Da Nang Vs Hoi An - Which is the better Place to Stay?

Da Nang and Hoi An are the two most popular tourist destinations in central Vietnam. While many visitors prefer to stay in Da Nang, others like to stay in Hoi An. So Da Nang vs. Hoi An – which is a better place to stay?

I personally enjoy staying in both Da Nang and Hoi An. In Da Nang, I had a good experience staying in the city center along Han River, and the beachfront area along My Khe Beach. In Hoi An, I stayed in both the old town and An Bang Beach area.

Da Nang is a big city in central Vietnam, while Hoi An has a smaller town vibe. They are located only around 30 km away from each area and share the same coastline. You can easily travel between these cities by private cars, guided tours, or Grab.

Is it better to stay in Da Nang or Hoi An?

Da Nang is best known for its beaches, lower cost of living, and easy access to modern amenities. In general, Da Nang is a better base if you want a beach holiday with luxury beach resorts, lively nightlife, shopping malls, and a wide range of tourist amenities.

Hoi An is best known for its ancient town with well-preserved wooden houses, lantern boat ride, and narrow cobble stones streets. If you want to step back in town and experience what the trading port town looked like in the 15-19th century, Hoi An is a better place to visit.

Unlike the big city life atmosphere of Da Nang, Hoi An has a small town atmosphere and historic charms. It also has a coastal area but much more laid back vibe and less crowded than Da Nang.

While Da Nang is the modern city with big chain hotels and high rise buildings, Hoi An Old Town is home to small cozy family-run guest houses and some historical hotels, most of them are low rises.

Hoi An is also known for its custom tailoring services. The small town is packed with dozens of shops offering hand made clothing, shoes, bags making. If you want to make custom suits and dresses, Hoi An is the more famous place to go.

Each person has a different experience with each city; some prefer staying in Da Nang, some like Hoi An. From my observation as a local, I believe that Vietnamese people tend to stay in Da Nang and take day trips to Hoi An, while international tourists seem to prefer staying in Hoi An.

If you have difficulty choosing whether to stay in Hoi An or Da Nang, I recommend staying in both cities to experience both sides. They are only a 45-minute taxi ride apart, making it easy to travel between the two.

Both cities are great places to explore Central Vietnam. From either city, you can easily take trips to Cu Lao Cham island (for snorkeling and diving), Hue (ancient capital city of Vietnam with royal palace and tomb), and My Son sanctuary (the ancient ruins of Cham Kingdom).

Both Da Nang and Hoi An have cheaper cost of living compared to other major cities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Da Nang attracts more digital nomads and expats than Hoi An because it has a wider range of amenities and activities for long term travelers.

Da Nang has an airport and a train station, which make it easily accessible. To get to Hoi An by train or plane, you’ll first need to reach Da Nang and then take a short drive to Hoi An.

My recommended hotels in Hoi An:

Luxury: La Siesta
Mid-range: Hoi An Historic Hotel (I stayed here, good 4-star hotel, central location)
Budget: Square Villa (good value for money guest house, quiet area near old town)

My recommend hotels in Da Nang:

Let’s look at different aspects when comparing Da Nang and Hoi An through my experiences. They include nightlife, shopping, beaches, transportation, food, accommodations, safety, and attractions.

Location and Accessibility

Both Da Nang and Hoi An are major tourist destinations in central Vietnam. Hoi An is located around 40km south of Da Nang. They are easily accessible by air and by road. They are both well-served by Da Nang International Airport and Da Nang Train Station.

Da Nang has the advantage of being close to both the airport and train station, just 5 km away from the city center. Hoi An Old Town is a bit farther at around 30 km. But don’t worry, traveling to either location is easy because Grab taxis are widely available and affordable.

Da Nang or Hoi An for Nightlife?

In my opinion, if you go to central Vietnam for nightlife, you should stay in Da Nang. It is a bigger city so you’ll have more choices in terms of rooftop bars, beach bars, and nightclubs. Da Nang also has a livelier nightlife scene.

You can go to many areas to enjoy the nightlife of Da Nang including the area on the banks of Han River( on Bach Dang/ Tran Hung Dao Street), or An Thuong/ My An. While in Hoi An, the nightlife area is concentrated along the bank of Hoai River, around the ancient town and An Hoi island.

Both Hoi An and Da Nang have lively nightlife markets. In Da Nang, you can go to Son Tra night market or An Thuong night market. In Hoi An, the night market is located on Nguyen Hoang Street on An Hoi island.

Da Nang or Hoi An for Shopping?

If you love modern shopping malls, Da Nang is the place to go. If you prefer browsing at small unique boutiques, tailor shops, specialty shops, and leather shops, Hoi An has more choices.

Da Nang has better options in terms of big shopping malls and supermarkets. If you love shopping in the malls, Da Nang is the place to go. You can go shopping at Vincom Plaza, Indochina Mall, Lotte Mart, or GO!(Big C). There aren’t any of these big shopping malls in Hoi An but you can find some small supermarkets.

As Da Nang is a bigger city, it has more local markets. You can check out Han Market, Con Market, or My An market to buy souvenirs or to observe local life. Hoi An has one big market in the ancient town selling souvenirs and fresh produce.

Da Nang vs Hoi An Beaches

Both Da Nang and Hoi An share the same coastline in central Vietnam. Both cities have beautiful clean white sandy beaches. The beaches in Da Nang such as My Khe Beach and Non Nuoc Beach are more popular and crowded than the beaches in Hoi An which include An Bang Beach and Cua Dai Beach.

Both beaches are well equipped with beach facilities such as bedchairs and umbrellas. There are also many cafes, restaurants, and bars along the beach.

If you prefer a more laid back beach area with less people, I recommend staying in Hoi An near An Bang/ Cua Dai Beach. If you want a livelier beach scene with wider choices of facilities along the beach, I recommend staying in Da Nang.

Both beaches in Hoi An and Da Nang are located 10 minutes drive from its city center/ old town. You can use Grab taxi/ bike, rent a bike, or cycle between beach and town.

Accommodations

If you prefer lovely small boutique hotels and homestays, Hoi An is a better choice. If you want big brand resorts and hotels, you should stay in Da Nang.

Da Nang has more beachfront resorts than Hoi An. Lots of international chains are concentrated along My Khe Beach, Non Nuoc Beach, and the city center along Han River. Hoi An has many boutique hotels, cozy homestays, and small resorts.

In Da Nang, I stayed at the mid-range 4-star Vanda Hotel and the Mandila Beach Hotel. Vanda is located right at the foot of the famous Dragon bridge, along Han River. It has prime location in the city center, easy distance to Han market and Son Tra night market. My room has beautiful views of the river and Dragon bridge, especially at night when the light is lit up.

Mandila is a nice mid-range beachfront hotel located along My Khe Beach. I chose this hotel due to its good reviews, reasonable-price, and proximity to the beach. It is only a 2-3 minute walk to the sea and there are lots of restaurants nearby. My room was clean and had partial views of the ocean.

In Hoi An, I stayed at the AIRA Boutique on An Bang Beach, Hoi An Historic Hotel, and Square Villa in the old town. AIRA is a lovely boutique hotel right on the beach, easy access to many restaurants and cafes in the town. It has nice swimming pools, delicious restaurants, and beautiful rooms.

Hoi An Historic Hotel, and Square Villa are convenient locations near Hoi An old town. I had a good experience with both of these. The historic hotel caters for larger budget travelers with a swimming pool and nice buffet breakfast; Square Villa is a family-run hotel which offers a more cozy atmosphere.

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Transportation

Da Nang has better transport infrastructure compared to Hoi An. Da Nang has an international airport and a train station. They are both located very close to the city center and the beach area.

Hoi An does not have an airport or a train station. The closest ones are in Da Nang. So if you arrive in the region by train and airplane, you ‘ll need to arrive in Da Nang first. From Da Nang, you can catch a taxi or Grab to get into Hoi An.

Getting around Da Nang and Hoi An are quite similar. You can easily get around by renting a motorbike, bicycle, or taking Grab. Walking and cycling are more popular forms of transport in Hoi An old town as it has a large pedestrian/ cycling area.

Hoi An vs Da Nang Food

Both cities have many restaurants serving local regional dishes. Da Nang is known for dishes like Mi quang, Pork rice paper roll, or Banh Xeo. Hoi An is best known for dishes like Chicken rice, banh mi, or Cao Lau. You can easily find restaurants serving all of these dishes in both cities.

Da Nang has more big fast food and cafes chains, and you can hardly find any of these brands in Hoi An. If you like to dine in small local family-owned restaurants and don’t mind the lack of fast food chains, Hoi An is a better choice. If you want a variety of options, Da Nang is a place to go.

Historical Influences

Da Nang and Hoi An are both major cities in Central Vietnam.The two cities are located only 30 km apart and have some things in common in their history.

They were both part of the Champa Kingdom before the 15th century, then became part of Dai Viet from the 15th century onward, and later went through the French colonial period and the Vietnam-American War.

Early history (Ancient times-15th century)

Da Nang and Hoi An was part of the Champa Kingdom before the 15th century. During this period, Da Nang was known as Indrapura, and Hoi An was known as Lam Ap Pho. Both cities are significant port cities for the Champa people.

Today, you can learn about Cham history in Central Vietnam at the Museum of Cham Sculpture in Danang, Marble Mountains, or the My Son sanctuary located 40km from Da Nang city center.

In the 15th century, Hoi An and Da Nang became part of Dai Viet (now Vietnam) after the Nam Tien, or the Southward expansion of Dai Viet to expand the Vietnamese territory from the Red River Delta in the north toward the Mekong Delta in the south.

From 15th to18th century

Hoi An was an important trading port in the region from the 15th-19the century. It was called Faifo by European traders. The port town attracts merchants from Japan, China, Portugal, and Netherlands regularly traded here.

Hoi An developed a multicultural identity, reflected in its architecture and communities. These communists built their houses, pagodas, and shops in town. A famous symbol from this era is the Japanese Covered Bridge, built by the Japanese in the early 17th century.

Today, you can visit many ancient wooden houses, narrow cobble stone streets, and structures dating back to the golden ages of Hoi An. The traditional long tube houses with a mix of Japanese, Chinese, and Vietnamese architects such as Tan Ky, Phung Hung, and Quan Thang are ancient houses dating back to the 17th-18th century.

The town is also home to many colorful Chinese assembly halls which are meeting places of Chinese communities. You can visit Fujian, Cantonese, Chaozhou, and Hainan assembly halls. These halls were built from the 17th to 19th centuries.

In the 19th century, Hoi An’s golden era was over when the River silted up, trade gradually shifted to Da Nang, which had a deeper harbor and better access for modern vessels.

French colonial period (19th-mid 20th century)

During the French colonial period, Da Nang (Tourane) developed as the main port of the region. Hoi An remained a small town and was largely forgotten. As a result, the wooden shophouses with yellow walls and terracotta tile roofs have been preserved to this day.

The French constructed infrastructure in Da Nang, including the cathedral, street railways, and various buildings, many of which are still visible today. Some attractions are Da Nang Cathedral, Da Nang Train Station, or Ba Na Hill resort.

Vietnam-American War era (1955-1975)

During the Vietnam-American war, Da Nang was one of the most significant U.S. military bases. Hoi An ancient town survived during the war.

Modern days (1975-today)

Da Nang is the capital city of the region with modern amenities and beautiful beaches. It’s one of fastest-growing cities in Vietnam, known for beaches, tourism, and landmarks such as Dragon Bridge, Ba Na Hill, or Marble Mountains.

Hoi An is a popular tourist destination that is best known for its ancient town with well-preserved buildings dating back to the 17-19th century.

Attractions and Activities

Each city has unique attractions that are well worth visiting. You can easily stay in one city, either Da Nang or Hoi An, and easily explore the rest. They are only located 30 km away from each other.

Hoi An ancient town is at its best and most crowded at night when the lantern lit up. You can take a stroll around the atmospheric old town, exploring ancient structures, old wooden houses, museums, temples, and pagodas.

Popular attractions in Hoi An Old Town include Hoi An Market, Japanese Bridge, Chinese Assembly Hall, Museum of Folk Culture, Museum of Sa Huynh Culture, or Tan Ky Ancient House. You can also explore different neighborhoods around the old town including An Hoi, Cam Pho, Cam Nam, and Cam Chau.

You can venture outside of the old town to the beach area in An Bang or Cua Dai. You can rent a bicycle and explore the countryside around Hoi An. Visiting craft villages such as Tra Que Herb Village, or Thanh Ha Pottery Village.

Cycling around, Taking a cooking class, lantern making class, a boat trip, or having your clothing made, are popular activities in Hoi An.

Da Nang also has many famous cultural and historical attractions to explore. You can spend a day exploring Ba Na Hill and the iconic Golden Bridge. Other popular points of interest include the Marble Mountains, Linh Ung pagoda, and Son Tra peninsula.

The Han River runs through the heart of Da Nang. The riverfront is always bustling with activities both days and nights. You can take a walk, check out many nice trendy cafes along the river, and admire its many bridges such as Dragon Bridge or Tran Thi Ly Bridge.

Both Da Nang and Hoi An are great places to take a day trip to My Son sanctuary. Many other places can be visited from both cities including Cham island, Hai Van Pass, Hue, and Bach Ma National Park.

Hoi An is a more convenient location for exploring Cham island. Da Nang is a better base for Hue and Hai Van Pass. If you have time, taking the heritage train ride between Da Nang and Hue, in my opinion, is one of the best things to do in Da Nang.

Affordability/ Cost of living

Both cities have Affordable cost of living. I feel like a meal in Da Nang city center is generally cheaper than a meal in a restaurant in Hoi An old town (probably Da Nang has more variety).

The price of accommodations is quite similar between the two cities. With around 80 to 120 AUD, you can stay in a nice 4-star hotel in the city center or right on the beachfront. With a smaller budget, you can stay in a small guest house in Da Nang or a homestay in Hoi An.

Da Nang vs Hoi An Weather

Both cities are located on the central coast of Vietnam, so they share similarities in terms of climate. They both have hot weather year-round ( it can be very hot in some months like April and May). The dry season is the best season to visit this region which typically runs from January to August.

The rainy season is from September to December. Central Vietnam often suffers from severe tropical storms and flooding during the rainy season, so it is best to avoid the flooding months.

Safety – is Da Nang safer than Hoi An?

Both cities are generally safe places to visit. Hoi An old town can get very crowded during late afternoon and evening, so be sure to take extra care of your belongings to prevent pickpockets.

Digital Nomad and long term travelers

In my opinion, Da Nang is a better location for digital nomads. It is the biggest city in central Vietnam that has a modern metropolitan vibe. It has better infrastructure than Hoi An in terms of shopping malls, supermarkets, restaurants, cafes, and bars.

Da Nang has long beautiful beaches for walking and swimming. There are also nice rivers, and mountains such as Son Tra peninsula for hiking and cycling.

Da Nang has an expat area in My An/ An Thuong with lots of international restaurants and bars. It has many choices of long term apartment rentals as well as coworking spaces.