Where to stay · Hoi An · Vietnam
Where to stay in Hoi An
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Ancient Town. Car-free heritage streets of shophouses, lanterns and assembly halls. Best alternatives — families: An Hoi islet; budget: Cam Thanh and the coconut villages; nightlife: An Hoi islet.
Key facts
- First visit
- Ancient Town
- Families
- An Hoi islet
- Budget
- Cam Thanh and the coconut villages
- Nightlife
- An Hoi islet
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Ancient Town | Car-free heritage streets of shophouses, lanterns and assembly halls |
| Families | An Hoi islet | Riverside hotels, the night market and bars across the bridge from the old town |
| Couples | Ancient Town | Car-free heritage streets of shophouses, lanterns and assembly halls |
| Budget | Cam Thanh and the coconut villages | Eco-lodges and homestays among water coconut palms east of town |
| Luxury | Cua Dai Beach | Older resort strip at the river mouth, affected by beach erosion |
| Nightlife | An Hoi islet | Riverside hotels, the night market and bars across the bridge from the old town |
| Shopping | Ancient Town | Car-free heritage streets of shophouses, lanterns and assembly halls |
| Quiet stays | Tra Que and the rice fields | Villas and homestays among paddies and vegetable gardens between town and the beach |
| Beach | An Bang Beach | Beach bars, seafood shacks and guesthouses on Hoi An's favourite strand |
Hoi An neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, culture and shopping
Ancient Town
The UNESCO-listed core along Tran Phu, Nguyen Thai Hoc and Bach Dang streets is where the old houses, assembly halls and the Japanese Covered Bridge are. A handful of small hotels and homestays sit inside or on the edge, putting you steps from the lanterns at night and the quiet streets at dawn.
- Good
- Walk out at dawn before the crowds; Restaurants and tailors on the doorstep; Lantern evenings outside the door
- Watch out
- Very crowded in the evenings; Few hotels have pools; Flood risk in October–November
- Nearby
- Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky Old House, Hoi An Central Market, Fujian Assembly Hall
$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife and families
An Hoi islet
Across the An Hoi footbridge from the Ancient Town, this small islet holds the night market on Nguyen Hoang Street, riverside bars and many mid-range hotels with pools. It looks back across the river at the lantern-lit old town.
- Good
- One bridge from the old town; Hotels with pools; River views
- Watch out
- Busy and noisy in the evening; Low-lying and prone to flooding in the rainy season
- Nearby
- Hoi An Night Market, Japanese Covered Bridge, Thu Bon River
$$ · Best for families, couples and quiet stays
Tra Que and the rice fields
Between the old town and An Bang Beach, the area around Tra Que vegetable village is a patchwork of rice fields, herb gardens and lanes with villas and homestays, many with pools. It is about 10 minutes by bicycle to either the old town or the beach.
- Good
- Rural views and peace; Pool villas at good prices; Cycling distance to town and beach
- Watch out
- Need a bicycle or taxi at night; Mosquitoes near the paddies
- Nearby
- Tra Que vegetable village, An Bang Beach, Ancient Town
$$ · Best for quiet stays, families and budget
Cam Thanh and the coconut villages
East of the old town towards the river mouth, Cam Thanh is a village of water coconut channels, fish ponds and paddies, with eco-lodges, homestays and cooking schools. Basket-boat rides in the Bay Mau coconut forest start here.
- Good
- Countryside setting; Close to basket-boat trips and cooking classes
- Watch out
- Far from restaurants at night; Taxi or bicycle needed
- Nearby
- Bay Mau coconut forest, Cua Dai Beach
$$ · Best for beach, couples and families
An Bang Beach
About 5 km north of the old town, An Bang has a row of beach restaurants with sunbeds, seafood grills and small guesthouses and villas in the village behind. It is relaxed by day and quiet at night, and Hoi An is about 15 minutes away by taxi.
- Good
- Wake up by the sea; Good beach restaurants; Easy taxi to the old town
- Watch out
- Rough sea and erosion in winter; Limited big-hotel choice
- Nearby
- Tra Que vegetable village, Ancient Town
$$$ · Best for families and luxury
Cua Dai Beach
The beach where the Thu Bon meets the sea has several long-established resorts with gardens and pools. Coastal erosion has narrowed or removed sand in places, so check recent photos of a resort's beach before booking. The pier for Cham Islands boats is here.
- Good
- Resort facilities; Close to Cham Islands boats; About 10 minutes to the old town
- Watch out
- Erosion has damaged parts of the beach; Little to do outside resorts
- Nearby
- Cua Dai pier, Cam Thanh, Ancient Town
$$$$ · Best for luxury, couples, quiet stays and beach
Ha My Beach
North of An Bang towards Da Nang, Ha My is a long, uncrowded beach backed by several high-end resorts with villas, spas and pools. It is about 15–20 minutes by car from the old town and the quietest place to stay.
- Good
- Wide, quiet sand; Top-end resorts and spas
- Watch out
- Expensive; Car needed for the old town
- Nearby
- An Bang Beach, Ancient Town
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Ancient Town | $$$ | Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky Old House, Hoi An Central Market, Fujian Assembly Hall |
| An Hoi islet | $$ | Hoi An Night Market, Japanese Covered Bridge, Thu Bon River |
| Tra Que and the rice fields | $$ | Tra Que vegetable village, An Bang Beach, Ancient Town |
| Cam Thanh and the coconut villages | $$ | Bay Mau coconut forest, Cua Dai Beach |
| An Bang Beach | $$ | Tra Que vegetable village, Ancient Town |
| Cua Dai Beach | $$$ | Cua Dai pier, Cam Thanh, Ancient Town |
| Ha My Beach | $$$$ | An Bang Beach, Ancient Town |
Getting to your hotel
Hoi An has no airport; Da Nang International Airport (DAD) is about 30 km north, around 45 minutes by ride-hailing car, taxi or hotel transfer, and shuttle buses also run between the airport and Hoi An.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Hoi An for first-time visitors?
Ancient Town. The UNESCO-listed core along Tran Phu, Nguyen Thai Hoc and Bach Dang streets is where the old houses, assembly halls and the Japanese Covered Bridge are.
+Where should families stay in Hoi An?
An Hoi islet: One bridge from the old town.
+Which area of Hoi An is best for a budget stay?
Cam Thanh and the coconut villages ($$): Eco-lodges and homestays among water coconut palms east of town.