Where to stay in Hoi An?

To stay in the heart of the old town

In the center of Hoi An, on the banks of the Thu Bon River, the old town of Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a veritable open-air museum. Perfectly preserved with its colorful alleyways and canals, it reflects a blend of Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese and European cultures. It's the ideal solution if you want to stay in the most charming part of Hoi Han.

You'll also find a number of must-see sites, the most famous of which is the famous Japanese Covered Bridge, the oldest bridge in Hoi An, created by the Japanese community to reach the Chinese quarters on the other side of the Thu Bon River.

If you choose to stay here, you'll also be close to other emblematic monuments such as :

• Quan Cong Temple: a protected national cultural and historical site, where you can admire magnificent statues and works of art.
• Assembly Hall of Fujian Chinese: one of the city's 5 most visited meeting halls, with its magnificent exterior, rich history and mysterious features.
• the old Tan Ky house: an 18th-century merchant's house that can be visited.

Busy both day and night, the old town is home to many local bars and restaurants, so it's an ideal place to stay if you want to enjoy some nightlife. You'll find a wide range of accommodation to suit all budgets. Be warned, however, that this is one of the areas that attracts the most tourists, so it's best to plan ahead if you want to stay there.

Accommodation in An Hoi, Hoi An's nightlife district

Located on the other side of the Thu Bon River, An Hoi is surely the liveliest district, with a highly developed nightlife. With its many cafés, bars and restaurants, it's the ideal place to stay for those looking for a lively spot.

In fact, An Hoi is best known for its 150-stall night market, stretching for almost 300 meters. Indeed, as soon as night falls, this part of Hoi An lights up with colorful lanterns and becomes a real attraction for locals and tourists alike. To discover this night market and taste the culinary specialties sold there, you can choose to stay nearby, in the An Hoi area. You can also take a lantern boat tour to discover the city by night.

If you're a fan of the performing arts, Hoi An is home to the Lune Performing Center, a venue for the Vietnamese equivalent of Cirque du Soleil. The shows take place in the evening, so it may be worth staying overnight in Hoi An if you wish to attend one.

Thanks to its ideal location, with the historic center just a few minutes' walk away, An Hoi is a very popular area for tourists. So even though it offers a wide range of accommodation to suit all budgets, you'll need to book in advance if you want to stay overnight.

To stay at An Bang Beach, Hoi An's most popular beach

North of the old town, An Bang Beach is Hoi An's most popular beach. With its white sand and turquoise waters, it is one of the 100 most beautiful beaches in the world, and also one of the best spots for water sports.

Despite being one of the busiest beaches, An Bang Beach is rather quiet during the day, as sun-avoidant locals only visit at the end of the day. It's the ideal place to stay for a peaceful seaside holiday. What's more, thanks to its easterly exposure, if you choose to stay here, you'll also have the chance to enjoy some magnificent sunrises.

Although quiet during the day, An Bang Beach fills up with people and comes alive in the late afternoon. You'll find numerous straw hut bars and restaurants all along the beach.

Last but not least, if you're looking for accommodation on An Bang Beach, you'll find a range of quality accommodations at reasonable prices. However, the further away you are from the beach, the cheaper it gets.

Staying in Cam Thanh, the coconut forest

Located in the east, Cam Thanh is known for its mangroves, coconut palms and water palms lining the Thu Bon River. With its natural beauty, this ancient traditional fishing village offers unique experiences, including an original attraction for travellers: the Coconut Village. This consists of a trip along the river in small bamboo basket boats.

It's also in this area that you can meet and talk to fishermen and craftsmen who use coconut palms to make parasols. Staying at Cam Thanh is the ideal way to fully immerse yourself in Hoi An's local culture.

Over and above its magnificent exotic landscapes, staying in Cam Thanh means you can stay in a typical setting, with quick access to Cua Dai beach or the historic center by bicycle. In terms of accommodation, you'll find mainly upmarket hotels at affordable prices. However, avoid Cam Thanh if you're looking for a lively, bustling area.

To stay at Cua Dai Beach, Hoi An's wildest beach

Wilder and less touristy than An Bang, Cua Dai Beach is one of Vietnam's 5 Unesco World Heritage sites. Located to the northeast of the city, just 7 kilometers from the historic center, Cua Dai Beach stretches for several kilometers and offers travelers magnificent white sand and turquoise waters. It's the ideal place to stay if you're looking for a peaceful stay in an idyllic setting, yet close to all the tourist attractions.

If the beach is rather quiet during the day, many local and family restaurants open their doors in the early evening. What's more, if you choose to stay at Cua Dai Beach, it's an excellent spot to watch the sunrise and sunset over the sea, with the mountains in the background.

Finally, when it comes to accommodation, Cua Dai Beach is home to a number of luxury resorts offering a wide range of options and activities for exploring the surrounding area. If you're on a tighter budget and really want to stay in this part of Hoi An, it's also possible to find less luxurious hotels at much more affordable rates.

Accommodation in other areas: Cam Chau, Cam Kim and Tra Que

The above-mentioned areas are not the only ones in which you can stay in Hoi An, and you can also choose to stay in others. Although they are of less tourist interest, they are generally less expensive. These include Cam Chau, Cam Kim and Tra Que.

Located close to the center of town and the beaches, Cam Chau has a calm, relaxed atmosphere. Ideal for art lovers, you'll find numerous art galleries here. If you decide to stay in Cam Chau, its location between old Hoi An and the beaches means that, whatever your preference, you can easily reach either.

Located less than 2 kilometers from An Bang and 4 kilometers from the old town, Tra Que is a small village renowned for its organic cultivation of vegetables and aromatic herbs using ancestral farming techniques. Staying here will enable you to enjoy a natural setting with few tourists, as well as magnificent sunrises and sunsets. In terms of accommodation, although there are a handful of small hotels, the majority are with host families.

Finally, while Cam Kim is of no real interest from a tourist point of view, this small island is at a more than reasonable distance from the historic center. So, if you choose to stay here, you'll have easy access to the various landmarks. Lodging here is a good alternative for those on a budget.