morning glory, beans, kumquat, bamboo shoot, beetroot, carrot, bell pepper, bitter melon, winter melon, gourd, tomato, lime, chilli, ginger, spinach, choy sum, and more.

– Fruits: papaya, trái mít (jackfruit), orange, pear, pomegranate, banana, mango, trái sầu riêng (durian), trái măng cụt (mango steen), trái thanh long (dragon fruit), trái chanh dây (passion fruit), apple, grape, trái bưởi (pomelo), pineapple, dưa hấu (watermelon), sugarcane, sweet corn, trái chôm chôm (rambutan), trái vải (lychee), trái nhãn (longan), trái vú sữa (star apple), trái mận (water apple), trái na (custard apple), trái ổi (guava), trái hồng xiêm (sapodilla), trái cóc (ambarella fruit), trái gấc (native red horned melon), and more.

– Herbs: lemongrass, mint, rau răm (peppermint), sweet basil, lemon basil, perilla, coriander, lettuce, cilantro, fish leaf, rice paddy herb, lolot leaf and more.

– Other products: noodles, tofu, rice cakes, fish sauces and more.

Read also: Hoi An Shopping Guide

How to Get to the Hoi An Central Market

Hoi An Central Market’s Location and Address

The Hoi An Market’s address is 19 Tran Phu St, inside the Hoi An old town world heritage. It’s surrounded by Tieu La, Bach Dang and Tran Quy Cap streets clockwise. To the south, this market is also very close to where Thu Bon river and smaller Hoai river encounter.

From the Japanese covered bridge – Hoi An’s emblem, the distance to the Hoi An Market is 650 meters. It’s the same from Nguyen Hoang night market. If going from An Bang beach area, the drive by car is around 10 minutes (5 kilometers).

Walking

The Hoi An Market is within the core of the Hoi An old town world heritage. Thanks to that, visitors can visit it whenever they come to the town. If the hotel is not close, they can choose a vehicle to get there and then walk. From the Japanese covered bridge, just keep walking straight away in Tran Phu St to reach it (the entrance is to the left). Walking time is 10 mins.

By Taxi, Car and Shuttle Bus

Travellers can take a taxi or electric shuttle bus to somewhere near the Hoi An Market and then walk (because it’s inside the Unesco world heritage area). The closest places to be dropped off are the crossroads Nguyen Hue – Phan Chu Trinh and Hoang Dieu – Tran Phu. To head back to the hotel, please come to these again. There are many taxi drivers there.

The Hoi An market is more than 30 kilometers from Da Nang city center. Travelers can hire a private car from the hotel to it and then stroll around the town. The cost is from 700,000 to 1,000,000 VND for a roundtrip. Text us in whatsapp number +84968009827 to ask for further details and book.

By Motorcycle

Anytime during the day, people can ride motorcycles to get to the Hoi An market. Parking lots are around it, and there is one right in the entrance, by the well. The fee is from 5,000 to 10,000 VND. Between 11:30 am and 3 pm, it’s legal to tour around the town by motorbike.

By Bicycle

Within the Old town, the Hoi An Market and its surroundings are friendly to bicycles. Many places around Hoi An provide free bicycles for their guests. For that reason, getting to the market by bicycle is popular.

Travelers just need to come to the entrance of Hoi An market, Tran Phu St, and then park the bicycle there. The fee is from 5,000 to 10,000 VND, the same as a scooter. Keep in mind to bring a lock because sometimes parking service is not available (at restaurants, it’s safe).

By Boat

The Hoi An Market stands next to Thu Bon river, so it’s accessible by boat. In the early morning, fishermen dock in its quay and offload fresh seafood. From Thanh Ha pottery village or Kim Bong carpentry village on Cam Kim island and vice versa, locals also use boats. The ride is 20 minutes and 10 minutes one way respectively. Text us in whatsapp number +84968009827 to arrange a boat trip for you from Hoi An to the villages and back.

Read also: How to Get from Hoi An to the Golden Hands Bridge

In the Surroundings of the Hoi An Market

Hoi An Fabric (Clothes) Market

The Hoi An Fabric (Cloth) Market is close to the Hoi An central market. It faces Tran Phu St, near its intersection with Hoang Dieu St and Nguyen Duy Hieu St. This market has 2 levels, but the ground level today is better to shop around (because the upper level has not a lot of things to see). Vendors here sell fabric, shoes, ready-to-wear clothings, for both men and women. There’re several custom made tailors in the Hoi An fabric market. Browse https://centralvietnamguide.com/hoi-an-fabric-market/ to see full details.

Quan Cong Temple

In the front of the Hoi An central market, to the right, Quan Cong temple is for worship of Quan Cong – a famous Chinese military general who lived in 2^nd and 3^rd centuries. In traditional culture, he represents bravery, prestige, loyalty, strongness and virtue. Business people believe that this deity brings luck and prosperity. On the 16^th day of the first lunar month, they come here with many offsprings to pray and express their belief to him. It’s needed to pay an entrance fee to visit.

Rehann’s Gallery

Rehann – a famous French photographer opens his own second gallery at 7 Nguyen Hue St, near the Hoi An market. He traveled to 35 countries before choosing Hoi An as his home in 2011. His pictures about Vietnamese people, life and scenery are amazingly creative, giving the viewers emotions and inspirations. The head gallery (larger) is at 26 Phan Boi Chau St, also near the markets.  

The Fujian Assembly Hall

This Chinese building is just 1 minute walk from the Hoi An market, at 46 Tran Phu St. It’s built in 17^th century by the Fujian community in Hoi An, in order to worship the Thien Hau goddess (known as Mazu). Merchants and seafarers believe that the deity protects them while they travel in the sea. Here, visitors have the chance to see and photograph glorious architecture with multiple constructions. Please read Hoi An’s Chinese assembly halls and temples for more information. It’s needed to pay an entrance fee to visit.

Hoi An Folklore Museum

At the crossroad between Hoang Van Thu St and Bach Dang St, this museum showcases every side of Hoi An’s local culture and traditions. It’s good to deepen the knowledge. In the front (Nguyen Thai Hoc St), that is the Museum of Traditional Medicine. See more information in All museums in Hoi An.

The Hoi An Traditional Performance House

At several times of the day, traditional performances are given to visitors here. It’s needed to get Hoi An old town entrance ticket first and then show the staff there to watch. The theatre room has many seats and it’s air-conditioned. Browse https://centralvietnamguide.com/hoi-an-old-town-ticket/ to know when the show occurs.