Comparison · Hoi An vs Luang Prabang · Vietnam / Laos
Hoi An vs Luang Prabang
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote . Feel free to use any of my images, but plea, CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
Choose Hoi An for Lanterns, Japanese Covered Bridge and beaches; choose Luang Prabang for Wat Xieng Thong and Morning alms giving. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 793 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 793 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Hoi An
- February–May
- Best time for Luang Prabang
- November–February
Side by side
| Hoi An | Luang Prabang | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Vietnam | Laos |
| Known for | Lanterns, Japanese Covered Bridge and Tailor-made clothes | Wat Xieng Thong, Morning alms giving and Kuang Si Falls |
| Best time to visit | February–May | November–February |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $60–$130 | $60–$140 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | June, 34°C (93°F) | April, 35°C (95°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 25°C (77°F) | December, 27°C (81°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 4 | 5 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 5 |
| Beaches | An Bang Beach | — |
| Airports | DAD | LPQ |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Hoi An for…
Lanterns, Japanese Covered Bridge and beaches. Hoi An was a busy trading port from the 15th to the 19th centuries, when Japanese, Chinese and European merchants traded here on the Thu Bon River. Its compact Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, keeps more than a thousand timber-fronted shophouses…
Choose Luang Prabang for…
Wat Xieng Thong and Morning alms giving. Luang Prabang occupies a narrow peninsula where the Nam Khan river joins the Mekong in northern Laos. The former royal capital is a UNESCO World Heritage town of more than 30 Buddhist monasteries, French colonial shophouses and wooden Lao houses, small…
Top sights compared
| # | Hoi An | Luang Prabang |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japanese Covered Bridge (Chùa Cầu) | Wat Xieng Thong |
| 2 | Ancient Town streets and lanterns | Royal Palace Museum (Haw Kham) |
| 3 | Lantern boat ride on the Thu Bon | Mount Phousi |
| 4 | Tan Ky Old House | Morning alms giving (Tak Bat) |
| 5 | Fujian Assembly Hall (Phúc Kiến) | Night market |
Food compared
| Hoi An | Luang Prabang |
|---|---|
| Cao lầu | Luang Prabang khao soi |
| Hoi An bánh mì | Or lam |
| Hoi An chicken rice | Fried river weed |
| White rose dumplings | Jeow bong |
Which is cheaper?
Hoi An and Luang Prabang cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $60–$130 in Hoi An and $60–$140 in Luang Prabang (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Hoi An on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 793 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 9 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Hoi An or Luang Prabang cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $60–$130 in Hoi An and $60–$140 in Luang Prabang (estimates).
+Is Hoi An or Luang Prabang better for a first trip?
Pick Hoi An for Lanterns, Japanese Covered Bridge and beaches, or Luang Prabang for Wat Xieng Thong and Morning alms giving.
+How far is Hoi An from Luang Prabang?
About 793 km in a straight line.