Hoi An Best Area to Stay: Guide to Where to Stay in Hoi An

How Many Nights to Stay in Hoi An?

Number of nights to stay over in Hoi An depends on each traveller, such as his/her itinerary across the country or region, budget, liking, and more. For first timers, 2 nights is the minimum that should book to explore the city. It’s enough to visit the Old Town and historical sites, beaches, countryside and join some featured activities. On the 3^rd day, travellers can leave the city in the afternoon and then sleep in Da Nang or Hue or fly to somewhere else. This layover allows you to check out places that may be missed in previous days, even the My Son Sanctuary. We recommend reading the guides for 2 days in Hoi An, and 3 days in Hoi An to easier design the travel plan.

Da Nang or Hoi An – Reasons to Stay Overnight in Hoi An

Although smaller in size and further to the airport, Hoi An owns lots of things that make traveler’s stay memorable. Foremost, this charming city has historical quarters filled by old timber houses, blooming flowers and plentiful tourist places. At night, colorful and fairy lights from millions of lanterns kill every romantic soul. It’s an epic beauty that can’t be found anywhere else. In the full moon (lantern festival), definitely Hoi An is the choice of all travellers. Peaceful countryside and sunny beaches at a close distance, diversity of handicraft traditions and cuisine are other reasons. See more comparisons in our article to Da Nang or Hoi An.

If you have a holiday that is long enough (such as a week), you should spend the night in both Hoi An and Da Nang.

When is the Best Time to Go to Hoi An?

The best time of the year to visit Hoi An is from February to the end of August when it’s still sunny. A beach holiday package and outdoor adventures are fitted to book during it. If want to avoid the heat, shouldn’t plan the trip in the period between May and July, with the highest temperature degrees. If traveling with a budget, mid-January to mid-February isn’t great, because the prices are always higher than usual due to the Vietnamese new year. Late April to early May is also busy by domestic visitors who travel to celebrate the reunification day. Read our guide to Hoi An’s best weather and Hoi An monthly weather to know further details.

An Bang Beach

Quick Introduction of An Bang Beach

An Bang Beach (Bai Bien An Bang) is the best known beach in Hoi An, with major swimming spot in the end of Hai Ba Trung St. During sunny months, travellers can expect sandy expanses to lie on, warm and unpolluted water to swim and many water games to entertain in the water edge. There are so many sun beds to choose from and relax, with bars in a close distance. Under the coconut palms, there are sea-facing restaurants where fresh seafoods are best sellers. In the village, Vietnamese and international restaurants are also a lot, including venues with patrons as expats. See more information in our guide to An Bang Beach.

Pros and Cons

Pros: An Bang is an ideal place to stay for travellers seeking a beach holiday in Hoi An. It has a white sandy beach with sun beds under the palapas, lots of good eating and drinking places. Non-luxury places dominate the village, including homestays, boutique hotels, villas and hostels. That’s varied enough to allow travellers to choose their favourite type(s). Prices are not really expensive, so this fisherman village is friendly for mid-range budget and budget ones.

Restaurants in An Bang are diverse, from beachfront to small lanes. It’s possible to see Vietnamese, western, Asian and fusion cuisines in the menu there. See the bests in our article here. Furthermore, it’s home to one of the largest expat communities in the city. Thanks to that, no difficulties exist to meet up new friends and socialize in any bar or look for something to eat with home flavours. The last advantage of An Bang is its convenient location. No matter where, the coast is just within 5 mins walk. Distance to the Old Town is only 4 kilometers, requiring a short taxi drive or a 15-mins bicycle ride. For romantic souls, sunrise here and the sunset in rice paddies nearby are must to know.

Cons: In high seasons, the beach is crowded, restaurants are packed and accommodations are fully booked. It’s a little uncomfortable. Like the central coast of Vietnam, bad weather in the wet and typhoon season leads to closing of many seafront venues and outdoor activities. The cloudy water with big waves is dangerous to swim in.

An Bang Beach Accommodation

An Bang Beach is a popular destination for swimmers, sunbathers, hungry and thirsty souls. From the waterfront to inner laneways of the village, travellers have lots of choices of places to eat, drink, rejuvenate and stay overnight. Exploring the best lodging options in our guide to An Bang Beach accommodation.

Cua Dai Beach

Quick Introduction of Cua Dai Beach

Cua Dai Beach (Bai Bien Cua Dai) is one of the 2 most famous beaches in Hoi An. It’s sandy, stretching 5 kilometers from the end of An Bang Beach to the estuary of Thu Bon River. Backed by coconut palms and fringed by warm, clear and shallow water in the front, this pretty shore is loved by locals and tourists. The Cham islands around the horizon and a gorgeous sunrise are great additions into the God blessing beauty. Due to recent coastal erosion, some parts of the beach are damaged and protected by sandbags. See all information in our guide to Cua Dai Beach.

Pros and Cons

Pros: Cua Dai Beach has the largest concentration of beachside resorts that provide all-inclusive, luxury, and highly-rated service. Each venue owns a private stretch of sand, with sun lounges and exciting water activities. All year round, the guests can find quiet spaces without crowds in resorts of this area. It takes less than 15 minutes to get to the Old Town from this area. Shuttle bus is available daily to carry for free to go there for strolling and dining. 10 minutes are max to land in Cua Hai Harbour where tours to Cham Island begin. On the other side of the coastal road, there are cheaper options to stay overnight. Most of them are located near public swimming spots, at the end of Cua Dai Rd.

Cons: Cua Dai Beach is affected by typhoons in several months at the end of the year. In the coast, cold water, big waves, winds and no activities definitely can’t make a great beach holiday. If just looking for relaxation, that’s okay because the temperature is cool at that time. Additionally, the public beach is no longer intact due to erosion. Locals still swim or cool off there daily, and vendors still sell local snacks and seafood dishes with cold beer. Yes, it’s nice to visit, sit down, enjoy the chilly breeze and scenic scenery.   

Hoi An Resorts on the Beach

Travelers can find the best beach resorts of Hoi An in Cua Dai Beach. All of them are between the coastal road and the sea, providing high-end lodging service and many accommodation options amid lush palms. See the list of top choices for a perfect beach holiday package in our article for Hoi An’s beach resorts.

Hoi An Old Town

Introduction, Pros and Cons

The Old Town definitely is the most central area of Hoi An. The designated area by Unesco is pedestrian and bicycle friendly nearly all the time. Within it, a fun day of exploration is easy to make. There, travellers will see lantern-filled streets, historical places, plenty of tailors, eating and drinking venues, shops, markets. In the evening, uncountable lanterns are lit up, making the town so colorful, lightful and full of romantic vibes. In every full moon, shimmering candle paper lanterns are dropped down the river. See details in our comprehensive guide to Hoi An Old Town.

The first advantage of the Old Town is convenience, because top-rated tourist attractions, restaurants, bars, spas, and more are mostly located in it. Staying overnight in the best-preserved Southest-Asian trade town, travellers have many chances to better know local culture and history. In the early morning, slices of daily life of townies are vivid, perfect to see and photograph. However, disadvantages of the area are limited choice of accommodation, expensive price, and noise from the crowds. In the rainy season, the guests may face floods.

Where to Stay in Hoi An Old Town?

There are only several accommodation options inside the protection zone of Hoi An Old Town. All are travelers’ gateways to feel, see up close the daily life of locals, and visit centuries-old buildings in the melting pot. Find out what they are in our inclusive guide to the town here.

Surroundings of Hoi An Old Town

Introduction, Pros and Cons

Off the walking streets in the Old Town, travellers have plenty of accommodation choices to book. The type is diverse (hotel, resort, villa, homestay, hostel, guesthouse) and the price has a wide range. Most areas are outlined as following below:

– An Hoi Island: on the opposite side of Old Town’s canal. It has a couple of large hotels and resorts with the best riverview in the south, and smaller places in other corners. Taxi and bikes are allowed to access this area all the time, except the Pub Street and Night Market Street at night.

– Cam Pho: the west of Old Town, with accommodations less than 1km. Boutique hotels are also main roads and canals, and inner ways, there are homestays, hostels and villas. This area has the shortest distance to mountainous localities, for example My Son Sanctuary. 

– The North: the largest portion of Hoi An central urban area. It provides so many options to choose from, varying in type, price, service and facility qualities. Thanks to being near major roads, getting here and other parts of the city are convenient. In holiday seasons, congestion may occur on roads.

– Cam Nam Island: accessible by the bridge near the Central market. This island also has numerous accommodations to stay overnight, including riverside hotels and resorts. Due to the distance from the city center, the atmosphere here is quieter, especially at night. Hoi An Impression theme park with Hoi An Memory show is in a walking distance from the bulk of them.  

– The East: between the Old Town and Cam Chau, another popular tourist area. Again, plenty of hotel options to spend a few nights. Rice paddy view and river view rooms are possibilities. Similar to Cam Chau, only a short ride is needed to get to the countryside.

Hotels in Hoi An City Center

The Old Town and its surroundings is the centre of Hoi An. Many places to stay here are the best of their kind. These are guides that travellers can read, to know top picks and choose for yourself the most fitted options:

• Best Hotels in Hoi An City Center
• Best Boutique Hotels in Hoi An
• Best Hostels in Hoi An
• Villas in Hoi An Vietnam
• Homestay in Hoi An

Tra Que Vegetable Village

This vegetable growing village is between the Old Town and the best beach, two most concentrated tourist areas. Surrounded by waterways, it owns fresh organic gardens, restaurants, historical sites and accommodations. For local people, the green ingredients produced by farmers here have a high quality. Herbs are a must in a heap of Hoi An food specialties, such as cao lau, mi quang or banh mi sandwich. See all you need to know about in our guide to Tra Que Village.

If sleeping overnight in Tra Que village, travellers can enjoy a full-of-serenity stay in an authentic rural environment. Herb gardens and farmers at work, rivers with fishing nets and nearby breezy rice fields with brilliant sunset are what to expect. For photography lovers, that’s all great to catch memorable moments. During the day, there are a couple of activities that are suitable for all family members, like learning how to grow vegetables traditionally, cooking local foods, herb massage, cycling, fishing.

Cam Chau Between Town and Beach

Cam Chau is the area between the city center and the beach, and near the peaceful countryside lands of Hoi An. It’s centrally located, therefore, if staying overnight here, travellers have the convenience of transport to anywhere. Walking, bicycle and motorcycle are all possible, the best individually depending on the liking, travel plan and weather. The middle point of the whole area is Ba Le Market, and it takes around 5 minutes to get from there to the most famous beaches, and the lantern town. Additionally, restaurants and drinking places are also many, serving a variety of cuisines around the globe. Some of the best Vietnamese kitchens in town are aside Tran Nhan Tong St (between two bridges).  

Accommodation options are plenty and diverse in type, including hotels, hostels, homestays, villas and guesthouses. So, prices have a wide range too. The best loved place to stay is by or overlooking the rice fields. From the balcony, the guests enjoy cool breezes and a killer sunset daily in the dry months. During the flood season, you should book a hotel on the main road Cua Dai because it’s least inundated. Paddy- and river-side areas are often covered by water.

Cam Thanh Countryside

Cam Thanh is a piece of Hoi An countryside 10 mins drive from the Old town. It is like an oasis because of being surrounded by rivers on four sides. The best known place here is the Coconut Village where travellers like to experience basket boat rides in palm forests. See more information about this activity in our guide here. Touring around villages, to view the rice fields and life of people is another favourite thing to do. In Cua Dai Bridge, sunset and sunset are wonderful to watch from its top.

Many travelers love staying overnight in Cam Thanh (commune). It’s hustle-free and perfect to escape from crowds in the town or the beaches during high seasons. Accommodation options are not plenty, but diverse enough in type to choose from. There are hotels, resorts, villas, homestays, hostels and guesthouses with the bulk close by the rivers. Distance to the town or coast is bicycleable, or requires a short taxi or motorcycle drive. Many low areas of this portion of Hoi An countryside are inundated in the flood season.  

Cham Islands

20 minutes by canoe from the mainland, Cham Islands is a well-protected archipelago where 3,000 people have been living. This marine park is famous for high diversity of underwater life, fresh seafoods, and shipwrecks filled by premium porcelains. In 2009, it’s designated to be a Unesco world biosphere reserve. The best time to visit is from February to the end of August yearly. See more information in our travel guide to Cham Islands.

Staying overnight in Cham Island is a nice choice. First of all, travellers can enjoy swimming and sunbathing on the beaches without tourists around. Near the coast, the world of beautiful coral reefs and colorful fishes are among the best in Vietnam to discover. It’s easy to hire a boat for snorkeling, diving and trekking. In the rest of the island, a dramatic shoreline with bird cliffs and seasonal flowers, can’t be missed. The bulk of accommodation options here are homestays where travellers can interact with the owners – fishermans. Before making up your mind to spend a few nights here, always remember to check the weather forecast. Read our guide to Cham island accommodation for further details.

Where to Stay in Hoi An – Beach or Town?

It’s hard to stay at the beach or the town which is better to stay, but it’s easier if travellers know what they want. If you like convenience and have many places with excellent services to choose from, the town definitely is a priority. But in high seasons, crowds and congestion are common to see in this zone. During the summer, the beach may be better to stay at but not perfect anymore in the wet season. If you are seeking friends from your home country to socialize, the beach is home of expat communities and venues run by foreigners. The oceanfront has breezy restaurant-bars with a tasty seafood menu and long beverage lists. For dining and entertainment at night, the Old Town is a hub of top-rated venues. Read our guides to Old Town and An Bang beach or Hoi An beach, to know more and decide by your own reasons.

Which is the Best Area to Stay in Hoi An?

The best area to stay in Hoi An depends on personal requirements, location (convenience), price, season and itinerary. The Old Town and its surroundings is the heart of the city. So, definitely travellers don’t need to make many efforts to get to the best attractions, restaurants, bars, shops, some activities, festivals and performances. Walking is feasible, so they can save money. With a little further distance, it’s easy to move with a bicycle that is free in every hotel. This area is the choice of those who don’t have a long holiday. Beaches and countryside are not far from the city core, making the travel time also short. On the coast, travellers have more luxury options to choose from, and of course, the sunny beach is closer. A hotel in the countryside is suitable for an escape from crowds and noise. During the flood season (October to December), dry areas are the best.