Hoi An Old Town is one of the best places to visit in Vietnam. It is known for its old wooden houses dating back to the 17-19th century. Additionally, it’s famous for its lantern lit streets, custom-made clothing, and distinctive local dishes.
If you are first-timers and short-time visitors in Hoi An, I highly recommend staying in the Old Town. In this article, I will explain why The Old town is a good area to stay in Hoi An, some downsides of staying in the old town, and the best places to stay in the old town.
The actual old town is a small area, covering an area of around 2 square km between Thu Bon River and Phan Chau Trinh street. This area is where you find well-preserved ancient buildings, temples, and bridges.
There are almost no accommodations in this area, so staying in Hoi An Old Town means staying on the edge and in the surrounding neighborhoods of the Old Town.
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Where is Hoi An Old Town?
Hoi An Old Town is located on the north bank of Bon River, connecting with Cua Dai estuary. It is directly connected with the East Sea, offering a strategic location for maritime routes connecting China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and Europe.
Hoi An Old Town is located in Central Vietnam, around 30km south of Da Nang (the transport hub of the region). It’s around 40-50 minutes drive from Da Nang international airport, Da Nang train station, and major areas of the city such as Han River and My Khe Beach.
History of Hoi An Old Town
Hoi An has a fascinating history. It was an important seaport of the Champa Kingdom from the 2nd to 15th century, linking maritime routes from China to India. Merchants from Arab, Persian and Chinese came here to trade goods such as silk, agar wood, pearls, and gold.
The golden age of Hoi An is from the 15th to 17th century, when it became a major trading port in South East Asia, attracting merchants from many countries in Asia and Europe such as China, Japan, India, Spain, Portuguese, and the Netherlands.
The town is bustling with the trade of silk, spices, crafts, ceramics, and pottery. The Japanese community built the Japanese Covered Bridge and the Chinese settlers built many important assembly halls, each representing a distinct guild.
From the 18th-19th century, Hoi An gradually lost its position as a bustling port center because of the siltation of the Thu Bon River, making it difficult for large ships to access the harbor. Additionally, Da Nang became the new trading port of Central Vietnam.
During the French Colonial period from the 19th to 20th Century, many other cities around Vietnam were under new constructions, but Hoi An retained almost all of its ancient wooden houses, Chinese assembly halls, Japanese Bridge, temples, and narrow alleys.
Today, Hoi An is a popular tourist destination and a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can explore lantern lined streets, centuries-old buildings, temples, museums, and food.
Walking through the narrow streets feels like stepping back in time. The old town has beautiful architecture with yellow‑washed buildings, wooden Chinese shophouses and temples, French colonial and traditional Vietnamese tube houses.
Is Hoi An Old Town a good area to stay in Hoi An?
Without a doubt, Hoi An Old Town is the best area to stay in to stay in Hoi An for first-timers and travelers who have short time in the city.
Staying here means you can easily walk to all the major attractions, restaurants, cafes, shops, and enjoy the vibrant nightlife without worrying about traveling far to the hotel at night.
Convenience location & easy access to attractions
If you stay in the old town area, you will be steps away from popular points of interests such as the ancient houses, Japanese Covered Bridge, Quan Cong Temple, and Chinese assembly halls.
The old houses in Hoi An were built from the 17th to the 19th centuries, commonly one or two stories high, narrow in width but relatively deep. The houses typically include a commercial space, a living area, and a worship area.
Popular ancient houses are the Tan Ky, Phung Hung, and Quang Thang House. Tan Ky has a blend of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese architectural styles. Phung Hung is a unique two-story design adapted to flooding. Quang Thang has a central courtyard well.
The old town is home to several Assembly halls that served as community spaces and also as places to worship Chinese deities. Notable Assembly halls are the Fujian, Cantonese, Chaozhou, and Hainan Assembly Halls.
The Japanese Covered Bridge is another highlight of the old town. It’s believed to have been built by Japanese merchants in Hoi An in 1593. The bridge is made of wood, shaped in an arch, with a roof of yin-yang tiles, and has covered corridors on both sides.
Lively Nightlife scene
Hoi An Old Town is more lively at night when the weather cools down and streets glow with colorful lanterns. The area on the two banks of Bon River is a particularly popular spot to enjoy the nightlife.
There are dozens of bars, restaurants, and cafes On Bang Dang street on the northern side of the river, and Nguyen Phuc Chu Street on the south bank of the river. The streets of Le Loi and Nguyen Thai Streets are also lined with bars.
You can explore the Hội An Night Market on Nguyen Hoang street on An Hoi island. The vendors sell delicious Vietnamese street food and sell clothes, accessories, and souvenirs.
Locals and tourists alike enjoy walking along the Thu Bon River, taking lantern boat rides or releasing floating lanterns. It is a romantic and memorable nighttime experience in Hoi An.
Renowned Cuisine
Hoi An is known for its unique regional dishes and many popular restaurants are located in the Old Town. Some must see dishes in Hoi An are Cao Lầu, White Rose Dumplings, Bánh Mì Hoi An, Com Ga Hoi An, and Mi Quang.
Some of my favorite places to eat in Hoi An Old town include Ba Buoi Chicken Rice, Banh Mi Phuong, and Morning Glory Original. Banh Mi Phuong became internationally renowned after travel chef Anthony Bourdain hailed it as a symphony in a sandwich.
The Old Town has many trendy cafes and restaurants located in the historic shophouses. Many of these establishments have alfresco dining and open-air courtyards.
Restaurants and bars along the Thu Bon River feature balconies on the higher floors where you enjoy meals while watching boats, lanterns, and street life along the water.
Tailor-made Clothes and Shopping
Hoi An is a renowned destination for custom‑made clothing and shoes, and shopping here is a big part of the travel experience. The town has hundreds of tailor shops where you can order custom suits, dresses, shirts, shoes. They offer something for every style and budget.
The prices are generally much lower than in Western countries and garments can be done within 2-3 days. You can choose fabrics, styles, and designs. Many visitors will prepare and bring photos of what they want to show the shops.
In addition to tailoring shops, you can shop for traditional Vietnamese souvenirs, lanterns, handmade textiles, ceramics, lacquerware, jewelry, and local art. You can shop at Hoi An Central Market as well as many small mall boutiques scattering around the town.
Proximity to the beach and traditional craft villages
Hoi An Old Town is located just 10-15 minutes taxi drive to the An Bang and Cua Dai Beach. If you want to take a break from the historic town, you can easily travel to the beach for swimming, sunbathing, and all kinds of watersport activities.
There are also a cluster of traditional craft villages around the old town specializing in pottery, carpentry, farming and bronze casting. You can visit Thanh Ha Pottery Village, Kim Bong Carpentry Village, or the Tra Que Vegetable Village to explore local traditions.
Best Hotels in Old TownHoi An:
- Luxury: Allegro Hoi An . A Little Luxury Hotel & Spa
- Mid-range: Hoi An Historic Hotel (I stayed here, good 4-star French-colonial style hotel)
- Budget: Square Villa Hoi An (I stay here, cozy guest house)
The downside of staying in Old Town Hoi An
Touristy
The Old Town is a bit quiet during the day because people avoid the heat but it is always busy in the evening, especially at the area along the banks of the Thu Bon river. There are often big groups of Koreans, Chinese, and Japanese in the popular attractions.
Flood during rainy season
Hoi An is prone to flooding during heavy rains or the monsoon season, from September to December. If you want to maximize your time sighing and enjoy outdoor activities, you should avoid visiting the town this season.
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The best areas to stay in Old Town Hoi An
Hoi An Old Town is a small area of 2.2 km2. It is bounded by the Thu Bon River in the south, Phan Chau Trinh street in the north, Cong Nu Ngoc Hoa street in the west, and Hoang Dieu street in the east.
The Old Town is the protected area with well-preserved ancient houses and many other historic architectural works, such as the Japanese Covered Bridge, pagodas, and Chinese Assembly Halls.
There are almost no accommodations within the old town, so staying in the old town means staying in the neighborhoods surrounding the old town.
The best areas to stay in Hoi An Old Town are An Hoi island (south Old Town), Cam Pho (west Old Town), Cam Nam island (south old Town), North Old town, and east Old Town. These areas are all within walking distance or bicycle ride from the old town.
Where to stay in Old Town Hoi An: Best Hotels
1. An Hoi Island (south Old Town)
This is a small island located south of Hoi An Old Town. It’s connected with the old town via An Hoi Bridge and Quảng Trường Bridge. There is also a Cam Kim bridge connecting this island with the Cam Kim area, just south of An Hoi.
This area covers an area of 1.2m long and 300m wide. It has a lively nightlife scene, especially on the Thu Bon riverside area facing the old town.
An Hoi is home to the night market on Nguyen Hoang Street, and the Hội An Lune Center for the Performing Arts on the eastern corner of the island.
An Hoi Bridge is an iconic bridge on Thu Bon river where you can take nice photos with colorful boats, and yellow ancient houses on two banks of the river in the background.
An Hoi has dozens of hotels, guest houses, and homestays. You can find several hotels labeled as 5-star hotels in this area. Many hotels offer stunning views of the Thu Bon river.
An Hoi is overall a good location for easy access to the old town and the nightlife but still has a good night sleep.
Best hotels in An Hoi Island:
- Luxury: RiverTown Hoi An Resort & Spa
- Mid-range: Chillax Old Town Villa
- Budget: hoi an center town
2. Cam Pho (West Old Town)
Cam Pho is located right west of the old town, offering a quieter and less touristy atmosphere compared to the old town and An Hoi island. It is bordered with the old town with some popular landmarks such as Đình Cẩm Phô and Hoài River Square.
Main streets in Cam Pho are Nguyen Du, Dao Duy Tu, and Hung Vuong street. There are also many small alleyways connecting these streets together.
You can find some good budget homestays and luxury hotels in Cam Pho while still within a short walk from the old town. There are some nice riverside accommodations along Nguyen Du street. Some places have nice rooftop bars and pools with river views.
Cho Dem Cam Pho (night Market) can be found on Nguyen Du street, at the foot of Quang Truong Bridge. There are some plastic chairs and tables set along the riverfront area, offering a quieter atmosphere compared to the area around An Hoi bridge.
To the west of the Cam Pho area, you can visit the popular Thanh Ha Pottery Village. You can explore the museum, many shops where you can buy pottery products or make your own pottery with a small fee.
I had a great experience staying at the small but cozy Square Villa Hoi An. The hotel is just a block away from the Thu Bon River and is around 10 minutes walk to Chua Cau Bridge and the center area of Hoi An Old Town.
My room on the rooms was spacious with a clean bed and bathrooms and lots of natural lights. It has a lovely balcony overlooking the colorful tree-lined street below. There are a couple of nice local restaurants close to the hotel.
The staff was very friendly and helped me organise the bus to Hue. I would recommend the hotel for solo travelers and couples who are traveling on a budget and want a quiet, private place to sleep close to the old town.
Best hotels in Cam Pho:
- Luxury: Hotel Royal Hoi An
- Mid-range: Hoi An Vi Khoa Villa
- Budget: Square Villa Hoi An
3. Tran Hung Dao & Ly Thuong Kiet streets (North Old Town)
The area around Tran Hung Dao and Ly Thuong Kiet street are popular areas to stay near Hoi An Old Town. It is just north of Old Town, and within easy distance from major attractions.
This area has wider streets than the old town. It’s home to some local attractions such as Hoi An Church, Hoi An prison relic, and the nice large park sandwich between the two main streets.
Some popular points of interest near this area include the Silk Village Hoi An and Tra Que Vegetable Village. You can see the process of silk making in the traditional ways at Silk Village, and see local work on the farming at Tra Que Vegetable Village.
I stayed at the Hoi An Historic Hotel and recommend it for those who want to stay in a good mid-range hotel on the edge of the old town.
The hotel is located in Tran Hung Dao street, just two blocks away from Fujian Assembly Hall and Central Hoi An Market. There are dozens of nice shops, restaurants, and cafes near the hotel.
The hotel has a French-colonial feeling and a beautiful ground with old trees and a swimming pool. My room was spacious and the breakfast buffet was lovely with a variety of dishes and outdoor and indoor setting.
Best hotels in North Hoi An Old Town:
- Luxury: Allegro Hoi An . A Little Luxury Hotel & Spa
- Mid-range: Hoi An Historic Hotel
- Budget: Lion King Hotel
4. East Old Town
The area east of Hoang Dieu street from the old town is a lovely area to stay in Hoi An. They have some nice luxury riverside resorts and beautiful boutique villas and close proximity to the old town.
Main streets in East Hoi An Old Town are Phan Boi Chau street, Huyen Tran Cong Chua riverside street, Nguyen Duy Hieu, and Cua Dai street.
This area is home to some lovely art galleries and exhibition spaces such as the Precious Heritage Art Gallery Museum.
Best hotels in East Hoi An Old Town:
- Luxury: Anantara Hoi An Resort
- Mid-range: De’Colore Villa Hoi An
- Budget: Riverside White House Boutique Hotel
5. Cam Nam island (south Old Town)
Cam Nam island, located south east of the old town, is a great peaceful place to stay in Hoi An. You can find some good value for money accommodations in this area while stilling within a short distance from the ancient town.
It’s quite a large island (around 3km long and 300m wide), so consider staying in the area near the old town for convenience. The island is connected with Hoi An Old Town via the Cam nam Bridge.
Best hotels in Cam Nam:
- Luxury: Hoi An Memories Resort & Spa
- Luxury: Moire Hoi An, Vignette Collection by IHG
- Mid-range: Hoi An Hideaway Villa
- Budget: iHome Hoi An
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So there you have it, my recommendation for the best areas and hotels in Hoi An Old Town. The town is relatively small and bicycle-friendly, so no matter where you choose to stay, you can easily explore on foot, bicycle, or traditional cyclos.