I saw the Hoi An Memories Show on back-to-back nights (Sunday and Monday). I initially only planned on going the one time, but I left surprised at how good it was and decided to ride down to Hoi An to see it again the next night.
The Memories Show is an outdoor performance on a 25,000-square-foot stage involving hundreds of actors that details the 400-plus-year history of Hoi An. There is very little dialogue, but a ton of visual effects, choreography, and music. The primary show lasts one hour, and there’s never a dull moment. The hour went by quickly.
Here’s a video (of several I filmed) during the Hoi An Memories Show.
I’ve lived in Da Nang for years and have visited Hoi An countless times. I’m surprised at how little the Hoi An Memories Show is marketed or talked about. Even when you’re actually in Hoi An, it’s entirely possible you wouldn’t even know this show exists. The main show was great (and loud) and happens just south of Old Town six nights per week.
The other great show in Hoi An happens at the Lune Center, and I’ve covered it in this article on things to do in Hoi An. It’s also in my sample three-day Hoi An itinerary.
Hoi An Memories Show Information
| Show location | Google Maps |
| Park hours | • NO SHOWS ON TUESDAY • Park opens at 4 PM • Several mini shows start at 5 PM • Main show starts exactly at 8 PM |
| Ticket cost | • ECO: 600.000 VND • HIGH: 750.000 VND • VIP: 1.200.000 VND • For children, FREE if under 1m tall, otherwise: • 200,000 VND, 350,000 VND, and 600,000 VND • If taller than 1m4, charged as adult ticket |
| Buy tickets | Get them here on Klook or here on GetYourGuide |
| When to visit* | It’s an outdoor show (only the VIP section is fully covered) |
| Other notes | Plenty of places to eat inside, bathrooms |
| Official website | Hoi An Memories Land // Hoi An Memories FB Page |
Seeing the Hoi An Memories Show
Getting there: the Memories Show takes place on Hoi An Memories Land, a small island in the Thu Bon River, south of Old Town. The island is home to the five-star Hoi An Memories Resort (see on Agoda / Booking). As an aside, this would be a great place to stay in Hoi An. I have more Hoi An hotel suggestions here, and this article covers Hoi An’s best areas to stay.
If you’re staying at a hotel in Old Town, you can walk to the northern bridge of Hoi An Memories Land (the Moonlight Bridge) in about 20 to 30 minutes. That bridge is located here on Google Maps. You can also access the island from the southern bridge, located here on Google Maps. Keep in mind that you can use the Grab app to order taxis if you prefer not to walk.
There are ticket booths at the beginning of both bridges onto the island. If you buy your ticket ahead of time via Klook or GetYourGuide, you’ll receive a confirmation or QR code that you’ll show to the ticket booth to receive a physical ticket.
The park itself opens at 4 PM. Then, beginning at 5 PM, there are 16 mini shows happening around the park in 10-minute intervals until the main show begins at 8 PM in the main arena. In my opinion, these mini shows are optional and not what I would consider “must-see.” But by all means, see them if you want to get your money’s worth.
There are souvenir shops and plenty of bathrooms around the park, and overall, it’s pretty clean and well-maintained. There are snack vendors, restaurants, and some smaller bars. But no surprise, these tend to be on the more expensive side. Other than the mini shows and main show, there isn’t anything to do in the park, except eat and drink, so consider that if you’re visiting with kids.
My advice: if you only want to see the main show at 8 PM, get dinner elsewhere in Hoi An, then head over to Hoi An Memories Land before the main show. I did this on my second night and got to the island at about 7 PM. This article details getting around Hoi An.
Memories Show tickets and seating: There are three tiers of stadium seating for the main show: ECO, HIGH, and VIP. The seats are unassigned. It’s a first-come, first-served seating arrangement by section. The photo below should help a bit with visualizing the seating layout.
I’m standing at the top of the HIGH section. The VIP section is to the upper left, and the ECO section is further down towards the front of the stage.
For adults, the ECO ticket is 600.000 VND, the HIGH is 750.000 VND, and the VIP is 1.200.000 VND.
For children, ticket costs are based on height. Children under 1m are free. For children between 1m and 1m4, the tickets for the three tiers cost 200.000 VND, 350.000 VND, and 600.000 VND.
I sat in the HIGH section both times. Some thoughts on seating after seeing the show twice:
The ECO section is closer to the stage, but is also lower. The stage is very big (wide and deep), and in some parts of the show, things are happening all over the stage. Sitting in ECO is closer and cheaper and will definitely feel more intimate, but I’m unsure if you’ll be able to see the stage fully.
Both times I saw the show, the ECO section filled up pretty quickly. People were queuing for the ECO section from before 7 PM.
I joined the queue for the HIGH section at around 7:30 PM and had no problem choosing from a variety of available seats. People were slowly joining the HIGH section right up until the show started at 8 PM. I personally liked my seat in the HIGH section, but if I were to visit again, I would sit closer for the intimacy of the performance.
The VIP section is a bit higher up from HIGH and is fully covered. Part of the HIGH section is covered by an overhang, too. The ECO section is fully outside, so take that into consideration when booking tickets because the show goes on in the rain. The rainy season in Hoi An generally runs from September through December, give or take.
I thought the main show ran very smoothly, always with something going on. There is a little bit of voice-over dialogue, but it’s mainly a visual show. There was never a dull moment, though, even without dialogue, as the visuals were constantly changing. Lighting effects, fire, music, choreography, and hundreds of actors.
Is the Hoi An Memories Show Worth Seeing?
I usually don’t like to promote things as “must see,” but this show is a rare exception. Since I went into seeing the show totally blind, I had no expectations beforehand. For me, it was surprisingly great. And this goes back to what I mentioned in the beginning: how surprised I am by how little this show is talked about or marketed.
I think the Hoi An Memories Show is definitely worth seeing. The great thing is that the show happens at night, so it doesn’t really take away from other activities you could be doing in and around Hoi An. Plus, the Old Town area gets super crowded at night, so coming to the show is a good break from that.
Now, as far as ticket costs go, I understand this show might not be financially viable for every traveler. So if you decide to skip it, don’t worry about feeling like you missed out. It’s a great bonus, but not required to fully enjoy Hoi An. As I said, I lived here for years and didn’t even know this show existed until recently. And I loved Hoi An already before seeing the show.
But, if you end up seeing the Hoi An Memories Show, share your experience in our Hoi An, Da Nang, and Hue travel group on Facebook.
Great advice
Thanks, Tony. Enjoy the Memories Show!