Mad Monkey Hoi An Pub Craw

Hoi An’s Mad Monkey pub crawl is built around a simple promise: meet other young people, take a bus between bars, and keep the night moving with free shots and a Mad Monkey singlet. The route includes UNO Bar, Velvet Club, and Why Not Bar, with the group gathering first at the hostel bar.

I like the low price and the easy social setup. At $9, you get a guide, transport between venues, a shirt, and a free shot at each listed stop. I also like the happy-hour start at 8 PM, which gives you a clear meeting point and a chance to meet the group before the louder clubs.

The main concern is organization. One recent booking described an overloaded bus, while another reported long delays and a missed karaoke plan. The advertised schedule also contains conflicting times, so you should treat this as a loose night out rather than a tightly timed tour.

Key points to know before you go

• Three named nightlife stops: The route is planned around UNO Bar, Velvet Club, and Why Not Bar.
• Free shots at each venue: The package includes a shot at the meeting point or first stop, then another at the next venues.
• Mad Monkey singlet included: Wear the pub crawl shirt during the night, and arrive dressed for walking and dancing.
• Bus transport between locations: A shuttle reduces the need to arrange your own ride, though space may be limited.
• English-speaking guide: The crawl is led in English, with a group-focused format rather than a cultural tour.
• Adult-only late-night plan: It is for people 18 and older, with a possible finish around 2 AM.

Starting at Mad Monkey Hoi An at 8 PM

The night begins in the Mad Monkey Hoi An bar area at 8 PM, during happy hour. This is more than a formal check-in. It is the part of the evening where you find the guide, meet the group, collect or put on the pub crawl singlet, and make use of the bar’s early drink deals.

I like this start time. You are not being thrown straight into a nightclub with a room full of strangers. You have time to arrive, order a drink, and see who else is joining. For solo visitors, that first hour may be the most useful part of the whole package because the social side begins before the music gets too loud.

The atmosphere depends heavily on the group that night. One booking described a relaxed crowd and easy connections with other people. That is the ideal setup for this kind of event, but a pub crawl is never a guaranteed friendship machine. If the group is small or quiet, the evening may feel less exciting.

The singlet is part of the branding and part of the social trick. Once everyone is wearing the same shirt, it becomes easier to spot your group at the next bar. It also makes the night feel like a shared event rather than three unrelated bar visits. If you prefer to keep a low profile, you may find the matching shirt a little loud.

UNO Bar and the first free shot

After the opening hour, the group walks to UNO Bar. The walk gives you a short break from the hostel and keeps the first transfer simple. You should wear comfortable shoes, since the evening includes walking between some venues and time on your feet.

UNO Bar is scheduled as the first main stop, with a free shot waiting for the group. The early stop matters because it sets the pace for the rest of the evening. You can still talk at this point, learn the names of people in the group, and decide how much you want to drink before the nightclub portion begins.

The free shot is a small inclusion, not a reason to rush. The value of a pub crawl comes from the coordination and social access, not from the retail price of one shot. You can enjoy the drink and still pace yourself. The night is long if the group continues until 2 AM.

One important limitation is that the exact drink quality may vary. A booking from July described cocktails at one venue as cheap and watered down. That is one person’s experience, not a guarantee of what you will receive, but it is a good reason to avoid paying for expensive extras until you have seen the bar and its prices.

The bus ride to Velvet Club

After about an hour at the first bar, the group is meant to board a bus for Velvet Club. Transport is a useful part of the deal in Hoi An, especially late at night when you may not want to arrange several separate rides.

The bus also helps keep the group together. A guide can move everyone from one part of the evening to the next without asking you to navigate unfamiliar streets after drinking. That said, the bus is not necessarily spacious. One booking specifically described it as overloaded, so you should expect a practical shuttle rather than a comfortable coach.

The supplied schedule has a timing problem worth noting. The experience is sold as three hours, and the meeting point says the group departs Mad Monkey at 11 PM, yet the route also allows for a later return around 2 AM. A separate schedule line lists the coach duration as 30 hours, which is clearly not realistic for this activity. I would plan for a late night and confirm the actual departure and return details at the bar.

That uncertainty is not a minor detail. If you have an early transfer, a booked dinner, or a morning tour, do not rely on the three-hour label alone. The night may finish later than the basic duration suggests.

Velvet Club after dark

Velvet Club is the main nightclub stop in the planned route. The group spends roughly an hour there and receives another free shot on arrival. This is where the crawl shifts from social drinks to louder music and dancing.

You are likely to get the most value from this stop if your goal is a club atmosphere rather than a quiet evening. The guide’s role is mainly to bring the group in, keep the plan moving, and help create a shared night out. This is not a guided explanation of Hoi An’s music culture or local nightlife scene.

I would treat the free drink as an entry feature, not as a full drinks package. The information provided does not promise unlimited drinks, reserved seating, or premium cocktails. If you order beyond the included shot, check the price first. That matters even more if the venue feels busy or the group is being moved along quickly.

The best part of a stop like Velvet Club is the group energy. People who arrive alone can join a dance floor with a ready-made circle. The drawback is that your enjoyment depends on the night’s crowd, music, and organization. A group that is having fun can make an ordinary club feel lively. A delayed bus or poor communication can have the opposite effect.

Why Not Bar and the late finish

The final listed stop is Why Not Bar. The group walks there from Velvet Club, receives another free shot, and then has time inside before the night winds down. The name is playful, but the practical question is how long you want to stay.

At around 2 AM, the plan says you can take the bus back or continue to another venue. This gives you some freedom, but it also means the official activity does not necessarily end when the group reaches its last bar. If you want to leave earlier, ask the guide how to return to Mad Monkey or arrange your own ride.

Why Not Bar may be the most flexible stop because it is the point where the organized portion and the rest of your night can split. You can stay with the group, head back, or make your own plan. Do not leave luggage behind, since large bags are not allowed on the activity.

The timing again deserves caution. The listing presents a three-hour duration, but a 2 AM return from an 8 PM start is closer to six hours. Think of $9 as buying a structured late-night outing, not a tightly measured three-hour appointment.

What $9 gets you in real value

At $9 per person, this is one of those activities where the price looks attractive because the included basics add up. You receive a pub crawl shirt, a free shot at each scheduled bar, a guide speaking English, and bus transport between venues.

If you visited three bars alone, you might spend more than $9 before transport. The real saving is not only the drinks. It is the convenience of having a route, a meeting point, and a group already assembled. For a solo person or a pair who wants company, that can be worth more than the nominal drink value.

Still, low price means modest expectations. This is not a premium cocktail tasting, a private party, or a carefully managed small-group tour. The drinks may be basic, and the bus may be crowded. You are paying for a social night with transport, not polished service at every stop.

There is also a direct-booking price question. One booking noted that signing up at the hostel could cost more than half as much as booking through the online channel. The exact hostel price is not given, so I would ask at Mad Monkey before paying. If the lower rate is still available, it could change the value calculation.

People who book directly through GetYourGuide can also use the MADTOUR code for an extra 5 percent off Mad Monkey Hostel bookings, on top of existing deals. That discount applies to accommodation, not the pub crawl itself.

The biggest strength is the social setup

The most praised part of this activity is the group experience. A successful night here depends less on sightseeing and more on whether you want to meet people quickly. The opening happy hour, shared singlets, free shots, and guided movement from bar to bar all reduce the awkwardness of going out alone.

I especially like the way the evening gives you several chances to connect. You meet at Mad Monkey, walk to UNO Bar, ride together to Velvet Club, then walk to Why Not Bar. If one venue is not your style, the next transfer gives you another chance to talk with someone new.

The event is also easy for people who do not know Hoi An at night. You do not need to research which bar is open, compare routes, or decide where to go next. The guide and bus handle the basic structure.

The tradeoff is that the same structure can feel manufactured. You are moving as a group, wearing the same shirt, and visiting venues chosen by the organizer. If you want a quiet local bar, a conversation with residents, or a self-directed night, this is probably not the right format.

Organization and what to watch closely

The main warning sign is inconsistent communication. One booking described a delay of about 1.5 hours after being told the next stop would come in 20 minutes. The same account said a planned karaoke session never happened and that the group eventually left independently.

You should not assume that every advertised extra will happen unless the guide confirms it that evening. Karaoke is not part of the main route described in the core schedule, so treat it as uncertain rather than a promised feature.

A simple check-in can prevent confusion. At the start, ask three questions:

• What time does the group leave each venue?
• Does the bus return to Mad Monkey at the end?
• Can you leave early if you choose?

The guide is listed as English-speaking, but no guide names are supplied. That means you should identify the guide when you arrive and keep track of the group during transfers. If the bus is crowded, make sure you know the next meeting point before stepping away.

Who should book this Hoi An pub crawl?

I would recommend it to solo backpackers, pairs who want a social night, and people staying at Mad Monkey who like clubs and group activities. It works best when you want a ready-made plan and do not mind letting someone else choose the venues.

It may also suit you if you are new to Hoi An and want a quick introduction to its late-night bar circuit. The route gives you several stops in one evening, and the transport reduces the hassle of arranging rides.

I would skip it if you want good cocktails, quiet conversation, a strict finish time, or local cultural insight. It is also a poor match if you dislike crowded buses or group pacing. Pregnant people and children under 18 cannot join, and large luggage is not allowed.

Bring comfortable clothes and shoes. Do not carry more than you need. A small personal item is easier to manage than a large bag, especially when walking, dancing, and boarding the shuttle.

Should you book the Mad Monkey Hoi An Pub Crawl?

Book this for the social value, not the drinks. At $9, it is a reasonable gamble if you want to meet people, visit several nightlife venues, and have transport arranged. The positive side is clear: low cost, free shots, a simple route, and an easy way to join a group.

Go in with flexible expectations about timing and service. Confirm the schedule at 8 PM, ask about the return bus, and pace yourself rather than treating each free shot as a challenge. If the hostel offers a much lower walk-in price, compare that before booking online.

My call: choose it for a spontaneous backpacker night when you have no early plans the next morning. Skip it when reliable timing and polished organization matter more than meeting a crowd.

FAQ

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

The listed price is $9 per person. One booking noted that joining through the hostel could be more than half cheaper, but the exact hostel price is not provided.

How long does the pub crawl last?

The activity is listed as three hours, but the schedule also says the group may take the bus back around 2 AM after starting at 8 PM. Confirm the actual timing at the meeting point.

Where does the pub crawl start?

Meet in the Mad Monkey Hoi An bar area at 8 PM during happy hour. The stated coordinates are 15.889047622680664, 108.35345458984375.

Which bars are included?

The planned route includes UNO Bar, Velvet Club, and Why Not Bar. The group starts at the Mad Monkey Hoi An bar area before visiting these venues.

Are drinks included?

A free shot is included at each listed venue, including the first stop, the nightclub stop, and the final bar. Happy-hour drink deals are also available at the starting bar.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Bus transport is included between parts of the route, including the trip to Velvet Club and the return option around 2 AM. One booking reported that the bus was overloaded.

Can children join the pub crawl?

No. The activity is not suitable for children under 18. It is also not suitable for pregnant women, and large bags or luggage are not allowed.