Hoi An Vs Da Nang, Which One Should I Visit?

Hoi An and Da Nang are both well-known cities located in central Vietnam. Da Nang is the biggest city in central Vietnam and has become popular with digital nomads. Hoi An is a city that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is only 25 mins by taxi from Da Nang. These two cities have a very different atmosphere and vibe from each other, with a lot to do in each city.

Both cities are major hubs in central Vietnam where Hoi An was a major port city and Da Nang has developed as an economic hub. Da Nang is popular for its food, temples, and relaxation on the beach while in Hoi An you can visit UNESCO sites, go to the beach, visit the temples, go shopping, and much more.

In this post, we will compare Hoi An vs Da Nang in Vietnam. Let’s get started!

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Hoi An Vs Da Nang

Hoi An and Da Nang are both good places to visit especially if you want to relax by the beach or just go exploring. They both have a very similar history and culture but have a different vibe. The two cities are close to each other, only 25 mins by taxi.

No matter which one you choose to stay in, you are a quick taxi ride away from the other one, so it’s a matter of what you want to focus on during your trip.

We will try to make it easier for you by comparing Hoi An and Da Nang with factors such as their history, accommodation, food scene, and any other factors that may have an impact on your trip.

Which One Has Better Beaches?

Hoi An and Da Nang are popular beach towns with long beautiful gold-sand beaches. Beaches in both cities are popular with tourists and locals. And the beaches are a big draw for both cities.

As a result, it is busy in the late afternoon. And there is a good range of restaurants and bars all vying for your attention.

Beaches In Da Nang

Da Nang has developed into a large resort town with the development of multiple beach properties along the beachfront particularly Da Nang Beach. Da Nang Beach has been famous worldwide.

Here is a list of some of the beaches in Da Nang Vietnam.

Da Nang Beach.
Son Tra Beach.
Thanh Binh Beach.
Bac My An Beach.
Bai Bac Beach.

Beaches In Hoi An

Hoi An’s beaches are nicer and have more of a chilled vibe. An Bang Beach is the most popular beach in Hoi An and because of this, it is also the busiest.

Here is a list of the beaches in Hoi An Vietnam.

Cua Dai Beach.
An Bang Beach.

What Is The Nightlife Like?

Generally, Vietnam is not known for its nightlife with early closing hours. There are stay places that do stay open until 4 am. Making it a decent place for travelers looking to party.

Let’s compare the nightlife between Hoi An and Da Nang.

Hoi An’s Nightlife

Hoi An’s nightlife is more of a hippie-chilled vibe. It is home to some trendy cafés, bars, and live music bars. Nearly all this happens within the bustling Ancient Town and Riverside.

In reality, Hoi An is not a party town, it is a place for a few drinks and to enjoy the local food. In saying that there is a good range of bars but these will start to close from 11 pm onwards.

It is a great place to go bar hopping from the Hoi An Sports Bar and Mango Mango Bar to Fender Bar which closes at 4 am.

Da Nang’s Nightlife

Da Nang’s nightlife is a lot more lively and busier than Hoi An. The city has rooftop bars, bars, clubs, and live music bars. Either way, you will have a great night at Da Nang bars.

There is a good range of bars to choose from in Da Nang. Making it a great place to spend the night hopping from Seventeen Saloon Da Nang to Oasis Tapas Bar to Golden Pine Pub Da Nang.

What Is The Accommodation Like?

Choosing the right accommodation is important regardless if it is in either Hoi An or Da Nang because there are a lot of options from cheap hostels to expensive accommodation but you need to get one of a good standard.

Staying In Da Nang

Da Nang has a lot of big hotel chains and pools, beach views, and amazing sunset bars waiting for you.

There are also cheaper hostel options and hotel options that are only a few minutes walk from the beach or a little bit more but you need to be realistic about your expectations. You can expect to pay from $12 upwards for a double bed at a hotel.

Staying In Hoi An

Hoi An is a little less complicated. It does have a couple of luxury places to stay but there are very limited and there are not many hotel chains in the city as of yet.

Most accommodation in Hoi An is by small local businesses and therefore cheaper and the standard is as good if not better than anywhere else. You can expect to pay from $10 upwards for a double bed at a hotel.

What To Do See In Da Nang And Hoi An

Da Nang and Hoi An are both similar and different in many ways. Hoi An has been known for its history and culture while Da Nang is known as a foodie paradise and relaxation at the beach.

Here are only some of the things to do in each city.

Things To Do In Hoi An

Hoi An is not as lively as Da Nang but it is a great place if you want to relax at the beach and explore the old town.

Here is our list of things to do in Hoi An Vietnam.

Explore The Old Town.
See Quan Cong Temple.
Get Tailor-Made Clothes.
Visit The Temples.
Enjoy the Monthly Full Moon Lantern Festival.
Go To The Beach.
A Foodie’s Dream.

Read more about things to do in Hoi An here.

Things To Do In Da Nang

Da Nang is a lively beach town and there is a lot to see and explore like visiting Mable Mountain or the Golden Bridge.

Here is our list of things to do in Da Nang Vietnam.

Linh Ung Pagoda.
My Son Sanctuary.
Museum of Cham Sculpture.
Golden Bridge.
Marble Mountain.

Read more details about things to do in Da Nang here.

USEFUL TRAVEL RESOURCES

Book Accommodation

Booking.com has a large range of properties from hotels, hostels, guesthouses, and resorts where you will find the best deals. Airbnb and Hostelworld also have a good range of places to stay at good prices.

Booking Flight

Skyscanner is a flight search comparison website that searches millions of flights all at once. Ultimately it is the best flight comparison website online at the moment.

Booking Transportation & Things To Do

Rome2rio and 12Go are useful to plan how to get anywhere by searching train, bus, car, and ferry routes. Especially useful in countries like Vietnam or Thailand. While Klook is great for exploring things to do in each place.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is cheap and more than likely you will never need to use it but you will have peace of mind if something does happen, you are covered in case of an emergency. World Nomads have great customer service and competitive prices.

Check out our resource page for the best companies to use when you travel.

Wrapping Up

Finally, which one to choose depends on your interests. For people interested in the food scene, the beach, and good nightlife for a few days then it is Da Nang. On the other hand, if you are looking for somewhere with a bit of culture and history. With a chilled vibe and nice food then it is Hoi An.

And that’s it for now! I’d love to know if this guide on the Hoi An vs Da Nang, which one should I visit has helped you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know if there is more to add.