At the entrance to Lai Vien Kieu — the covered bridge that's a symbol of Hoi An's old town, known locally as the "Japanese Bridge" (Chua Cau) — a foreign woman was stopped around 7pm on August 4, 2026. She was wearing a sheer black outfit with a slit cut up to hip height. As she tried to enter the bridge, local guide Truong Bui Ngoc Khue called out to her in English and asked her to change. She and her companion reportedly left the bridge, bought new clothes nearby, and returned to continue their visit. When video of the exchange spread on Facebook the next day, August 5, the guide's handling of the situation drew praise.
This incident isn't about blaming anyone. Hoi An's heritage district has dress guidelines, much like temples and shrines in Japan, and it's often first-time visitors who unknowingly walk in without knowing them. So that travelers from Japan don't run into the same confusion, here's a rundown of the reported facts along with practical information for enjoying a walk through the old town.
"Please Wear Long Pants or a Long Skirt" — What the Guide Told Her at the Bridge Entrance
According to local newspaper DTiNews, what Khue told the woman was, in essence, "This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Please avoid dressing like that. Wear long pants or a long skirt." Rather than turning her away harshly, he explained the rules in English and asked her to change.
Khue told reporters that, since many first-time visitors to Vietnam aren't aware of local rules and customs, he keeps explaining until they understand and cooperate. Staff apparently speak to visitors not just at the bridge entrance but from the entrance to the old town itself. In fact, the women who were reminded didn't push back — they adjusted their clothing and resumed their visit. The calm, respectful nature of the exchange is a big reason the video won support on social media.
Revealing Clothing Is "Not Permitted at Assembly Halls or Temples" — Written Into the Heritage District's Rules
The dress standards aren't a staff member's improvisation — they're written into the visitor regulations for each of Hoi An's heritage sites. Pham Phu Ngoc, director of the Hoi An Center for Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation, explained that "revealing clothing isn't permitted at sacred places like assembly halls and temples." Reports say staff are instructed to ask visitors whose clothing doesn't meet the standard to step back out before entering a site.
Lai Vien Kieu is said to have been built by Japanese merchants in the mid-17th century and was designated a national historical and cultural relic in 1990. A small shrine sits partway across the bridge, making it more than just a passageway — it doubles as a place of worship. Hoi An's old town itself was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. It's precisely because this "tourist attraction" and "place of prayer" overlap that visitors are asked to be mindful about how much skin they show.
Dressing Right for Hoi An's Temples — Cover Your Shoulders and Knees and Stay Cool
So what should you actually wear? The guideline for visiting temples and heritage sites in central Vietnam is simple.
- Cover your shoulders: Skip sleeveless tops, camisoles, and anything cut too low, and bring a shirt with sleeves or a light cover-up.
- Cover your knees: Choose long pants or a skirt/dress that falls below the knee rather than shorts or a miniskirt. The high slit and sheer fabric that caused trouble in this case would run into the same problem.
- Shoes that are easy to slip on and off: You'll be asked to remove your shoes at some shrines and temples, so sandals or slip-ons make coming and going easier.
Central Vietnam, where Hoi An sits, stays in its dry season through August, and daytime temperatures are quite hot and humid. But there's no need to worry that covering up means overheating — breathable fabrics like linen and cotton keep long sleeves and long pants comfortably cool. Keeping a thin stole in your bag is handy too, so you can quickly drape it over your shoulders right before entering a temple. Many shops also crank up the air conditioning indoors, so a cover-up doubles as temperature control. For packing tips, seeour Vietnam travel packing list, and for how to think about clothing by season, seeour guide to Vietnam's rainy and dry seasons.
The World Heritage Old Town: 22 Sites and a 120,000-Dong Combo Ticket
One thing worth understanding before you walk around Hoi An's old town is how the entry ticket system works. Simply strolling the streets, viewing the bridge from outside, or enjoying the lanterns at night is free. But entering any of the 22 sites open to visitors — the inside of Lai Vien Kieu, old houses, assembly halls, museums, and more — requires a combo ticket for foreign visitors (120,000 dong, about ¥720, calculated at roughly 10,000 dong ≈ ¥60 as of August 2026). One ticket covers up to five sites and is valid for 24 hours from purchase.
The dress guidelines matter most at these "ticketed sites." Lai Vien Kieu, with its shrine, and the assembly halls where ancestors are honored are exactly the kind of sacred places where you should mind how much skin you show. On the other hand, there's no need to be so formal when you're taking a break at a riverside café or browsing for souvenirs. For how to walk the old town and get a feel for its cafés, seeour guide to café culture in the old town of Hoi Antoo — it'll help you get a sense of when to dress up and when to relax.
What the Traveler Who Changed and Came Back Showed Us About Visiting the Heritage District
In this case, after being reminded, the woman bought new clothes and went on to enjoy her visit. She simply hadn't known the rule and was happy to comply once it was explained — arguably the best possible outcome for both traveler and locals. Under the 2025 administrative restructuring, Hoi An became part of Da Nang City (as Hoi An Ward), but the old town's character as a place of worship hasn't changed. Just pack something that covers your shoulders and knees before crossing the bridge, and you'll be able to raise your camera in front of Lai Vien Kieu's shrine without a second thought. It's a small stumble that's easy to avoid if you know about it beforehand — worth quietly adding to your packing list.
Sources
- VnExpress International, "Foreign tourist turned away from Hoi An bridge over revealing dress" (August 7, 2026)
https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/foreign-tourist-turned-away-from-hoi-an-bridge-over-revealing-dress-5106176.html - DTiNews, "Tourist asked to change outfit before entering Hoi An temple" (August 6, 2026)
https://dtinews.dantri.com.vn/lifestyle/tourist-asked-to-change-outfit-before-entering-hoi-an-temple-20260806091802470.htm
