Hoi An old town hotels
There are only a couple of hotels in Hoi An's old town - but there are many more on the fringe. Vinh Hung 1 is the only hotel we know in an original Hoi An heritage building. Anantara Resort is the only international hotel in the old town precinct.
Staying in and around the old town makes sense for a short stay - especially during winter when the beach area is of less interest. For longer stays, we reckon the surrounding countryside and the beach offer a better experience - especially as the old town is increasingly crowded with tour groups.
Photo: Mark Bowyer Vinh Hung Heritage Hotel - the only heritage hotel in the old town.
Hoi An countryside - homestays and boutique resorts
The past decade has seen a flourishing a small guest houses - “homestays” and resorts in the picturesque countryside around Hoi An.
It’s worth noting that the “homestay” description is used loosely in Vietnam. These places are mostly small hotels and guesthouses - many of them are lovely. But they’re not homes and they’re not homestays by any definition we know of. It doesn’t really matter. They offer atmosphere, value for money and location. Just don’t expect a Vietnamese family home.
The good homestays we’ve seen start from around $30USD per night.
There are also lots of locally owned boutique resorts dotted across the landscape outside Hoi An. Many of them are nicely done and well priced. The best areas to be are between Hoi An town and the beach - either off Cua Dai Rd (connects to Cua Dai Beach) or Hai Ba Trung St (connects to An Bang Beach).
These start from around $50USD and are usually less than $120USD
Photo: Mark Bowyer Bamboo Hoi An Homestay - not really a home but a nice place to stay
Photo: Mark Bowyer Bamboo Hoi An Homestay - not really a home but a nice place to stay
Photo: Mark Bowyer Ancient House Resort - between Hoi An and Cua Dai beach
Photo: Mark Bowyer Maison Vy Hotel, Hoi An - tasteful local hotel
Staying by the beach? Remember the weather
The weather should be a big part of any decision about where to stay in Hoi An. Remember that the Hoi An - Danang strip can be cold and grey between November and February. You can still expect some sunny days and maybe some occasional swims.
You'll get the best beach weather between March and October - interrupted by the occasional torrential downpour. It can get very hot too.
Cua Dai Beach resorts
Cua Dai Beach was the first beach strip to develop on the coast from Hoi An. There are some popular international resorts here - The Victoria, Hoi An Beach Resort, Sunrise, the newly opened Vinpearl Hoi An and others.
Large sections of Cua Dai beach have been washed away by storms and erosion over the past 4 - 5 years. There are claims that the erosion has been aggravated by over-development and mismanagement of the delicate mouth of the Thu Bon river
Many resorts no longer have any beach. Some offer only very small patches of sand. Some have covered their beach in huge boulders to block further erosion.
If the beach is important to your beach holiday, check carefully.
Photo: Mark Bowyer Cua Dai Beach - with sandbags for reinforcement. Other stretches have been washed away completely.
An Bang Beach resorts and homestays
Travellers in search of sea and sand from Hoi An are now heading to An Bang beach - formerly a mellow haven of locals and expats. It’s becoming a destination in its own right with lots of new resorts, homestays, restaurants and bars.
The homestays we checked out at An Bang are lovely. And there are now plenty of bars and eateries in the area.
If you like things to be quiet, head around 500 metres south of the main An Bang centre to a small cluster of homestays and eateries around Sounds of Silence Cafe. Things are blissfully mellow here for now - though things are changing quickly around An Bang.
Photo: Mark Bowyer An Bang beach is the place to be in summer - expect crowds
Photo: Mark Bowyer An Bang Garden Homestay - An Bang Beach - Hoi An
Photo: Mark Bowyer Beachside Resort, An Bang Beach, Hoi An
Photo: Mark Bowyer Beachside Resort An Bang - resorts are arriving on Hoi An's An Bang Beach
The Danang beach strip - resorts
The beach strip between Hoi An and Danang is the location of the most intense resort development in Vietnam. Much of it is mass-tourism focused.
Hidden among the concrete and high-rise are some of Vietnam’s finest resorts.
The Four Seasons Nam Hai is a favourite with luxury travellers. Closer to Danang, there’s the Hyatt Regency (we haven’t checked it out yet though it’s been there quite a while)
The Naman Retreat is a locally owned property designed by one of Vietnam’s most celebrated architects. We need to check it out soon too.
These places aren’t really in Hoi An. They’re around 20 - 30 minutes away. They are close to the golf courses and closer to Danang as well.
Photo: Mark Bowyer Four Seasons - The Nam Hai, Hoi An
Photo: Mark Bowyer Four Seasons - The Nam Hai, Hoi An - on the Danang beach strip
Danang hotels and resorts
Danang has seen a furious boom in hotel development in recent years. it feels pretty chaotic and they’re not building a destination with a whole lot of soul. But there’s an abundance of well priced, comfortable accommodation here. Danang itself is a tad light as a destination - but it has a good local food scene.
Further north again is the Intercontinental Sun Peninsula Danang - around an hour from Hoi An and 30 minutes north-east of Danang city. It’s an imposing and spectacular creation on one of Vietnam’s most beautiful bays. This place is one of the country’s famous resorts. And you’ll pay a pretty penny to stay here.
Photo: Mark Bowyer Intercontinental Sun Peninsula, Danang
Disclosure
Rusty Compass recommendations are always independent. We list places we think you should know about - that’s it. Rusty Compass has stayed in most of the hotels listed here - some at our expense, others as guests of the property. We retain full control of our editorial irrespective of the basis in which we stay at hotels and no money changes hands for these listings. This is a small selection of a vast number of hotels and resorts in Hoi An, An Bang and Danang. You can see our main list for a current curated list of recommendations.
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