Is Hoi An Safe in January 2026?

Hoi An tailor shops display high-quality silk and linen samples in the storefront but substitute cheaper synthetic fabric once the order is placed. The finished garment is often delivered just before the customer departs, leaving no time to dispute the substitution. Alterations are offered as a stalling tactic if you complain, but the base fabric never changes. This practice is widespread across the Old Town's concentration of 400-plus tailor shops.

How to avoid: Handle fabric swatches in bright daylight and photograph the specific bolt of cloth you chose. Request a partial fitting with your chosen fabric before full production begins. Pay no more than a 30% deposit and settle the remainder only when the finished garment matches your sample.

Basket boat rides and evening lantern river cruises are popular Hoi An experiences but are a consistent source of mid-trip price hikes, demands for larger tips, or unexpected 'entry fees' to certain river sections. Documented on Backpackers Wanderlust and multiple Vietnam travel forums.

How to avoid: Agree on the exact total price including all tips and fees before boarding. Pay in small bills and only on completion. Booking through your hotel or a licensed tour operator reduces the risk substantially.

Hoi An is marketed heavily as Vietnam's culinary capital, and cooking class touts near the Central Market on Tran Phu Street routinely quote a base price that excludes ingredients, market tour fees, or transport to a farm site. The actual cost is only revealed at the end when participants are handed an itemised bill well above the advertised price. Classes run by operators without a fixed address are the most common offenders.

How to avoid: Confirm the all-inclusive price in writing before committing — including transport, ingredients, and any "market visit" component. Book through reputable operators with TripAdvisor listings and a physical shopfront. Ask specifically: "Is this the total price with no additions?"

Hoi An is genuinely famous for leather craftsmanship, but many shops sell goods with leather exteriors and plastic or synthetic linings, passing them off as full-grain leather at premium prices. Customised shoes with this construction fall apart within weeks.

How to avoid: Buy leather goods only from shops with verifiable reviews on Google or TripAdvisor. Ask to see the inside lining. Rub a small hidden area with a damp finger — real leather absorbs moisture, fake leather beads it.

When paying for motorbike or bicycle rentals, vendors quickly swap a higher denomination note you hand over for a similar-looking lower one, then claim you paid less. Also reported at informal money exchange spots near the old town bridge.

How to avoid: Count your change carefully every time. Hold your note up and confirm the denomination before handing it over. Use ATMs for cash rather than street exchange operators.