Beyond shimmering lanterns and ancient alleyways, Hoi An’s museums hold the key to understanding the town’s soul. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most fascinating museums – including the Hoi An Museum of History and Culture, the Museum of Trade Ceramics, and hidden gems like Thanh Ha Terracotta Park – to help you craft a deeper journey into Vietnam’s cultural heart.
1. Hoi An Museum of Trade Ceramics
The Hoi An Museum of Trade Ceramics, located at 80 Tran Phu Street, sits in the heart of Hoi An Ancient Town. It’s housed in a beautifully restored traditional wooden shop‑house building with two floors, a central courtyard, and exhibits carefully laid out to explore the history of the ceramic trade from the 9th to 19th centuries.
Inside, you’ll see both complete, aged pottery items and many fragments excavated from shipwrecks off the coast and from the Cham Islands. Many artifacts show influences from China, India, Japan, and Thailand, testifying to Hoi An’s role as a trading hub.
The museum is open daily (typically 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM) with an entrance fee around 120,000 VND for foreign visitors (sometimes less for domestic visitors) which includes access to several heritage museums in Hoi An Ancient Town.
Quiet courtyards and centuries‑old ceramic pieces invite you to trace Hoi An’s old trading routes.
2. Sa Huynh Culture Museum
The Sa Huynh Culture Museum presents one of the earliest chapters of what would become Hoi An. Established in 1994, it displays remarkable artifacts – terracotta jars, burial urns, tools, and beads – from the ancient Sa Huynh culture dating back over 2,000 years.
These relics provide insight into early trade, burial customs, and life in prehistoric coastal Vietnam, including how local communities interacted with others in Southeast Asia and beyond. The museum is less crowded, offering a contemplative experience. Open from morning until late afternoon, it’s an excellent stop for history lovers.
Ancient terracotta urns and tools whisper stories of Vietnam’s earliest coastal settlers.
3. Hoi An Museum of History and Culture
The Hoi An Museum of History and Culture (Bảo Tàng Văn Hóa Lịch Sử Hội An) is one of the largest museums in Hoi An Ancient Town, located at 10B Tran Hung Dao Street in Minh An Ward.
Exhibits cover multiple periods: Pre‑Sa Huỳnh, Champa, Dai Viet, and the more modern era. You’ll find artifacts like Chu Dau ceramics, historical photographs, stone and wood sculptures, coins, and documents that narrate how Hoi An evolved from an ancient trading port to the cultural gem it is today.
Opening hours are typically 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily, with an admission fee around 120,000 VND for adult international visitors.
Step into this grand museum where centuries of Hoi An’s trading legacy whisper through pottery, photos, and ancient relics.
4. Hoi An Museum of Folk Culture
The Museum of Folk Culture (sometimes called Museum of Folklore) captures life in Hoi An when it was a bustling international port. It’s housed in a large historic wooden building with dual entrances on Bach Dang Street and Nguyen Thai Hoc Street.
Inside, over 500 artifacts are grouped into categories like folk visual arts, performing arts, traditional villages, and daily life. There are weaving looms, tools, costumes, and photographs helping visitors imagine what life was like during trade‑boom times.
The museum is open from around 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily, and admission is included in the Ancient Town ticket (the “Hoi An Ancient Town ticket”) that grants access to several heritage museums
Walking through this museum feels like hearing centuries of everyday smiles, crafts, and voices in Hoi An’s past.
5. Museum of Traditional Medicine
The Museum of Traditional Medicine sits at 46 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Minh An Ward in Ancient Town.
Founded in March 2019, it features around 200 original and restored items, medical tools, herbs, documents, and spaces recreating historical medical shops and processing areas. Exhibits are arranged in six main rooms, including areas for healing methods, diagnosis, medical tools, and the historical development of medicine in the region.
The museum is open daily from 8:00 AM to around 5:30 PM, and international visitor admission is about 120,000 VND. Locals may have a different rate.
Medicinal roots, herbal wisdom, and ancient tools bring Vietnam’s healing traditions to life in this calm, fragrant museum.
6. Precious Heritage Art Gallery Museum
The Precious Heritage Art Gallery Museum is located at 26 Phan Boi Chau Street, Cam Chau Ward, Hoi An. It showcases the Precious Heritage Collection by photographer Réhahn, featuring more than 200 striking portraits, 60+ traditional costumes, and vivid stories from Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups.
The museum occupies a beautifully restored 19th‑century French‑style house and is free to enter. Dwelling in visual storytelling and cultural preservation, its galleries offer both artistry and education, perfect for those drawn to heritage and human stories.
Portraits and costumes in this elegant gallery echo the soul of Vietnam’s many ethnic tribes.
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7. Thanh Ha Terracotta Park
Spread over nearly 6,000 m² in Thanh Ha Ward, Thanh Ha Terracotta Park (also museum‑park) is a vibrant space marrying artistry with tradition. The complex is divided into nine zones, including pottery kilns, craftsmanship display, miniature world, installation gardens, Sa Huynh‑Cham pottery, and village product areas.
Its “upside‑down kiln” and “upright kiln” buildings symbolically represent tradition and innovation. Visitors can witness live pottery‑making, relax in garden installations, and explore terracotta art on a large scale.
Clay, kilns, and creativity converge in a pastoral park where the art of pottery comes alive.
8. Hoi An Local Products Museum
While not as large as some of the heritage museums, the Hoi An Local Products Museum is a charming space that highlights crafts and goods made by local artisans – things like lanterns, ceramics, textiles, and handmade souvenirs.
It provides insight into modern craft-making in Hoi An, how artisans maintain traditions, and how local products contribute to the town’s economy and identity. This museum is ideal for those who love shopping with meaning and seeking local authenticity.
Handmade treasures and crafts tell tales of artisans’ hands and Hoi An’s living crafts heritage.
9. Hoi An Silk Village
Hoi An Silk Village, located at 28 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, is a living museum that preserves the traditional art of silk weaving in Quang Nam province. It revives the craft methods from the Champa‑Dai Viet era, showcasing everything from mulberry gardens and silkworm cultivation to the final weaving of silk garments.
Visitors can choose short guided tours (about 45 minutes) or longer immersive experiences (several hours), which often include a chance to try weaving, view traditional costumes, and enjoy local Hoi An foods. Entrance fee for basic sightseeing is about 50,000 VND for the village, with more extensive tours priced higher.
Wander among mulberry trees and dye vats as the rhythms of old silk‑weaving echo in every hand.
10. Hoi An Museum
Hoi An Museum refers to Hoi An Museum of History and Culture at 10B Tran Hung Dao Street, Minh An Ward. It is the largest museum in Hoi An, with over 3,400 artifacts on display and many more preserved behind the scenes.
Exhibits span from pre‑Sa Huynh to Cham and port‑era trade, including stone sculptures, wooden carvings, and historical imagery that illustrate Hoi An’s development across centuries. The museum is open daily from ~7:00 AM to ~5:00 PM, with admission around 120,000 VND for international visitors.
Artifacts and photographs map Hoi An’s journey – from river trading port to timeless heritage town.
Reveal Hidden Treasures in Hoi An Museums with HoaBinh Tourist
If museums, craft villages, and cultural heritage are what most capture your heart, then a tour to Hoi An with HoaBinh Tourist is the perfect choice. We offer:
- All‑inclusive transport, from your hotel or airport in Da Nang, using VIP limousines or comfortable minibuses
- Pre‑booked museum entries, including trade ceramics, folk culture, history & culture museums, and more
- Local guiding who illuminate the stories behind each artifact, woven silk, and ancient relic
- Optional lodging in boutique 5‑star hotels or lovely local guesthouses to relax after a full day of exploring
Discover all the wonders of Hoi An’s museums and heritage sites by booking your personalized tour with HoaBinh Tourist – explore the Hoi An Tour here and let us take care of the details.
>> Ngu Hanh Son – Hoi An Ancient Town Tour
Let HoaBinh Tourist guide your journey through Hoi An’s living history – immerse yourself in the museums, craftsmanship, and stories that make this town unforgettable.
Step into preserved halls, weaving stories and silk alike, as HoaBinh Tourist unfolds Hoi An’s living past before your eyes.
