Hoi An Hotel Guide

Where to Stay in Hoi An

Six areas, six different trips. Pick the area before you pick the hotel.

Updated August 2026 · Independently written

Quick answer

Which Area Is Right for You?

First time
Ancient Town / Riverside
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Beach
An Bang Beach
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Quiet
Countryside
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Resort escape
Hoiana
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The overview

Hoi An's Six Areas

Yellow heritage buildings in Hoi An Ancient Town Best for first-timers
Ancient Town

Walking distance to everything. The full Hoi An experience, at the cost of noise and small rooms.
Hoi An riverside hotels along the Thu Bon River The sweet spot
Riverside

Quieter than Old Town, pools and gardens, still a 10-15 minute walk to everything.
An Bang Beach Hoi An coastline Beach + cafes
An Bang Beach

The local's beach. Good restaurants, more character than Cua Dai a few kilometers south.
Rice field countryside near Hoi An Quiet pick
Countryside

Rice fields and quiet roads. Needs wheels, has nothing to do with lanterns and tailor shops.
Hoiana resort pool villas south of Hoi An Resort escape
Hoiana

10km south. Private beach, golf, casino. A different world, not a Hoi An day trip.
Quiet colonial-style courtyard near Cam Thanh outside Hoi An Off the map
Cam Chau & Cam Thanh

Eco-lodges and homestays beyond the tourist zone. Bicycle or motorbike required.

Ancient Town & Riverside

Walk Out the Door and You're There

The Ancient Town puts you inside the UNESCO zone. The riverside is 10-15 minutes on foot and gives you access without the street noise.

Who Should Stay Here

First-time visitors who want to experience Hoi An at dusk and dawn, without day-trippers. The Old Town empties out by 9pm, staying inside it means you get the lantern-lit streets to yourself in the morning. Riverside hotels are the sweet spot: walking distance to everything, usually with a pool, and noticeably quieter at night.

Lantern-lit streets in Hoi An Ancient Town at night
"Stay one night inside the Ancient Town, then move out to the riverside or beach for the rest of your trip. You'll have seen it at its best."
An Bang Beach

4km Away, a Different Pace

An Bang is 4km from the Old Town by bicycle. Less developed than Cua Dai, with better restaurants and a more local feel.

Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai private beach and pool villas North of An Bang
Rice paddy countryside pool resort near Hoi An
"The countryside hotels, Anantara foremost among them, offer a version of Hoi An that has nothing to do with lanterns and tailor shops."
Off the tourist map

Cam Chau & Cam Thanh

The areas east of the Old Town and south toward the waterways are Hoi An's quietest corner, eco-lodges, homestays, and a few low-key boutique guesthouses in coconut palm villages. Getting around requires a bicycle or motorbike. Good for people who want complete removal from the tourist circuit while still being close to it.

Duy Hai · 10km south of Hoi An

Hoiana

Not Hoi An. A different world.

Hoiana is not Hoi An. It's a luxury resort enclave 10km south of the Ancient Town, with a private beach, an 18-hole golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., and multiple five-star properties. You don't come here to see Hoi An, you come here to avoid it, then take a 15-minute taxi when you want it.

The Tradeoff

Treat Hoi An Ancient Town as a half-day excursion from here, not a nightly habit. If you want lanterns outside your door every evening, stay closer to town. If the vacation is resort, golf and private beach, Hoiana delivers that better than anywhere else in the region.

The quick guide

Which Area for You?

First time in Hoi An
Ancient Town / Riverside

Walk everywhere. Get the Ancient Town experience at dawn and dusk. Upgrade your second trip to beach or Hoiana.

Beach + history combo
An Bang Beach

Bicycle to Old Town in 20 minutes. Beach in the afternoon. Best of both on a mid-range budget.

Luxury and resort life
Hoiana

Treat Hoi An Ancient Town as a half-day excursion. The resort is the destination.

Common questions

Where to Stay FAQ

What is the best area to stay in Hoi An?

The Ancient Town is best for first-time visitors who want to walk everywhere and be in the middle of the historic experience. An Bang Beach suits people who want a beach holiday with Hoi An day trips. The riverside is the best overall balance, walkable to Old Town, quieter at night, more hotels with pools and gardens.

Is it better to stay in the Old Town or outside?

Inside the Old Town for the first night or two gives you the full atmosphere at dusk and dawn when the day-trippers are gone. For a longer stay, just outside on the riverfront gives you more space and better value. Most boutique hotels with pools are a 10-15 minute walk from the Ancient Town entrance anyway.

Where should I stay in Hoi An for a beach holiday?

An Bang Beach is the local's beach, quieter than Cua Dai, better restaurants, good surf in season. Four Seasons The Nam Hai is the luxury choice north of town. Cua Dai has more large resort options but the beach has eroded and the area is more touristy.

How far is the beach from Hoi An Old Town?

An Bang Beach is about 4km from the Ancient Town, a 15-minute bicycle ride or a 50,000-80,000 VND Grab. Cua Dai Beach is 5km and slightly easier by road. Four Seasons The Nam Hai is further north at Ha My Beach, about 10km. Hoiana has its own beach about 10km south of town.

Go deeper

More Ways to Choose

The ranking
Best Hotels in Hoi An
Read guide →
Walkable
Old Town Hotels
Read guide →
Beach + cafes
An Bang Beach Hotels
Read guide →

Want the Full Picture?

Every hotel, every price tier, and Hoiana, all in one place.

Explore All Hoi An Hotels →