EmHoi An, Vietnam is one of the most amazing places you can visit in this beautiful country. Hands down one of my favourite places I’ve ever been, any trip to Vietnam should include this beautiful historic city.
Why should you visit Hoi An, Vietnam?
Having visited 47 countries and countless cities, I’d count Hoi An among my favourites. I’ve been twice – once in 2010, and again in 2024 – and the city has stood the test of time.
Hoi An has seen relatively little change despite Vietnam’s rapid boom, and it retains its old-world charm. It’s one of Vietnam’s most historic cities, with beautiful buildings lining a picturesque river. The low-rise streets stand in complete contrast to neighbouring Da Nang, and are lined with small cafes, souvenir shops and the tailoring shops that have made Hoi An so famous.
There’s also a lot to do in the surrounding area, meaning that if you want a day off from lazily wandering from coffee shop to boutique, you’re spoilt for choice.
Where should you stay in Hoi An?
There’s an abundance of choice for hotels in Hoi An, Vietnam. While there are hotels in the main Ancient Town area. I would personally be careful about choosing these, as Hoi An is a town that really comes alive at night and you’re likely to experience street noise.
You can also choose to stay on one of the two islands opposite the main town. An Hoi is where the main night market happens, and the front street is lined with bars – I would avoid these areas. Beyond this, the back streets of the island are quieter.
I stayed on Cam Nam. This quiet island is about 10 minutes walk from the Ancient Town, but feels a million peaceful miles away. While there are a number of hotels, there are still lots of private houses, and it feels much less touristy.
If you can afford it, there are also a lot of beautiful upmarket hotels lining the river. These have stunning views and are usually away from the noise of the main town.
Top hotel picks:
- Yen Villas – this is where I stayed, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Rooms are spacious and clean, aircon works, and there is a beautiful small pool. The family running the small hotel are among the most helpful and kind people I’ve come across while travelling. It’s around $15 per night.
- Hoi An Town Centre Hotel – on An Hoi, this highly rated hotel is budget/mid-range for Vietnam (around $20 a night). It has excellent reviews, and is away from the noise of the night market.
- River Town Hoi An Resort and Spa – also on An Hoi, but on the riverfront, this 5* resort has over 2000 reviews, a 4.7 rating on google and costs around $75 per night.
- Mulberry Collection Silk Eco – if you’re keen to stay on the mainland, this 4* hotel has over 700 reviews on google and a 4.5 rating.
How to get to Hoi An, Vietnam?
Air
Hoi An doesn’t have it’s own airport, so you will most likely fly into Da Nang International Airport. This is a large, very modern airport with excellent facilities. It’s then about 1 hour in a car to Hoi An. You can organise a transfer via your hotel, or get a Grab at the airport (usually cheaper). As of summer 2024, my private car cost 300k VND (c.£9 or $12)
There are also shared shuttles – Check out 12GoAsia to find shared shuttles/vans, which are about £4 or $5.
There is no direct bus (the old direct bus was apparently a victim of covid) but there is a bus from Da Nang bus station to Hoi An bus. You will need to take a Grab to the bus station (around $3) and then take the bus (35k VND, about £1 or $1.30). You’ll also need to transfer from Hoi An bus station to your hotel.
Train
Taking the train is a popular way to visit Hoi An if you are already in Vietnam. However, as with the airport, there is no train station in Hoi An and trains arrive in Da Nang.
Trains arrive from both Ho Chi Minh City in the south, and Hanoi in the north, with stops along the way. Both journeys take around 18 hours.
Vietnam’s rail system is unusual in that there are two types of journey:
- Rail cars run by Vietnam’s national railway. These are usually poor quality/comfort, but cheap
- Cars run by private companies, which are attached to the Vietnam rail cars. These offer a more luxurious experience, although this varies across companies. These run on the same schedule as the national trains.
I travelled from Da Nang to Ninh Bin (final stop Hanoi) on the Lotus Express. This has the most positive reviews of the private companies on this route. While it’s certainly a nice way to travel – you have a bunk in a shared or private cabin, depending on how much you want to pay. It wasn’t the super luxurious experience I had when I took the train from Hanoi to Sapa, as the cabins are older and in need of an upgrade. They did give excellent snacks and breakfast though. Lotus Express tickets can be booked via their website.
Top Tip: Booking a 2 person cabin on the Lotus Express is expensive. However, on my journey, not all cabins were full. After departure, the conductor offered us a much cheaper cash upgrade, which is how I ended up with a private room for around £15 more.
If you’re travelling from Ho Chi Minh, I can currently only find details for the main Vietnam rail cars. You’ll have the choice of 2nd or 1st class sleeper, or if you are feeling particularly brave, you could do this 19h trip in a standard seat. 1st class offers you a cabin with 4 soft berths, while 2nd class provides 6 hard berths. Vietnam Rail tickets can be booked via 12goAsia.
Bus
If you want to travel directly to Hoi An, rather than transferring in Da Nang, the best option is a bus. Buses arrive to a variety of different locations in Hoi An, although there is also a central bus station.
There are a plethora of bus routes that will take you to Hoi An. Ho Chi Minh City to Hoi An is about 20 hours by bus, while a trip to Hanoi is about 15 hours. There are other cities along the Vietnam coast that also offer bus journeys, including Nha Trang and Hue.
While Vietnam is famous for it’s incredibly fancy VIP sleeper buses, they don’t all offer the same quality. Read reviews of different companies to see what you’re signing up for. In some cases, you may also need to change bus to a van for part of the journey.
How long should you spend in Hoi An, Vietnam?
I think you should spend as long in Hoi An as possible – it’s a wonderful town. But realistically, that’s not always an option.
I would suggest that you need at least one full day to fully enjoy the town, and it’s better if you have two. This gives you time to wander around and take in the sites, go to the coconut boat rides, get some tailoring done and enjoy the coffee/tea culture.
You’ll then need to consider any day trips you want to do and factor these in – either as half day or full day trips. Check out my guide The Best Things to do in Hoi An, for details on day trips from Hoi An, Vietnam.
You then need to decide whether you want to factor in some time to spend at the beach.
Where should you go after Hoi An, Vietnam?
This depends on if you’re heading north or south. From Hoi An, my next stop was Ninh Bin (guide coming soon), and then on to Hanoi.
If you’re heading south, you’ll want to consider some of the beautiful beach towns along Vietnam’s coast, including Nha Trang and Mui Ne. You could also head inland to the relative cool of Vietnam’s mountain region. Da Lat is the main town to visit in the mountains. Many people will also head directly for Ho Chi Minh City, a destination in it’s own right but also the gateway to the Mekong Delta further south.
Wondering what to do in Hoi An, Vietnam? Highlights including taking a lantern boat along the river, visiting the famous Japanese covered bridge and taking a ride in one of the famous coconut boats. Check out my post The best things to do in Hoi An, Vietnam to find out more!
