Where to stay in Hoi An

Hoi An is a small riverside town on Vietnam's central coast, once one of South East Asia's great trading ports. Its Ancient Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with Chinese assembly halls, Japanese and French-era houses and narrow lanes strung with silk lanterns.

Around the town are rice paddies, vegetable villages, coconut-palm waterways and a long sandy coastline, so it's easy to mix culture with cycling and beach time.

Nearest airport
Da Nang International (DAD), usually around 45 minutes by road
Getting around
Bicycles, walking, Grab and taxis
Beaches
An Bang and Cua Dai, a few kilometres from town
Best for
Heritage, food, tailors, cycling and beaches

Places to stay in Hoi An

8 hotels

"Our order" puts hotels we have fully written up first. Commission doesn't affect the order.

Hoi An, area by area

Distances are short: most places are within a 15-minute cycle of the Ancient Town.

The Ancient Town

Best for sightseeing and food

Staying in or next to the Ancient Town puts the Japanese Covered Bridge, temples, tailors and the riverside night market on your doorstep. It's busiest in the evening when the lanterns are lit, and parts of the centre are closed to cars and scooters at set hours.

An Bang Beach and Tra Que

Best for beach days and village life

About 4 to 5 km north-east of town, An Bang is a relaxed beach with seafood restaurants and beach bars. On the way, Tra Que is a farming village famous for its herb and vegetable gardens. Both are an easy bike ride from the Ancient Town.

Cam Thanh and the countryside

Best for peace and cycling

East of town, Cam Thanh is a quiet area of paddy fields and water-coconut palms, where visitors ride round basket boats through the channels. Homestays and small resorts here feel rural but are still close to town.

The Cham Islands

Best for snorkelling and getting away

The Cham Islands (Cu Lao Cham) are a protected marine area about 30 minutes offshore by speedboat. Overnight stays are simple homestays near the village at Bai Lang, with snorkelling and quiet beaches once the day boats have gone.

Getting to Hoi An

Most visitors fly into Da Nang and transfer by road to Hoi An, which usually takes around 45 minutes. There's no railway station in Hoi An; the nearest is in Da Nang, on the main north-south line. Speedboats to the Cham Islands leave from Cua Dai, a short ride from town.

Things to do

Buy an Ancient Town ticket to enter a selection of old houses, assembly halls and museums, then cross the Japanese Covered Bridge and watch the lanterns float on the Thu Bon River after dark. Hoi An is also famous for its tailors and its cookery classes, which often include a market tour.

Further afield, the ruined temples of My Son are about an hour away, and cycling to An Bang via Tra Que is one of the area's simple pleasures.

When to go

The dry, pleasant months are usually from around February to May. Summer is hot, and from roughly October to December heavy rain can bring floods to the riverside streets of the Ancient Town.

Questions about staying in Hoi An

Is it better to stay in the Ancient Town or at the beach?

Stay in or near the Ancient Town for sightseeing and evenings out. Choose An Bang for a beach holiday; the town is a short bike or taxi ride away.

How do I get from Da Nang airport to Hoi An?

By taxi, Grab or a pre-booked transfer; the drive usually takes around 45 minutes.

Do I need a ticket for the Ancient Town?

A ticket is required to visit the heritage sights inside the Ancient Town. Check current prices and rules locally.

When is flood season in Hoi An?

Usually between around October and December, when heavy rain can flood low-lying streets near the river.

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