Hoi An Night Market Food Tour with Local Guide

Summary

Evening Street Food Walk in Hoi An’s Lantern Quarter

Get ready to wander Hoi An’s lantern-lit streets with a local guide who’ll help you taste your way through the night market. Sample street food classics like cao lau and banh mi, meet friendly vendors, and soak up riverside views under glowing lights — moments you’ll remember long after you leave Vietnam.

What’s the experience like?

Chopsticks clacked together as our guide, Minh, handed me a tiny bowl of something steaming — I think he called it “cao lau.” The smell was smoky and sweet at the same time. We were already halfway down Nguyen Hoang Street, dodging scooters and kids selling paper lanterns. Minh grinned and told us not to worry about the crowds — “That’s how you know it’s good,” he said. I tried to say thank you in Vietnamese (I won’t even try to spell it here), which made Minh laugh so hard he nearly dropped his own bowl.

The Hoi An night market is honestly a bit of sensory chaos, but in a way that feels almost comforting after a while. Lanterns everywhere — pinks and blues and golds strung above the stalls — and the river just visible between gaps in the crowd. At one point we stopped for banh mi from a woman who barely looked up as she stuffed cilantro into the bread; her hands moved so fast I couldn’t follow. The bread was warm and crunchy, with this sharp pickled taste that surprised me. I still think about that first bite.

I didn’t expect to learn so much about Hoi An’s food culture just by walking around eating snacks. Minh pointed out little things: why people eat certain dishes at night, how families pass down recipes right there on the street. He introduced us to another vendor who let us try these tiny sesame cakes — honestly, I could’ve eaten ten more if I wasn’t already full. There was music somewhere off to the left, maybe from a bar or someone’s phone? Hard to tell with all the chatter.

We ended up sitting on low plastic stools by the Thu Bon River, watching lanterns float away while finishing our last bites of grilled pork skewers. It wasn’t fancy but felt strangely special — like being let in on a secret everyone else already knows. If you’re looking for a real Hoi An night market street food tour (with dinner included and an actual local guide), this is it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Hoi An Night Market Food Tour

• Explore Hoi An Night Market
• Taste local street food

Top questions

How long does the Hoi An night market food tour last?

The tour usually lasts around 3 hours in total, including all tastings and walking time.

Is dinner included on this street food tour?

Yes, dinner is included through multiple tastings from different local vendors along Nguyen Hoang Street.

Are vegetarian options available during the tour?

Vegetarian options are available at most stops; let your guide know any dietary needs at the start.

Can children join this Hoi An night market tour?

Yes, children are welcome and infants can ride in strollers or sit on an adult’s lap during the walk.

What’s included

Your evening includes entrance fees for Hoi An Ancient Town, guided tastings at several street food stalls (enough for dinner), plus stories and tips from your local guide before heading back on your own schedule.