Is the Hoi An Memories Show Worth It? An Honest Review

First Night Watching the Hoi An Memories Show – I Actually Cried

I vividly remember the first night I sat in the stands of Hoi An Memories. It was October, the air in Hoi An was cool, and the scent of incense gently wafted through the atmosphere. As night fell and the stage lights ignited, I – someone who had lived in Da Nang for over 15 years and had been to Hoi An hundreds of times – suddenly felt a lump in my throat. It wasn’t because I’m easily moved, but because this show achieved what no photograph, no book could: it showed you the soul of Hoi An.

If you’re considering whether to buy tickets for the Hoi An Memories show, read this entire article. I won’t give you generic statements like “it’s very good, very worth watching.” I’ll tell you everything – from the actual ticket prices, detailed show schedules, the best seating angles, to things most tourists miss because they only read information online and haven’t actually been there.

What is Hoi An Memories? The Story Behind a Stage Masterpiece

Origin and Scale of the Show

Hoi An Memories (Vietnamese: Ký Ức Hoi An) is a large-scale outdoor reality show, held at Bai Truong – Memory Island, in Cam Kim commune, about 3km from the Hoi An Ancient Town center. The show is invested in by Sun Group and premiered in 2018, quickly becoming one of the most spectacular reality shows in Southeast Asia.

The first thing that amazed me when learning about this show was the numbers: a stage spanning over 25,000 m², with more than 500 actors participating each night, most of whom are local residents – fishermen, artisans, and craft village artists. They are not professional actors hired from elsewhere. This is precisely what makes Hoi An Memories completely different from typical commercial shows.

The show’s general director is People’s Artist Le Quy Duong – who has directed many famous festivals and shows in Vietnam and internationally. He and his team spent over 3 years researching the history, culture, and customs of Hoi An people to build the script. The result is a work of art where every detail has meaning, from costumes to music, from lighting to the coracle boats gliding on the Thu Bon River.

What Does the Show’s Content Tell?

The show is divided into 3 main acts, lasting approximately 75 minutes:

Act 1 – Ancient Hoi An: Recreates the life of Hoi An people from the 15th to 17th centuries, when Hoi An was the busiest trading port in Southeast Asia. You will see Japanese, Chinese, and Portuguese merchants arriving, riverside markets, and Cham folk dances.

Act 2 – Hoi An in Flames: This is the part I consider the most emotional. The show recreates the years of war, separation, and loss. Flames erupt on stage, war drums thunder, women wait for their husbands by the river – all staged with such high-level lighting and sound techniques that the audience sits in complete silence.

Act 3 – Hoi An Today: The finale is filled with light and joy. Images of Hoi An lanterns illuminate the night sky, lively dances, and scenes of people gathering by the Thu Bon River during the full moon festival. This part often makes the audience spontaneously stand up and applaud.

[!NOTE] The show is completelyThe show has no dialogue – the only language is images, music, and dance. This makes “Ky Uc Hoi An” (Hoi An Memories) suitable for international tourists who don’t speak Vietnamese, and it’s also why the show can “touch” anyone’s emotions.

Hoi An Memories Show Ticket Prices 2024 – Detailed and Realistic Price List

This is the part where I find many websites write inaccurately or incompletely. I will provide the most up-to-date information based on practical experience.

Ticket Types and Prices

[!TIP] Local Tip: If this is your first time watching the show, I recommend buying tickets for Zone B (VIP) instead of Premium. The reason is that the viewing angle from Zone B is not significantly inferior to Zone A, but it saves 240.000đ (≈$9) per person. Zone A is only truly worth the money if you want to experience the accompanying services like on-site drink service and more comfortable padded seats.

Do Children Under 3 Years Old Need a Ticket?

Children under 3 years old are free but do not have a separate seat. Honestly, I don’t recommend bringing children under 4 years old because the show is in the evening, with many loud sounds and sudden lights that can frighten young children.

Should You Buy Tickets Online or In Person?

The definitive answer is buy online. Reasons:

• Online prices are usually equal to or lower than the counter price (especially during the low season, there might be promotions).
• Avoid sold-out situations on weekends and holidays – this happens more often than you think, especially from March to August.
• You can choose your specific seating location.

You can buy tickets on the official Sun World Hoi An website or through reputable travel booking applications. Avoid buying tickets from “scalpers” outside the gate as prices are often inflated and sometimes you might get fake tickets.

[!WARNING] Real Warning: Near the entrance and on the path leading to Hoi An Memories Island, there are often people who claim to be “staff” or “official agents” selling tickets at lower prices. Don’t believe them. I have witnessed many cases of tourists being tricked into buying photocopied or expired tickets. Only buy tickets at the official counter within the premises or online.

Hoi An Memories Show Schedule – Don’t Miss Your Trip Due to Incorrect Information

Weekly Performance Schedule

This is information that many tourists get wrong. Hoi An Memories does not perform daily. The fixed schedule is:

• Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday every week.
• Show time: 7:15 PM (gates open from 5:30 PM for visitors to explore the cultural experience area before the show).

[!WARNING] Extremely Important Note: The performance schedule may change on major holidays, due to bad weather (the show is outdoors), or special events. I recommend you always check the official schedule at least 2-3 days before booking tickets, especially during the storm season (September to November in Hoi An).

When in the Year is the Best Time to Go?

As someone who lives here, I’ll tell you the truth:

March to May is the ideal time. The weather is dry, not too hot, and you don’t have to worry about sudden rain. This is also the period when the show often has special performances to welcome the tourist season.

December and January are also very beautiful ifyou can tolerate the cool weather. Hoi An’s winter nights have a unique magical quality, and a show under the cold sky makes the lanterns and firelight even more impressive.

Avoid October and November if you’re concerned about the weather. This is the peak rainy season in Hoi An, and shows may be postponed or canceled unexpectedly. If you must travel during this time, be mentally prepared and follow announcements from the organizers.

Guide to Getting to The Memories Land – Don’t Let Travel Ruin Your Evening

From Da Nang to Hoi An for the Show

This is what I want to emphasize the most, as it’s also the most troublesome point for tourists. The Memories Land area is located outside the Hoi An Ancient Town center. The road is quite narrow and dark at night. Many taxi and Grab drivers are unfamiliar with the route, leading to detours, getting lost, or even refusing to take passengers to this area after 9 PM.

I’ve witnessed many tourists after the show, standing at the exit calling for Grab with no cars accepting, having to wait 30-45 minutes in the dark. This is an unnecessary bad experience after a beautiful evening.

The best solution I recommend: Book a round-trip transfer with Faifo Express – a professional local transfer service specializing in the Da Nang – Hoi An route and tourist attractions in the region.

Reasons why I recommend Faifo Express over taxis or Grabs:

• Local drivers know the way to The Memories Land well, including shortcuts to avoid traffic jams after the show.
• Flexible pick-up times – just inform them of your show’s end time, and the car will be waiting at the pick-up point, so you don’t have to worry about calling a car in the middle of the night.
• Fixed price, no extra charges – no drivers “ripping you off” at night like some traditional taxis.
• The service can be combined with Da Nang Airport transfers if you’ve just landed and want to go straight to the show that evening – a quite popular itinerary for short-stay tourists.

[!TIP] Smart booking tip: If you are in Da Nang and want to see the show and return to Da Nang the same night, book a car from Da Nang to Hoi An as a round trip. The driver will take you there, perhaps allow you to explore the Ancient Town if you wish, and then pick you up after the show ends. The total cost for a group of 4 people is usually significantly cheaper than booking two separate Grab rides.

From Hoi An Ancient Town Center to The Memories Land

If you are within the Ancient Town, the distance to The Memories Land is only about 3km. You can travel by:

• Bicycle: If you are fit and familiar with the route, you can cycle. However, I don’t recommend it at night due to the lack of street lighting.
• Traditional motorbike taxi: You can ask at your hotel. But remember to agree on the price beforehand.
• Resort electric carts: Some resorts near the Cam Kim area have free electric carts for their guests.

Real Experience at The Memories Land – Don’t Just Watch the Show and Leave

What You Can Do Before the Performance

The gates open at 5:30 PM, and the show starts at 7:15 PM. That’s nearly 2 hours that many tourists waste because they don’t know what to do. But in reality, the pre-show experience area is incredibly rich:

Traditional craft villages: You can participate in making Hoi An lanterns, try Thanh Ha pottery making, or watch artisans embroidering and woodworking. These are not staged performances – these are real artisans at work.and they are very happy to share their craft with tourists.

Food Night Market: This area has food stalls serving Hoi An’s signature dishes. I particularly enjoyed the banh mi and cao lau stalls here – not as fancy as the restaurants in the ancient town, but the flavors are very authentic.

Photo Zone: The entire area is beautifully designed with lanterns, flowers, and ancient Hoi An-style architecture. This is the golden hour for taking photos before it gets completely dark.

While Watching the Show – Things You Need to Know

Best Seats: If you buy tickets for Zone B, arrive early to choose seats from the 3rd to 7th row from the front, in the center section. This offers a panoramic view of the stage without any pillars obstructing your view.

What to Bring: A light jacket (even in summer, Hoi An nights can be breezy), mosquito repellent (important!), and if you have a telephoto lens, this is a great opportunity to take close-up shots of the performers.

Not Allowed: No flash photography, no loud talking during the show. The organizers are quite strict about this, and staff will remind you.

What to Eat After the Show?

After the show ends around 8:30 PM - 9:00 PM, if you want to have dinner, here are some options:

• Within the Hoi An Impression Theme Park: There’s a restaurant open until 10:00 PM, but the prices are quite high and it’s more suitable if you book a combo package in advance.
• Back to Hoi An Ancient Town: Nguyen Thai Hoc Street and the night market area still have many eateries open until 11:00 PM. I often go to Mrs. Vi’s Mi Quang stall on Tran Phu Street – it’s open late, reasonably priced, and serves authentic local flavors.

Estimated Cost for a Trip to See the Hoi An Impression Show

I will calculate the cost for 2 adults traveling from Da Nang, watching the show, and returning to Da Nang on the same night:

With a cost of approximately 800,000 – 1.320.000đ (≈$52)/person, I believe this is a worthwhile experience compared to many other tourist activities in the Da Nang – Hoi An area. For comparison, an evening of fresh seafood in My Khe could cost similarly, but wouldn’t leave such a deep impression.

Practical Experience – Things Only Locals Know

How Early Should You Arrive?

I recommend arriving 15-20 minutes before the gates open (around 5:10 PM - 5:15 PM) if you want to have ample time to explore the experience area. If you’re only coming for the show, arriving before 7:00 PM is sufficient. However, on weekends and holidays, the queue to enter can be quite long – arriving earlier is better.

Appropriate Attire

This is an outdoor show, and you’ll be sitting in an uncovered grandstand. Prepare for:

• Summer (April-August): Light and breathable clothing, but bring a light jacket as the river breeze at night can be quite cool.
• Winter (November-March): Warm clothing is a must. Hoi An nights in winter are colder than many people think, especially when sitting outdoors for 75 minutes.
• Footwear: It’s advisable to wear shoes or sandals with straps as there are quite a few walking paths within the venue.

Should You Book a Dinner Combo?

It depends on your travel style. The dinner combo with the show usually includes a buffet at the restaurant within the premises, served before the performance. The food is decent, not outstanding,convenient. If you’re someone who enjoys exploring local cuisine, I recommend skipping the combo and dining in the ancient town after the show – it’s much more interesting.

Taking Photos and Videos

You are allowed to take photos and videos during the show, but flash photography is prohibited, and tripods are not allowed (as they can disturb other audience members). If you want to capture great shots, set your phone to night mode or use a mirrorless camera with a high ISO. The best moments to photograph are usually the lantern segment at the end of the show and the scene with the coracle boats on the water.

[!TIP] Best shooting angle: If you are seated in section B, rows 5-8 from the front, on the left side of the stage (when viewed from the audience), you’ll generally have the best panoramic view because you are