Hoi An and Hue are both cities in central Vietnam but there is around 125 km between them. There to cities are developing but these cities offer a visitor a very different experience.
Check out our travel tips for Vietnam and things to do in Da Nang before going.
Hoi An is a more relaxed beach town vibe whereas Hue is a place for more to learn about the history with all the tombs and the forbidden citadel.
We will try to make it easier for you do compare Hue and Hoi An in terms of things to do, available accommodation and other factors that would have an impact on your holiday.
Hoi An or Hue
The two cities are around 125 km between apart from each other. It takes between 3 to 4 hours by train or bus.
No matter which one you choose to stay in, you are a 3 to 4-hour bus trip away from the other one, so it’s really a matter of what you want to focus on during your trip.
Which One Has Better Beaches?
Hoi An is known for being a relaxed beach town where Hue is not known for the beach but there are some amazing beaches in the area. Beaches in both cities are popular with tourists and locals.
As a result, it is busy in the late afternoon. And there is a good range of restaurants and bars all wanting your attention.
Beaches in Hue
Hue is not really a beach town but there are some amazing beaches in the area. With Thuan An Beach been the closest, being around 12 km from Hue.
Here a list of some of the beaches in Hue Vietnam.
- Lang Co Beach (20 km)
- Thuan An Beach (12 km)
- Canh Duong Beach (20 km)
- Vinh Thanh Beach (30 km)
Beaches in Hoi An
Hoi An’s beaches are more of a chilled with An Bang beach been the most popular beach in Hoi An and because of this is, it is also the busiest.
Here a list of some of the beaches in Hoi An Vietnam.
- Cua Dai Beach
- An Bang
What’s The Nightlife Like?
Generally, Vietnam is not known for its nightlife with closing early. There are stay places that do stay open until 4 am. Making it great 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 relaxed hippie vibe. In recent years it has become home to some trendy cafés, bars, and live music bars. Nearly all this happens within old Town and Riverside.
In reality, Hoi An is not a party town, it is a place for a few drinks and enjoy the local food on offer. 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.
Hue Nightlife
The nightlife in Hue is not the most exciting but are plenty of local pubs which are set along the backpacker streets of Pham Ngu Lao, Le Loi, and Nguyen Cong Tru.
If you are looking a few quiet drinks, meeting other backpackers and locals then there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be loads of fun
What’s The Accommodation Like
Choosing the right accommodation is important particularly in Vietnam. Both Hoi An and Hue offer a lot of options from cheap hostels to fancy accommodation but all you need is one of a good standard.
Staying in Hue
Hue has a lot of hostels, hotels and small hotels with pools, city views, and bars. The city does not have as much accommodation as Hoi An but the standard is as good if not better.
The hostel prices start from $5, with the really good standard hotels in good locations, starting prices $9 or $12.
Staying in Hoi An
Hoi An was a lot more hotels and hostels to choose from than Hue. Again there are luxury hotels and budget hotels and hostels. The nearer to the old town the better.
The hostel prices start from $5 but these tend not to be near the old town. With a really good standard hotel in a good location, prices start from $9 or $12 upwards.
What To Do See in Hue and Hoi An
Hue and Hoi An are both blessed with amazing architecture like the Hue citadel, the King tombs or the Japanese Covered Bridge.
Both have a long and rich history with the siege Hue or battle of Hue been one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War.
Here are only some of the things to do in each city
Things To Do in Hoi An
Hoi An is a more relaxed city with the old town and markets to explore as well as visiting the beach.
Here is our list of things to do in Hoi An Vietnam.
- Explore The Old Town
- See Quan Cong Temple
- Get a Tailor-made suit
- Japanese Covered Bridge
- Enjoy Monthly Full Moon Lantern Festival
- Visit the beach
- Enjoy food in the old town
Read more about things to do in Hoi An here.
Things To Do in Hue
Hue maybe a riverfront town but it has a lot of ancient architecture and museums and awesome places to explore around the city and places nearby.
Here is our list of things to do in Hue Vietnam.
- Visit Tu Hieu Pagoda
- See the Imperial Citadel
- Visit the Tomb of the Ancient Emperors
- Explore Thien Mu Pagoda
- Try the Huda Brewery Tour
Read more detail about things to do in Hue here.
Wrapping Up
Finally, in which city to choose really depends on one’s personal preference, taste, and interests. For people interested in museums, history, ancient temples/ruins, buildings, and the Vietnam war, then it is Hue.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a more relaxed vibe and interest in the foodie culture with good nightlife, golden beaches and enjoy walking around small towns and exploring the local culture, then Hoi An is for you.
Having visited both Hue and Hoi An in Vietnam over the years, I can definitely say they are worth going to see.
And that’s it for now! I’d love to know if this guide on the Hoi An or Hue, 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.
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