Outdoor live show «Ký Ức Hội An» (Hoi An Memories)

   Four centuries of an old trading port in a single evening: on an island in the Hoai River (sông Hoài), nearly 500 performers, laser light and 3D mapping tell the story of how Hoi An grew and changed. If this is your first time in town, start here: after this show, the old streets read very differently.

   «Ký Ức Hội An» («Hoi An Memories»), billed in English as Hoi An Memories Show, runs every night except Tuesday at 20:00 and lasts about an hour. The stage is the island of Đảo Ký Ức Hội An (Hoi An Memories Land) on the Hoai River. Tickets cost from 420,000 to 1,200,000 VND depending on the zone and visitor category and are sold on the official Hoi An Memories Land website and at the box office of Công viên Ấn tượng Hội An (Hoi An Impression Theme Park), which opens at 16:00.

   The show belongs to the «thực cảnh» genre, a performance staged in full-scale real-life sets. According to the operator, the stage covers 25,000 m². It premiered on March 18, 2018, and since January 2025 an upgraded version has been running, with laser lighting, 3D mapping and vivid sound effects. The story is told by a young weaver: the thread from her «thousand-year-old» loom leads you through five acts.

   Five acts, five eras of Hoi An:
— «Sinh mệnh» («Life»): the first settlers clear new land
— «Đám cưới» («The Wedding»): the marriage of Princess Huyen Tran (Huyền Trân) to King Che Man (Chế Mân) of Champa
— «Đèn và Biển» («Lanterns and the Sea»): Hoi An's young men head out to sea while the lights of home and the love of faithful women wait for them
— «Hội nhập» («Integration»): the port of Faifo at the height of its trade, drawing merchants from all over the world
— «Áo dài»: Hoi An, having weathered every change, keeps its calm beauty, like the Vietnamese áo dài dress

   It suits visitors with a couple of days in Hoi An who want to grasp in one evening what the town has lived through, and families: toddlers under 1 m get in free. Come early for a walk around Công viên Ấn tượng Hội An: from 17:00 to 19:00 the park stages more than 20 mini-shows, including «Thế giới Hội An» («The World of Hoi An») and «Đám cưới công chúa Ngọc Hoa» («The Wedding of Princess Ngoc Hoa»).

   Da Nang's official tourism portal calls «Ký Ức Hội An» the largest outdoor «thực cảnh» show in Vietnam. The whole complex on the island is branded Hoi An Memories Land: besides the theater and the mini-show park, it has a shopping street, restaurants and the Hoi An Memories Resort & Spa.

   Zones and tickets. ECO seats are closest to the stage and on the side wings of the stand, without a roof; HIGH seats are higher up with a wider view, also uncovered; VIP takes the top rows with its own aisle, fully under a roof, and comes with a cold towel, fresh fruit and a bottle of water, plus, on adult tickets, a 50,000 VND voucher for food or souvenirs. The lowest price, 420,000 VND, is the local-resident rate; for visitors, adult tickets start at 600,000 VND. Children from 1 m to 1.4 m tall pay the child rate, from 1.4 m the adult rate; each adult may bring up to two children under 1 m for free, and their free tickets are collected at the box office.

   Tickets are non-refundable, including for latecomers and no-shows. Arrive 30 minutes before the start. The schedule may change in bad weather, so check the official show page before you set off.

   The park entrance is off Nguyễn Tri Phương: cross the Cam Nam Bridge (cầu Cẩm Nam), turn left at number 200 and you will see the bridge onto the island. An electric shuttle runs across, but you can also walk and watch the sun set over the Hoai River.

   A second hotline number is 0904 636 600; bookings by email: [email protected].

   If you only have one evening in Hoi An, spend it on the island in the Hoai River: in one hour, the whole history of the town passes before your eyes.