Notice what others miss
Find old façades, flood marks, architectural details, historic traces and unusual places hidden around Hoi An.
Explore Hoi An at your own pace
Discover Hoi An with John
Discover the stories, hidden details and places that most visitors walk straight past.
Self-guidedYour phone · Your pace
Interactive mapHidden places and local stories
$5 USDOne-time payment · No subscription
Interactive city guideNo app to installOne-time payment · No subscription
A different way to discover Hoi An
Hoi An is more interesting when you know what you’re looking at.
Hoi An is one of Vietnam’s most beautiful historic towns. But when you walk through the Old Town for the first time, it’s easy to see only the colourful façades, lanterns, shops and famous monuments.
Look a little closer and you’ll find much more: old flood marks, forgotten street names, unusual buildings, traces of the city’s trading past, tiny temples, architectural details and stories hidden behind places you may have already walked past several times.
Discover Hoi An with John is an interactive self-guided experience designed to help you notice those things while you explore Hoi An at your own pace.
Explore differently
Look at Hoi An differently
This isn’t another checklist of attractions. It’s a guide to all the interesting things you might otherwise never notice.
Short, interesting stories
No long history lessons. Each location comes with an easy-to-read story, explanation or anecdote connected to what you’re seeing.
Explore your way
There is no meeting point, departure time or fixed itinerary. Open the map and discover whatever interests you nearby.
Beyond the famous sights
Not another list of the “10 things you must see in Hoi An”
Of course, some of Hoi An’s famous landmarks are included. But Discover Hoi An with John is mostly about everything that exists between those famous places.
It might be a house you’ve walked past three times. A small plaque on a wall. An old street name. A hidden temple. An unusual architectural detail. Or a building whose original purpose is almost forgotten.
These are often the things that make exploring Hoi An much more interesting.
You’re already going to walk around Hoi An.
You might as well know what you’re looking at.
Simple to use
How does it work?
No tour group. No meeting point. No schedule.
Get access
Purchase access to Discover Hoi An with John for just $5.
Open the guide
Open the interactive guide directly from your smartphone and see interesting locations around you.
Start exploring
Pick a place that interests you, walk there and discover the story behind it.
A look inside
Hoi An, one discovery at a time.
A glimpse of the places and stories you can explore on your phone.
Your digital guide
What’s included?
Everything is designed to make exploring Hoi An simple and flexible.
Interactive map
See interesting places around you while exploring Hoi An.
Dozens of discoveries
Find stories, historic places and details around the city.
Hidden details
Notice things you would probably never find by yourself.
Famous places too
See some well-known Hoi An landmarks from a different perspective.
No fixed itinerary
Visit the places that interest you in whatever order you want.
Designed for your phone
Use the guide while you’re walking around Hoi An.
Explore at your own pace
Perfect if you like exploring independently
Discover Hoi An with John is made for travellers who enjoy walking around and discovering a city by themselves — but would still like someone to point out the interesting things along the way.
Stop for coffee whenever you want. Spend five minutes somewhere or fifty. Skip anything that doesn’t interest you. Come back to the guide later and continue exploring.
You decide how you discover Hoi An.
Start exploring
Discover Hoi An
for just $5
$5 USD
One-time payment · No subscription
- Interactive Hoi An map
- Dozens of places and stories
- Hidden details and unusual locations
- Explore at your own pace
- Designed for smartphone use
Use the purchase button at the top of this page to get access to Discover Hoi An with John.
Get access · $5Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is this a guided tour?
No. Discover Hoi An with John is completely self-guided. There is no guide, meeting point or departure time. You explore Hoi An independently using your phone.
Is John a real tour guide?
No. “John” is part of the identity of the experience. Discover Hoi An with John is a digital self-guided way to explore the city, not a tour with a human guide.
Do I need to install an app?
No. There is no app to download from an app store. The experience works directly from your phone.
Do I have to follow a specific route?
No. That’s one of the main ideas behind the guide. You can start wherever you want and visit the locations in any order.
How long does it take?
There is no fixed duration. You can use it for a short walk, spend several hours exploring, or discover different places during your stay in Hoi An.
Is it only about famous tourist attractions?
No. Some famous landmarks are included, but a large part of the experience focuses on hidden details, lesser-known places and stories that visitors often miss.
Is this a treasure hunt or a game?
No. Discover Hoi An with John is an interactive city guide. There are no points, scores or compulsory riddles. The idea is simply to explore and discover Hoi An differently.
Can I use it on my phone?
Yes. It has been designed specifically to be used from a smartphone while you’re walking around Hoi An.
How much does it cost?
Access costs $5. It’s a one-time payment with no subscription.
Discover Hoi An with John
See more than just the postcard version of Hoi An.
Look closer. Discover the stories hiding around the city.
Start exploring · $5