Hoi An Food Tour: 7 Local Tastings Through Ancient Town

Hoi An night food walk with locals, secret alleys and riverside lights

This is a walking food tour through Hoi An Ancient Town where you taste seven local dishes and one drink while visiting the families who make them. The guide speaks English and walks you through both the 15th-century old town with its thousands of lanterns and the modern new town, stopping at family homes and local vendors to learn the history and culture behind each food. You can join as a private group or book a shared group tour.

Step-by-step itinerary

Walking tour of Hoi An ancient town

• Walk through Hoi An ancient town
• Visit local families and food makers
• Try 7 local foods and one drink
• Learn history and culture of food
• Walk secret alleyways of old town
• See modern life in new town
• Enjoy night view with lanterns
• Chat with other tourists
• View Hoi An river

The Experience

The tour starts in Hoi An's old town, the part that was a major international trading port from the 16th to 18th century and still carries that layered history—Chinese, Japanese, French influences all visible in the architecture and the food. You walk through secret alleyways most visitors miss, moving between family homes and small food stalls where locals prepare the dishes you'll taste. The guide explains what each one is, where it came from, and why it matters to the town. Seven tastings over the course of the evening means you're eating real meals, not samples.

The route takes you through both sides of Hoi An: the ancient town with its famous night view of thousands of lanterns reflected in the river, and the new town where everyday life happens now. You meet other travelers on the tour and have time to chat about moving through Vietnam. The guide carries water and tissues for the walk. If you eat vegetarian or vegan, let the operator know when you book and they'll adjust the tastings to suit you.

You can book this as a private tour if you want the group to be just your party, or join a shared group tour. Either way, the walk takes three hours. The old town entrance ticket is separate, and tips for the guide are optional. On Vietnamese public holidays there's a surcharge of $33.

What’s included

• Seven local Hoi An dishes and one drink.
• English-speaking guide.
• water and tissues.
• visits to local family homes where the food is made.
• walking through both the ancient town with its lantern views and the modern new town.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Hoi An- Da Nang- Hue Private Day Tour

Is this one for you?Choose the private tour option if your group wants the guide's attention focused on your party and your own pace through the alleyways. The shared group tour works better if you want to meet other travelers and split the cost, since both follow the same three-hour route and taste the same seven dishes.

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Top questions

What kind of food will I taste on this Hoi An walking tour?

You taste seven different local Hoi An dishes—the specific ones depend on what's being made that evening and what the families are cooking. The guide tells you the story and history of each dish as you eat it at the home or stall where it's prepared. One drink is included.

Do I walk through the old town with the lanterns?

Yes. The tour includes the ancient town at night when thousands of lanterns are lit—that's the famous view of Hoi An. You also walk through the new town to see how the city lives now, so you get both sides of the place.

Is this tour physically demanding?

It's a three-hour walking tour through town, so you need at least a moderate level of fitness. The route includes alleyways and uneven surfaces. It's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or if you're pregnant. Infants and small children can come in a pram or stroller, and the tour is wheelchair accessible.

Can I book this as a private group instead of joining others?

Yes. You can choose a private tour for your group or join a shared group tour. Both follow the same route and include the same seven tastings and guide.

What's included and what do I pay separately?

The tour includes the seven local foods, one drink, an English-speaking guide, water, and tissues. You pay separately for the Hoi An old town entrance ticket. Tips for the guide are optional. On Vietnamese public holidays, there's a $33 surcharge.