The Hoi An Central Market is a hectic hive of activity. Everywhere you look there is something happening; from living chickens being bunched onto motorbike handles, to a boar leg being carved in the middle of the traffic. You’ll find colourful, exotic veggies on every corner and the aroma of fresh fish assaulting your nostrils. Not to mention the constant hum of vendors bartering with tourists and locals alike. Market scenes in Vietnam are something to be seen, and the Hoi An market is a great one to check out.

Hoi An Food Market

Hoi An Central market has many different food areas; outside is fresh produce, inside is a meat court (best to avoid if you’re squeamish) and by the riverside is fish (again, best to avoid if you’re squeamish). If you want to watch the locals buy and sell, then visit in the early morning for peak activity.

Textile shopping

I mostly explored the food side of the market, however if you step inside the main hall you’ll find all sorts of vendors. Of course, being Hoi An, there are a lot of tailors and fabric stalls inside. While I haven’t had anything made by anyone in the Hoi An market, Avery from Anywhere and Averywhere highly rates Sewing Bee Hoi An (shop #11).

Around the fringes of the market you’ll find shops selling wicker items, like bags, baskets and hats. Over the years these have become more and more tourist-aimed but they still have some unique items.

Visiting with a Guide

I first visited the Hoi An market as part of my cooking class with Thuan Tinh Cookery school, where we bought the ingredients for the dishes we were about to make. It was so interesting to visit with a local guide as they were able to show us some of the unusual fruits and vegetables that we don’t get in the west, as well as answering any general questions we had about market culture, like how to barter.

Visit Hoi An market

⏰ 5am – 4pm
📍73 Đường Phan Bội Châu, Hội An