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Where to Stay in Hoi An: Best Areas & Hotels for Every Traveler

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Hoi An is one of those places where where you stay can completely change your experience. You can stay right next to the lantern-lit streets of the Ancient Town, wake up by the ocean in An Bang, cycle through rice fields from a countryside villa, or stay somewhere quiet along the Thu Bon River and still be only a few minutes from the main sights.

After spending weeks exploring Hoi An, I actually think this is one of the destinations where it pays to look beyond the obvious choice. The Old Town is beautiful and incredibly convenient, but it can also get very busy, especially in the evening. Staying a little further out often means getting a pool, more space, a quieter atmosphere and sometimes a much better hotel for your money.

So, where should you stay in Hoi An? In this guide, I'll break down the best areas to stay in Hoi An, what each neighbourhood is like, the pros and cons, who it's best for and the best hotels to consider in each area.

Quick answer: Where is the best area to stay in Hoi An?

If you don't have time to read the whole guide, here's my quick breakdown. For a first trip to Hoi An, I'd stay close to the Ancient Town. If you're staying for four nights or more, I'd seriously consider splitting your time between the Old Town and An Bang Beach or the countryside. Below you’ll find my three favourite stays in and around Hoi An you can take a look at.

RiverTown Hoi An Resort & Spa
RiverTown Hoi An Resort & Spa

For a resort feel without giving up your proximity to the Old Town, this is worth considering. The property has gardens, a swimming pool, free bicycles and a riverside setting, while the Ancient Town is still within easy walking distance.

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AIRA Boutique Hoi An Hotel & Spa
AIRA Boutique Hoi An Hotel & Spa

This is one of the hotels I'd look at first if you want to stay near An Bang Beach without going full resort. The boutique property has just 25 rooms and suites, an outdoor pool, Vietnamese restaurant and day spa, while the beach is right outside and the Ancient Town is around 4 km away.

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ENSO Retreat Hoi An - Rediscovery & Serenity
ENSO Retreat Hoi An - Rediscovery & Serenity

This hotel is designed around a slower, more relaxed experience and has a swimming pool, fitness facilities, gardens and bicycles. It's a good fit if you want a resort atmosphere but still prefer something smaller and more intimate than a big beachfront property.

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Map of the Best Hotels in Hoi An

Below you'll find a map where I've pinned my favourite hotels in Hoi An to make it easier for you to navigate when you're looking for where you want to base yourself.

Should you stay in Hoi An Ancient Town?

If you're visiting Hoi An for the first time, staying close to the Ancient Town is the easiest option. The UNESCO-listed Ancient Town is the part of Hoi An you've probably seen in photos with yellow colonial-era buildings, colourful lanterns, old merchant houses, cafés, tailor shops and the Thu Bon River. The historic centre is compact and best explored on foot or by bicycle, which makes staying nearby incredibly convenient.

One thing that's important to understand is that there aren't many traditional large hotels directly inside the heritage core. When hotels advertise themselves as being in Hoi An Old Town, they're often actually in the streets immediately surrounding it, such as Cam Pho, Minh An or Son Phong.

If you only have one or two nights in Hoi An and want to spend as much time as possible wandering the lantern-lit streets this is the area I’d choose. the only downside here is that it can get very busy. The Ancient Town is beautiful, but the experience during the busiest hours is very different from wandering around early in the morning or later at night.

Best Hotels near Hoi An Ancient Town

RiverTown Hoi An Resort & Spa
RiverTown Hoi An Resort & Spa

For a resort feel without giving up your proximity to the Old Town, this is worth considering. The property has gardens, a swimming pool, free bicycles and a riverside setting, while the Ancient Town is still within easy walking distance.

Check prices and availability

HOI AN HISTORIC HOTEL
HOI AN HISTORIC HOTEL

For something with a more traditional Hoi An feel, this is a great choice. The property has extensive gardens and a large swimming pool, while its central location means you can reach the Ancient Town in just a few minutes on foot.

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Allegro Hotel Hoi An
Allegro Hotel Hoi An

If you want a little bit of luxury while staying close to the Ancient Town, this is a beautiful option. This boutique hotel has spacious rooms, an outdoor swimming pool, spa and a design that combines modern comfort with Hoi An's traditional aesthetic.

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Should you stay in An Bang Beach?

If you're someone who wants a beach holiday with easy access to Hoi An, An Bang is probably the area I'd look at first.

An Bang Beach has a much more relaxed atmosphere than the Ancient Town, with beach cafés, restaurants, bars, boutique hotels and small villas spread around the beachfront streets. Most accommodation isn't directly on the sand, but many properties are only a couple of minutes' walk away.

I particularly like An Bang for longer stays because you can have a completely different rhythm here. You can spend the morning at the beach, grab lunch at a casual restaurant, cycle through the rice fields and then head into Hoi An for dinner.

The Old Town is roughly a short drive away, so you won't be walking back and forth every day. But with Grab and bicycles readily available, getting between the two is easy enough.

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Best Hotels in An Bang Beach

AIRA Boutique Hoi An Hotel & Spa
AIRA Boutique Hoi An Hotel & Spa

This is one of the hotels I'd look at first if you want to stay near An Bang Beach without going full resort. The boutique property has just 25 rooms and suites, an outdoor pool, Vietnamese restaurant and day spa, while the beach is right outside and the Ancient Town is around 4 km away.

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CHiEM - The Beachside Boutique Hotel & Villa
CHiEM - The Beachside Boutique Hotel & Villa

This is a more modern boutique option close to An Bang Beach, with rooms and villas designed for travellers who want a little more space. Some accommodation options include private pools, and the hotel is particularly well suited to families who want the beach nearby while still being comfortable.

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Dechiu
Dechiu

This is one of the more stylish small hotels in An Bang and is a great option if you want something with a strong boutique feel. The hotel has a relaxed coastal aesthetic and is close enough to the beach that you can easily build your entire stay around swimming, cafés and long lunches.

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Should you stay in Cam Chau?

Cam Chau is one of my favourite areas to recommend if you want a quieter Hoi An experience without being too far from the Ancient Town.

The neighborhoud sits between the Old Town and the beach, so you're in a really useful position for exploring both. It's also an area where you'll find lots of boutique hotels, villas, gardens and cycling routes, rather than just buildings packed tightly together.

This is a particularly good area for those who want a pool, more space and a peaceful place to stay, but don't want to be 20 minutes away from the action. You can cycle into the Old Town, head toward the beach or explore the rice fields around Hoi An easily.

Best Hotels in Cam Chau

Silk River Hoi An Retreat
Silk River Hoi An Retreat

This is one of the more atmospheric choices in the area, sitting beside the Thu Bon River with rooms overlooking the river, garden or pool. The design uses Indochine-inspired details, while the hotel also has a pool, spa and restaurant.

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Anio Boutique Hotel Hoian
Anio Boutique Hotel Hoian

This hotel has the kind of modern boutique feel that works really well for Hoi An. There's an outdoor pool, fitness centre and free bicycles, so you can easily cycle into the Ancient Town or out toward the beach.

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Hadana Boutique Resort Hoi An
Hadana Boutique Resort Hoi An

This is only around 700 metres from the Ancient Town, making it one of the more convenient choices in Cam Chau. The resort has 95 rooms and suites, private balconies and a peaceful pool-and-garden setting, so you get more of a resort atmosphere without moving too far from the center.

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Should you stay in Cam Thanh?

If your idea of the perfect Hoi An stay involves rice fields, bicycles, swimming pools and waking up somewhere peaceful, Cam Thanh might be your area.

It’s located in the countryside between the Ancient Town and the coast, and feels much more rural than central Hoi An. You'll be surrounded by coconut palms, waterways, gardens, rice fields and small resorts rather than busy tourist streets.

The trade-off is obvious though as you won't be able to walk to the Ancient Town for dinner every night. But if you're staying for several days, I think that can actually be a positive and most of the spots here offer home made Vietnamese food as well, which is a plus.

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Best Hotels in Cam Thanh

ZEN RETREAT HOI AN
ZEN RETREAT HOI AN

This is exactly what the name suggests, a peaceful retreat surrounded by the greenery of Cam Thanh. The property combines accommodation with wellness facilities, a pool, restaurant and activities designed around relaxation, making it a particularly good choice for a slow stay.

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ENSO Retreat Hoi An - Rediscovery & Serenity
ENSO Retreat Hoi An - Rediscovery & Serenity

This hotel is designed around a slower, more relaxed experience and has a swimming pool, fitness facilities, gardens and bicycles. It's a good fit if you want a resort atmosphere but still prefer something smaller and more intimate than a big beachfront property.

Check prices and availability

Zest Resort & Spa Hoi An
Zest Resort & Spa Hoi An

This is a beautiful option if you're looking for a tropical resort atmosphere in the countryside. The property has a swimming pool, fitness center, gardens, bicycles and spa facilities, while the surrounding area gives you a much more peaceful experience than the centre.

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Should you stay in Cam Nam?

If you want to be close to Hoi An's Ancient Town without actually staying in the busiest part of it, Cam Nam is worth a look.

Cam Nam is an island area just across the river from the Old Town. It feels noticeably quieter and more residential, while some hotels and villas have lovely riverside settings. You can cross the bridge into the centre easily, meaning you don't have to sacrifice too much convenience for the quieter atmosphere. We stayed in this area for some time and found it really calm and charming. You’ll have to walk into the Old Town for food, but it’s not a long walk and if you’re staying for a while it’s a nice area to just relax in.

Best Hotels in Cam Nam

Nghê Prana Hotel & Spa Hoi An
Nghê Prana Hotel & Spa Hoi An

This is a lovely choice if you want a quiet boutique hotel with a strong focus on relaxation. It has an outdoor pool, garden and spa facilities, and its location in Cam Nam gives you a peaceful base while keeping the Ancient Town within easy reach.

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Hoi An Odyssey Hotel & Spa
Hoi An Odyssey Hotel & Spa

This is a comfortable boutique hotel with a swimming pool, spa, restaurant and free bicycles. The hotel feels like a home-away-from-home, and the location means you can easily walk or cycle to the historic centre while staying somewhere quieter.

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The Quin Riverside Villa
The Quin Riverside Villa

This is a smaller property with a particularly strong location for exploring the Old Town. It's around 200 metres from the Ancient Town area and has an outdoor pool, balconies, bicycles and rooms with river or city views. If you prefer a small villa with personal service over a big hotel, this is perfect.

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Should you stay around Cua Dai Beach?

Cua Dai is the area I'd consider if you want a proper beach resort experience rather than the more independent, village-like atmosphere of An Bang.

The beach is south of An Bang and has traditionally attracted larger resorts with pools, spas, landscaped gardens and plenty of on-site facilities. That makes it particularly convenient for families and travellers who want to spend a significant part of their holiday relaxing at the hotel rather than constantly sightseeing.

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Best Hotels around Cua Dai Beach

Palm Garden Beach Resort & Spa
Palm Garden Beach Resort & Spa

This is one of the classic resort choices around Cua Dai, set in extensive tropical gardens directly overlooking the beach. It combines traditional Vietnamese-inspired architecture with five-star facilities including a large outdoor pool, spa and plenty of space to relax.

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Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort & Spa
Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort & Spa

This hotel sits between Cua Dai Beach and the De Vong River and is designed to resemble a traditional Vietnamese fishing village. The beachfront resort has both rooms and suites, tropical gardens and a relaxed atmosphere that feels much more intimate than a huge international resort.

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Hoi An Beach Resort
Hoi An Beach Resort

This is a great option if you want to combine the beach with a little more space and resort facilities. It sits between Cua Dai Beach and the De Vong River and has two outdoor pools, while a shuttle service makes it easier to get into the Ancient Town.

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Activities
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Where should you stay in Hoi An for a first visit?

For a first trip, I'd choose the area around the Ancient Town. You won't have to worry about transportation every time you want to go sightseeing, and you can easily walk out of your hotel and start exploring. It's also particularly nice to be close to the Old Town in the evening when the lanterns come on.

That said, if you're staying for four or five nights, I'd seriously consider Cam Chau, An Bang instead. You can still reach the Old Town easily, but you'll get more space, pools, gardens and a quieter atmosphere.

Final thoughts: Where should you stay in Hoi An?

There isn't one single best area to stay in Hoi An. It really depends on what you want from your trip.

If this is your first visit and you're only staying for a couple of nights, I'd stay close to the Ancient Town. You can walk everywhere and experience Hoi An when the lanterns come on at night.

But if you have more time, I wouldn't automatically book the most central hotel. Personally, I think one of the best things about Hoi An is getting away from the busiest streets. Staying among rice fields in Cam Thanh, cycling around Cam Chau or waking up near An Bang Beach gives you a completely different experience of the destination.

Plan Your Trip to Hoi An

Hopefully this guide has given you everything you need to plan where to stay in Hoi An. To make planning the rest of your trip even easier, I've included all the resources I personally use when I travel.

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Every recommendation is based on tools and services I genuinely use and would recommend to friends and family.

By using these links you help me continue to create free travel guides like this one.

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-Ingrid

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