Hoi An is a small heritage town in Vietnam around 50 minutes drive outside of the capital city of Da Nang. Relatively unheard of by some, including myself – that was until 2018 when I arrived here for the first time and had been fantasizing about the place until my return in early 2020.

Hoi An has become one of my favourite cities to travel to in Asia – with a great mix of sightseeing and slow-paced culture, it really is a nice place to chill and unwind for a week or 2.

Oh… and the food! Some of the best in the world! I’ll get to that more in this article.

HOW TO GET TO HOI AN

Hoi An can be accessed by one of the many bus services leaving at various locations throughout Da Nang city. The cost is 30,000VND ($1.30USD) and the ticket can be purchased on the bus.

Tip: Use Google Maps / Schedule Explorer to find the bus pickup locations and departure times, buses run every 20 minutes between 5:30am to 6pm.

TOP CHOICE HOTEL RESORTS IN HOI AN

I have stayed in a total of 4 different hotels in Hoi An and can share with you my experience on 2, 3, 4 and 5 star options in the area.

Starting with the 2 Star option:
I stayed 3 nights in the Son Trang Hotel in Feb 2020, this has been my cheapest accommodation find in Hoi An with a very small basic room coming in at 350,000 VND. Now it must be mentioned that this period was the cusp of Covid19 and tourism was very low so I was able to walk in and negotiate the price. The great thing about this hotel was that it felt very safe, with well presented hospitable staff. A great choice if you don’t mind something very small and basic.

My 3 Star stay was one I booked on AirBnB:
I had 10 nights at the Sala Hotel, a much larger room than the 2 star mentioned above. The Sala has a swimming pool and is located conveniently in the center of the old heritage town, with restaurants, coffee shops and shopping all just a walk away. The price comes in around 530,000 VND ($23USD) per night and a discount can be obtained through click on my link on AirBnB.

4 Stars – The next hotel I would like to mention is the T&T Villa:
Offering a bit more luxury than the previous 2, this hotel is reasonably new with a modern room design that you will find comfortable for a longer stay. The nice big swimming pool located in the center of the hotel and rooms come with a daily breakfast buffet. I would highly recommend this place for a quiet, relaxed stay at an affordable price.

I give a tour of the T&T Villa in this video around the 12:40 mark.

Now onto my 5 Star reveal, The Little Hoi An Boutique Hotel & Spa – this place really is the Bee’s knees when it comes to luxury and outstanding service. The room design is unique with an element of romance and charm, the in house amenities include spa service, restaurant, bar and large swimming pool. The daily breakfast buffet is one of the best I have ever seen in my years traveling and the staff go above and beyond to ensure you have a memorable stay. If you are interested in booking this hotel, please get in touch through my contact form and may be able to get you a special deal (I am a personal friend of the manager 😉

TOP THINGS TO DO IN HOI AN

An Bang Beach

If you are staying in Hoi An Ancient Town, you can rent a bicycle for around 30,000 VND per day ($1.30USD) and cycle around 4.5km to An Bang Beach. There are many beachfront restaurants where you can enjoy a meal with stunning beach views, the white sandy beach is surrounded by Islands and the water is cool and refreshing. One of the nicest beaches I have experienced in South East Asia.

Enjoy a Coffee at one of many unique locations

Depending on what you are in the mood for, Hoi An Ancient Town offers a wide range of sightseeing and cultural activities, there are unique coffee shops and restaurants tucked away at every nook of the town – so a simple day walking along the cobblestone paths is a delight in itself and if you enjoy a decent coffee you won’t have trouble finding a top-quality local brew in Hoi An.

Take a Vespa Tour

Discover the breathtaking countryside of Hoi An on a Vespa, join one of many groups tours or ride alone. As you set out through the rice fields you will find much to explore from local villages, hidden cafes and restaurants. Dedicate a full day to adventure, bookings can be made with Vespa Adventures.