Luxury holidays in Hoi An

When to go

April and May are ideal for hitting Hoi An, with China Beach’s seas at their calmest from May to July. Despite its location in the tropics, Hoi An experiences a wet winter monsoon (October to March), when it can be cool at night; the summer monsoon (April to September) brings hot but breezy weather. In October and November typhoons can slam into the coast; the city floods and the only way to get around is by boat.

Getting there

• Planes

  Danang International is the closest airport to Hoi An, a 45-minute drive away, with regular connections from popular Vietnamese destinations including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang. Currently direct international flights are fairly limited, but Silk Air (www.silkair.com) offers links from Singapore and Siem Reap in Cambodia.

• Trains

  30km from Hoi An, Danang is a major stop on the daily Reunification Express train connecting north and south Vietnam. Sleeper berths are available to and from Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang and Hanoi. Go for first class with air-conditioning (www.vr.com.vn).

• Automobiles

  A car is not necessary for visitors to pedestrian-friendly Hoi An, but if you want to explore further afield, your hotel can organise a car with a driver for you.

• Taxis

  There are several metered taxi firms in Hoi An and it costs about US$6 to travel to the beach resorts. Xe oms (motorbike taxis) also patrol the streets, but prices are not fixed. A taxi from Danang to Hoi An will set you back about US$15.