Mad Monkey Hoi An Pub Craw

The best thing about this Hoi An night out is its easy social setup. You meet at Mad Monkey Hoi An, pull on the tour singlet, share a Jägerbomb, and head out with a ready-made group instead of trying to find the town’s nightlife on your own. I like the low $9 price and the three free shots, plus the mix of bars and clubs rather than one fixed venue. The English-speaking guide and bus also make the evening simple for first-time visitors.

I also like the 8 PM start, since happy hour gives you time to meet people before the louder part of the night begins. The main caution is loose timing and crowded transport. One recent booking described an overloaded bus and another reported a long wait between stops, so you should join for the social mood rather than expect a tightly managed pub tour.

Key points before you book

• $9 covers a social night out: The price includes the pub crawl, bus transport, the Mad Monkey singlet, and one free shot at each listed venue. Other drinks are not stated as included.
• Three main nightlife stops: The route is planned around UNO Bar, Velvet Club, and Why Not Bar, with about an hour at the first two stops.
• The night begins at 8 PM: Start in the Mad Monkey bar during happy hour, then leave for the first bar after the opening meet-up.
• A bus handles the longer transfer: You walk between some nearby stops, then ride to Velvet Club and return by bus around 2 AM.
• This is strictly for adults: Children under 18 and pregnant women cannot join. Large bags and luggage are not allowed.
• Expect a party group, not a cultural tour: The evening focuses on meeting people, drinking, music, and dancing. It is not a guided tour of Hoi An’s old streets.

Starting at Mad Monkey Hoi An at 8 PM

Your evening begins in the Mad Monkey Hoi An bar area at 8 PM. That early start matters. You are not being dropped into a nightclub with no idea who anyone is. You have an hour to settle in, check the happy-hour deals, and meet the group before moving on.

The atmosphere here is meant to be social and informal. You receive a Mad Monkey pub crawl singlet, and the plan includes a Jägerbomb before the group heads out. Wear the singlet if you want to be easy to spot, and choose clothes that can handle a warm night and a crowded dance floor.

No guide names are provided for this experience, but an English-speaking guide leads the group. Your guide is meant to keep the night moving, point you toward each stop, and help with the bus transfer. Since the party has a casual backpacker setup, you should still keep track of your own belongings and stay close to the group when leaving a venue.

This first hour is also where the evening can go in different directions. One booking described the opening hostel atmosphere as good and the group as friendly. Another reported that advertised karaoke did not happen. Treat the opening activities as a chance to meet people, not as a fixed entertainment program with every detail guaranteed.

Walking to UNO Bar for the first free shot

After the opening hour, the group walks to UNO Bar. This is a useful first stop because you get a short walk and a chance to keep talking before the night moves into club mode.

A free shot is included at UNO Bar. That gives you one clear benefit from the $9 fee, though you should not confuse a free shot with an open bar. The package does not say that cocktails, beer, or mixed drinks are included, so budget extra money if you want more than the supplied shots.

The first venue is often important on a pub crawl. It gives the group time to form before everyone spreads out on a dance floor. You might find UNO Bar a better place for conversation than the later club stops, though the exact feel can change with the night, crowd, and music.

One piece of practical advice: pace yourself here. Three included shots can sound modest, but the route also mentions a Jägerbomb and whatever else you choose to buy. You are out for three hours, and the final stop is not scheduled until late. Drink water when you can, eat beforehand, and do not feel obliged to match anyone else’s pace.

The bus ride to Velvet Club

After about an hour at UNO Bar, the plan is to board a bus for Velvet Club. This is the longest transfer in the advertised route, and it is one reason the transport can be useful. You do not need to arrange your own ride between venues, and the group can move together.

The bus is also the weakest part of the experience when operations slip. A recent booking described the vehicle as overloaded. That does not mean every night will have the same problem, but it is a fair warning to expect a party shuttle rather than a roomy private coach.

The published details contain a timing wrinkle. The main description says the group spends about an hour at the opening stop before taking the bus, while the meeting information says the group departs Mad Monkey at 11 PM. The stated activity length is three hours, yet the final return is around 2 AM. In practice, you should confirm the exact departure plan at the bar that night and avoid booking another fixed activity immediately afterward.

Velvet Club is intended to bring a more traditional nightclub feel to the evening. You receive another free shot on arrival and have roughly an hour to dance. The venue adds variety to the route, since the night is not simply a series of small bars.

Music volume is likely to be high at this point. One poor booking described very loud music and cheap-tasting drinks, while other bookings praised the social side and drinking specials. The useful takeaway is simple: choose this stop for dancing and group energy, not careful cocktails or quiet conversation.

Finishing at Why Not Bar around 2 AM

The final listed venue is Why Not Bar. The plan is to walk there from Velvet Club, enjoy another free shot, and go inside for the last part of the night.

This final stop gives you a choice. At around 2 AM, you can take the bus back to Mad Monkey Hoi An or continue somewhere else on your own. That flexibility is handy if you are still enjoying the group, but it also means the organized part of the evening has a clear end point. Do not assume the tour continues after the return bus.

The three venues serve different purposes in the evening:

• UNO Bar is the first social stop, with the first free shot and time to get to know the group.
• Velvet Club is the main nightclub stop, with louder music, dancing, and another included shot.
• Why Not Bar closes the planned route and gives you a final drink stop before the bus return.

The supplied schedule also includes Hoi An Ancient Town as a visit, but the detailed nightlife plan centers on Mad Monkey, UNO Bar, Velvet Club, and Why Not Bar. If seeing the old town is important to you, do not count on this pub crawl as a proper Ancient Town tour. Ask the host how that part fits into the evening before you book.

What the $9 price really gives you

At $9 per person, this is a cheap way to arrange a night out. The value is strongest if you want three things: a social group, a planned route, and transport between venues. Buying three separate drinks might already approach the fee in some nightlife settings, though the tour only promises shots, not full drinks or entry fees beyond what is stated.

The real product here is convenience. You do not need to search for bars, work out where the next venue is, or organize a ride between the main stops. You also have a guide and a group around you, which can make a solo night in Hoi An feel less awkward.

The value drops if you prefer better drinks, smaller groups, or precise service. One poor experience described watered-down cocktails, a long unexplained delay, and an unhelpful management response. Another booking praised the specials and the fun social connections. Those sharply different experiences suggest that the quality may depend heavily on the night’s turnout and staff organization.

There is also a price difference worth checking. A booking made directly at the hostel was described as costing more than half as much as the online rate. If you are already staying at Mad Monkey, compare the in-house price before paying $9 elsewhere. If you booked through GetYourGuide, the supplied offer says you can use code MADTOUR on the Mad Monkey Hostels website for an extra 5 percent off any existing deal. That discount applies to accommodation, not to the pub crawl itself.

Who will enjoy this Hoi An night out

I would point this experience toward solo visitors, backpackers, and small groups who want to meet people quickly. The social setting begins before the first bar, and the singlet makes it clear who is part of the group. The strongest praise focused on friendly company, a relaxed crowd, and good connections.

It can also work well for someone staying near Mad Monkey Hoi An who does not want to plan an evening. The $9 fee removes some of the guesswork, while the return bus gives you a simple way back around 2 AM.

I would be more cautious if you dislike loud venues, drinking games, crowded buses, or late changes. This is not a food tour, a local music program, or a refined cocktail evening. It is a budget party route built around shots, bars, clubs, and dancing.

You should also skip it if you are pregnant or under 18. Large bags and luggage are not allowed, so bring only what you can keep secure and carry comfortably. Comfortable shoes are important because the plan includes walking between the hostel and nearby venues, plus a walk from Velvet Club to Why Not Bar.

How to make the night run better

Eat before the 8 PM meeting time. The supplied plan is focused on drinks, and no meal is included. A proper meal gives you a better chance of enjoying the full route without rushing the alcohol.

Bring a small amount of what you need, such as a phone, payment method, and room key. Large bags are not allowed, and crowded nightlife is never the right place for extra luggage.

Ask two questions at the start: what time the group actually leaves Mad Monkey, and where the return bus will wait at 2 AM. The published times are not perfectly consistent, and a clear answer can save you from waiting in the wrong place.

Keep the singlet on if you want to stay easy to find, but do not rely on it as your only way to identify the group. Stay near the guide when the group leaves each venue, especially after the bus transfer.

Finally, keep your expectations in the right place. The best part is likely to be the people you meet and the ease of moving from one venue to another. The weakest parts can be delays, crowding, and uneven drink quality. If you see the evening as a low-cost social outing, the rough edges may be manageable. If you expect a polished bar program, they may bother you.

Should you book the Mad Monkey Hoi An Pub Crawl?

Book it if you want a cheap, social night with a set route, three free shots, an English-speaking guide, and a bus connection between venues. The positive experiences point to a friendly group and good drinking specials, and the price is hard to beat for a planned evening.

Skip it if you need reliable timing, uncrowded transport, or high-quality cocktails. The overloaded bus report and the account of a long unexplained wait are real concerns, even though the overall rating is 4.2 from 25 bookings.

My practical verdict: this is worth considering for a solo backpacker or first-time nightlife seeker who values company more than polish. Confirm the departure time, check the direct hostel price, eat first, and treat the free shots as a bonus rather than the main reason to go.

FAQ

How much does the Mad Monkey Hoi An Pub Crawl cost?

The listed price is $9 per person.

How long does the pub crawl last?

The activity is listed as lasting three hours. The planned night begins at 8 PM, and the return bus is scheduled around 2 AM, so confirm the exact timing at the meeting point.

Where does the pub crawl start?

Meet in the bar area at Mad Monkey Hoi An at 8 PM, at coordinates 15.889047622680664, 108.35345458984375.

Which venues are included?

The planned route includes UNO Bar, Velvet Club, and Why Not Bar. The evening starts at Mad Monkey Hoi An during happy hour.

Are drinks included?

You receive one free shot at each listed venue. The experience also mentions a Jägerbomb at the start, but other drinks are not stated as included.

Is transportation provided?

Yes. The group walks between some stops and uses a bus for the transfer to Velvet Club and the return around 2 AM.

Who cannot join the pub crawl?

Children under 18 and pregnant women cannot join. Large bags and luggage are also not allowed.