Hoi An Memories Show 2026: The Story, Tickets, Seats & Show Times
Updated October 2026. Ticket prices are public visitor prices as of October 2026 and can change, so check before you book.
We’ve watched a lot of shows in Vietnam, and Hoi An Memories is the one we tell friends not to skip. It’s a live outdoor show on a stage in the middle of the Hoai River, with more than 500 performers, and in one hour it tells 400 years of Hoi An’s story: silk, a royal wedding with an elephant, lanterns, a busy trading port and a finale of women in áo dài on glowing bicycles. The catch is that most people watch it as a beautiful light show and miss the story. This guide explains what you’re watching, act by act, plus which seat to pick, show times, how to get there and our honest take on whether it’s worth the ticket.
Quick answer: Hoi An Memories is a one-hour live show about 400 years of Hoi An history, performed by 500+ artists on a 25,000 m² river stage at Hoi An Memories Land (Cồn Hến / Hen Islet), across the river from the Old Town. It runs every night from 8 to 9 PM except Tuesdays (holiday weeks can change). Visitor tickets are Eco 600,000đ, High 750,000đ and VIP 1,200,000đ (Oct 2026), children under 1 m go free, and the ticket includes entry to the theme park. Come around 5 PM for the free mini-shows (5:30–7 PM) and be seated by about 7:15 PM. Is it worth it? For us, yes, especially if you know the story before you sit down.
What is the Hoi An Memories show?
Hoi An Memories (Ký Ức Hội An) is a large outdoor live show that retells about 400 years of Hoi An history in five acts and about one hour. More than 500 performers take part, on a 25,000 m² stage that the Da Nang tourism portal describes as the largest stage in Vietnam. It takes place at Hoi An Memories Land (also called Hoi An Impression Theme Park) on Cồn Hến (Hen Islet) in Cẩm Nam, just across the Hoai River from the Old Town. The performers dance, ride and sail across a stage built on the water, so the river itself becomes part of the set, with reflections, fire, light and projections.
You don’t need to speak Vietnamese to follow it. The show is mostly visual: music, costumes, movement and light carry the story. That’s also why knowing the five acts in advance makes such a difference. Once you know what each scene means, every elephant, lantern and ship suddenly makes sense.
The story of Hoi An Memories, act by act
The show moves through five chapters of Hoi An’s history: the silk thread, the princess, the lantern, the port and the áo dài finale. The official act names are Life, The Wedding, Lights & Sea, Integration and Áo Dài. Here is what each one is about, in the words we use when friends ask us. Our 1:35 video below walks you through the same story with the real show footage.
Act I: The Silk Thread
The show opens with a woman weaving silk on a wooden loom. Hoi An was famous for its silk, and that thread becomes the symbol of the whole show: life being woven, one generation at a time. Watch for the loom on the shore and the women in white áo dài and conical hats walking along the water behind it.
Act II: The Princess (why there’s an elephant on the river)
This act is a real event from history. In 1306, the Vietnamese princess Huyền Trân married the Cham king Chế Mân. It was a political marriage, and as part of the alliance the Cham kingdom gave land (the Ô and Lý prefectures) to Đại Việt. That’s why you see Cham dancers with gold leaf headdresses, royal costumes and even an elephant, a sacred animal in Cham culture, carrying the royal couple across the stage. If you’d like to see real Cham art before or after the show, the Cham Sculpture Museum in Da Nang is the best place to start.
Act III: The Lantern
Then the mood changes. Hoi An was a town of fishermen and sailors, and in this act a woman waits on the shore with a lantern for her husband to come home. It’s about every family that waited for someone at sea. Watch for the rows of women carrying glowing lanterns along the water. If you love Hoi An’s lanterns, read our guide to the Hoi An International Lantern Festival too.
Act IV: The Port
By the 1600s, Hoi An was one of the busiest trading ports in Southeast Asia. Ships came from China, Japan and Europe, and the stage fills with traders, sails and colour. That’s why the town still has Chinese assembly halls and the Japanese Covered Bridge today, and why UNESCO lists Hoi An Ancient Town as a well-preserved Southeast Asian trading port. Walk the Old Town the next morning and you’ll recognise the scene.
Act V: Áo Dài, the finale
The finale is about modern Vietnam: about a hundred women in áo dài, Vietnam’s national dress, ride bicycles with glowing frames along a lit path by the river. It connects old Hoi An to the Hoi An you walk through today. The finale also has the moment everyone films: a woman in a white áo dài with a glowing halo, standing on an enormous blue-lit train that spreads across the stage. Stay for it. It’s the best part of the night.
So when you watch it, you’re not just seeing a show. You’re watching the story of the town around you: four hundred years of history in one hour.
Hoi An Memories tickets: Eco, High or VIP?
There are three seat classes: Eco (600,000đ) is closest to the stage, High (750,000đ) sits higher with a view of the whole stage, and VIP (1,200,000đ) is the highest area with a full panorama, all under a canopy. These are the public visitor prices for adults and children over 1.4 m as of October 2026. Children under 1 m go free; children between 1 and 1.4 m pay less, but the child price varies by seller, so check when you book. The show ticket also includes entry to the theme park.
| Seat class | Visitor price | Where you sit | Pick it if… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eco | 600,000đ (about US$23) | Closest to the stage. Benches without backrests, open-air (about 2,088 seats) | You want to see the costumes up close |
| High | 750,000đ (about US$29) | Higher than Eco, wider view of the whole stage. Seats with backrests (about 764 seats) | You want to take in the whole stage at once |
| VIP | 1,200,000đ (about US$46) | The highest rows, full panorama, all under a canopy (only about 136 seats) | You want rain cover and the best overview |
| Children | Under 1 m free; 1–1.4 m pay less (price varies by seller); over 1.4 m pay the adult price | Check the child price with your seller before you pay | |
Our simple rule: up close, choose Eco; whole stage, choose High; rain cover, choose VIP. Some ticket packages also add a buffet dinner or a round-trip shuttle from Da Nang. One thing to know before you pay: online tickets may not be refunded if the weather is bad, so read the cancellation terms of the package you choose.
👉 Ready to book? The Hoi An Memories show ticket (with theme park entry) that we recommend is on our Book your trip page, with direct booking links.
Show + buffet dinner: our pick if you only have one night
If you only have one night in Hoi An, book the show ticket with the buffet dinner. The buffet is a big spread of Central Vietnam food right inside the show park, so you can catch the free mini-shows, have dinner and walk to your seat without rushing back to the Old Town to eat. One evening, and you get both Hoi An’s food and its story.
Here’s how the two tickets compare, so you can decide. The buffet adds about 200,000đ (around US$8) per adult to every seat class:
| Seat class | Show only | Show + buffet dinner |
|---|---|---|
| Eco | 600,000đ | 800,000đ |
| High | 750,000đ | 950,000đ |
| VIP | 1,200,000đ | 1,400,000đ |
- What you eat: a buffet of Central Vietnam food. Ticket sellers list local favourites like Mì Quảng, Cao Lầu, bánh xèo and white rose dumplings, and on our night there were grilled skewers, crispy roast pork, prawns, chicken, fresh greens, Vietnamese cakes and fruit.
- When: the buffet opens in the early evening (from about 5:30 PM) and closes when the 8 PM show starts. The easy plan is mini-shows first, then dinner, then your seat.
- No show, no buffet on Tuesdays, like the show itself.
👉 Show + buffet tickets: see the options on our Book your trip page.
Hoi An Memories show time: when to arrive
The show runs every night from 8 to 9 PM, except Tuesdays. Come to the park around 5 PM, enjoy the free mini-shows along the route from the entrance gate between 5:30 and 7 PM, and be in your seat by about 7:15 PM. The Tuesday closure can change in holiday weeks. For example, the park stayed open on Tuesday 1 September 2026 for National Day, so check the schedule for your date.
- Around 5 PM: arrive and explore Hoi An Memories Land while it’s still light.
- 5:30–7 PM: free mini-shows along the route from the entrance gate, with costumed dancers and musicians. Don’t skip them; they come with your ticket.
- By about 7:15 PM: find your seat. Arriving early gives you a better choice within your section.
- 8–9 PM: the main show on the river.
Where is Hoi An Memories and how do you get there?
Hoi An Memories Land is on Cồn Hến (Hen Islet) in Cẩm Nam, just across the Hoai River from Hoi An Old Town. From the Old Town you can walk over the Moonlight Bridge or take a boat; from Da Nang it’s about 30 km, roughly one hour by road.
- On foot from the Old Town: cross the Moonlight Bridge, a 110 m pedestrian-only bridge that starts by 65 Trần Quang Khải street and leads to the park’s north entrance. Handy if you’re staying in Hoi An.
- By boat: small boats leave from the Old Town riverside around Bạch Đằng street and the Lantern Park area. It’s a lovely way to arrive at dusk.
- From Da Nang: about 30 km, roughly one hour by Grab, taxi or private car. Some ticket packages include a round-trip shared shuttle bus from Da Nang. Our Hoi An from Da Nang guide covers every way to get there.
- Staying overnight: Hoi An Memories Resort & Spa is on the same islet (Cồn Hến). It’s one of the hotels on our Book your trip page.
Planning a longer trip? The show fits perfectly into the Hoi An evening of our 5-day Da Nang and Hoi An itinerary.
Our tips for the Hoi An Memories show
- Learn the story first. Read the five acts above or watch our 1:35 video before you go. It turns a pretty light show into a story you actually follow.
- Don’t arrive at 8 PM. Come around 5 PM for the free mini-shows (5:30–7 PM), and be seated by about 7:15 PM.
- It’s outdoors, so check the forecast. Only the VIP section is under a canopy. Our Da Nang weather forecast covers the Hoi An area, and the best time to visit Da Nang guide explains the rainy season.
- Read the refund terms. Online tickets may not be refunded for bad weather.
- Phone on silent, flash off. Film a little, then put the phone down and watch. A bright screen or flash spoils the view for the people around you.
- Stay to the very end. The áo dài finale is the best part, and people who leave early to beat the crowd miss it.
- Not on a Tuesday. The show is closed on Tuesdays (except some holiday weeks), so plan your Hoi An night around it.
Is Hoi An Memories worth it? Our honest take
Yes, for most visitors. Hoi An Memories is played on what the Da Nang tourism portal calls the largest stage in Vietnam, it tells the town’s real history, and it doesn’t need any language to enjoy. It’s best for first-time visitors, families and anyone who likes culture and big visuals. It costs more than most things in Hoi An, but your ticket also covers the theme park and the free mini-shows, so it fills a whole evening.
Our highlights: the sheer scale of 500+ performers on a river stage, the elephant procession in the wedding act and, above all, the áo dài finale with the glowing bicycles and the halo dress. What to keep in mind: it’s open-air, so rain can affect your night, and if you don’t know the story, some scenes can feel like beautiful but random tableaux. That’s exactly why we wrote this guide. Watch it with the five acts in mind and it all comes together.
Only have one evening in Hoi An? Book it with the buffet dinner, so dinner and the show fit into one easy night. Skip it only if heavy rain is forecast and you’ve booked an uncovered seat. Otherwise, we’d go again.
Make a full day of it with our guide to Hoi An from Da Nang, and if you’re visiting in September, see how the town celebrates the Hoi An Mid-Autumn Festival.
👉 Book your Hoi An night: see the Hoi An Memories show ticket and the Hoi An tours we recommend on our Book your trip page.
FAQ: Hoi An Memories show
What time is the Hoi An Memories show?
The show runs every night from 8 to 9 PM, except Tuesdays (some holiday weeks are different). Arrive around 5 PM for the free mini-shows along the route from the entrance gate (5:30–7 PM) and be seated by about 7:15 PM.
How much are Hoi An Memories show tickets?
Public visitor prices in October 2026 are Eco 600,000đ, High 750,000đ and VIP 1,200,000đ for adults and children over 1.4 m. Children under 1 m go free, and children between 1 and 1.4 m pay less, with the price varying by seller. The ticket includes theme park entry. Check prices before you book.
Which seat is best: Eco, High or VIP?
Eco is closest to the stage, on open-air benches without backrests, so it’s best for seeing the costumes up close. High sits higher with backrests and a view of the whole stage. VIP is the highest area with a full panorama, all under a canopy, so it’s the choice if you want rain cover.
Is the Hoi An Memories show worth it?
For most visitors, yes. It’s a one-hour show with more than 500 performers on a huge river stage, it tells 400 years of Hoi An history, and it’s mostly visual, so no language is needed. Learn the five acts before you go and stay for the áo dài finale.
Where is the Hoi An Memories show and how do I get there?
It’s at Hoi An Memories Land on Cồn Hến (Hen Islet), Cẩm Nam, across the Hoai River from Hoi An Old Town. Walk over the Moonlight Bridge from Trần Quang Khải street or take a boat from the Old Town riverside. From Da Nang it’s about 30 km, roughly one hour by car, and some ticket packages include a shuttle.
What is the Hoi An Memories show about?
It tells Hoi An’s story in five acts: the silk thread, Princess Huyền Trân’s 1306 marriage to the Cham king Chế Mân (with Cham dancers and an elephant), a woman waiting with a lantern for her husband at sea, the busy trading port of the 1600s, and a finale of about a hundred women in áo dài on glowing bicycles.
Thanks to Hoi An Memories Land for hosting us. All opinions our own.
