Hoi An Guide
Where to Stay in Hoi An: An Area Guide for Families & Groups
By Ngo Thu Thuy (Jenny), founder of Anamoi Villa · Updated
Deciding where to stay in Hoi An mostly comes down to one question: do you want to walk to the lantern-lit old streets, or wake up near the sea or the rice fields? Hoi An is small, so no choice is far from the rest, but each area gives your trip a very different rhythm. This guide compares the main options and who each one suits.
The short answer
For most first-time visitors, stay in or just outside the Ancient Town. The riverside lanes a short walk from the centre are the sweet spot for families and groups: you can still walk to the old town at night, but sleep somewhere quieter with room for everyone. Pick An Bang or Cua Dai if beach days matter most, and the rice-field villages if you want slow, green mornings.
Where to stay in Hoi An: the areas at a glance
| Area | Feels like | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient Town | Historic, busy, lanterns everywhere at night | Short first visits, couples | Crowds, small rooms, little parking |
| Riverside, just outside the centre | Calmer lanes by the Thu Bon River, walking distance to the old town | Families, groups, stays of 3+ nights | Low-lying areas in the rainy season |
| An Bang & Cua Dai beaches | Relaxed beach strips with seafood and beach bars | Beach lovers, couples | A drive or bike ride to the old town |
| Rice-field villages | Green, rural, slow | Cyclists, nature lovers | Fewer restaurants, dark roads at night |
| Da Nang (An Thuong) | A modern beach city, about 45 minutes away by car | Groups who want city beach life with day trips to Hoi An | You commute to Hoi An |
The Ancient Town
Hoi An Ancient Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site: a compact grid of yellow merchant houses, assembly halls and the Japanese Covered Bridge, lit by hundreds of silk lanterns after dark. Staying right in the centre means you can step out early, before the day-trip crowds arrive, and wander back late.
What to know
- Evenings are crowded, especially on weekends and holidays
- Accommodation is mostly small hotels and guesthouses — hard to keep a big group together
- Parking and car access are limited in the busiest streets
The riverside, just outside the old town
A few minutes from the old streets, the banks of the Thu Bon River are noticeably calmer. This is where you find larger houses with gardens, pools and space to cook and eat together, while the Ancient Town stays within walking distance for dinner and the evening lanterns.
Why you’ll love it
- Walk into town at night, then come home to a quiet street
- Room for a whole family or group under one roof
- River views and sunsets from your own terrace
What to know
- The beach is a short drive away, not on your doorstep
- Riverside areas can be affected when the river rises in the rainy season (roughly October to December)
An Bang and Cua Dai beaches
Hoi An’s coastline is a short drive from the old town. An Bang is the more relaxed strip, known for its beach restaurants and loungers; Cua Dai is home to several larger resorts. Choose the beach if your ideal day starts with a swim and you are happy to take a Grab or taxi into town for the evening.
The rice-field villages
Villages such as Tra Que and Cam Thanh sit among vegetable gardens, rice paddies and coconut-palm waterways. They are lovely for cycling and quiet mornings, but restaurants are fewer and roads are dark at night — better suited to couples and slow travellers than to big groups who want to go out together.
Staying by the river: Anamoi Hoi An Pool Villa Riverside
Our Anamoi Hoi An Pool Villa Riverside is one of the few river-view villas in Hoi An: a 3-minute ride or about a 15-minute walk from the Ancient Town, with cafes, restaurants and spas within 300m. The whole house is reserved for one group.
- 7 bedrooms, 8 beds and 6 ensuite bathrooms, for up to 16 guests
- 4 bedrooms with 1.8m king beds and 3 with 1.6m queen beds, each with a work desk and a comfortable chair
- A terrace overlooking the Thu Bon River with a pool and a BBQ area
- A living room with a projector and big screen, a pool table, and a fully equipped kitchen with a dining table for large groups
- Laundry area with a washer-dryer, and private parking
- From 7,000,000 VND per night for the whole villa
Good to know: bedrooms are spread over three floors, so expect stairs. Check-in is from 2:00 PM and check-out is by 11:00 AM. The villa sits in a residential neighbourhood, so quiet hours are 9:00 PM to 7:00 AM.
Where our team sends guests to eat: a few local places we recommend in our Hoi An check-in guide.
- Banh Mi SUM (Tran Hung Dao Street) — a banh mi favourite with locals and visitors, open all day; grab one to go or eat in
- Cao Lau Thanh (Thai Phien Street) — cao lau, the noodle dish you’ll only find in Hoi An, open all day
- Com Ga Hien (Hai Ba Trung Street) — Hoi An chicken rice with a fresh papaya and herb salad, served from 4 PM — add a little Hoi An chilli sauce
- Mi Quang Noodle (Tran Cao Van Street) — mi quang, wide turmeric rice noodles with a little rich broth, pork, shrimp or chicken, peanuts and a crispy rice cracker, open all day
- White Rose Restaurant (Hai Ba Trung Street) — the delicate “white rose” dumplings, made by one Hoi An family to a recipe kept for generations, open all day
Which area is right for you?
Choose the Ancient Town if…
- you are staying 1–2 nights and want to see as much as possible on foot
- you are a couple or a small group happy with hotel rooms
Choose the riverside if…
- you are a family, several generations or a group of friends who want to stay together
- you want to walk to the old town at night but sleep somewhere quiet
- you are staying 3 nights or more and would like a pool, a kitchen and space to relax
Choose the beach or the villages if…
- swimming and sunbathing come first, or you want rural calm and cycling
- you don’t mind a short ride into town each evening
Travelling with children or a big group? Read our Hoi An travel tips for kids and large groups.
Hoi An or Da Nang as your base?
Some groups prefer to stay in Da Nang and visit Hoi An for a day or an evening. If city beach life is the priority, our Anamoi Jacuzzi Pool Villa in An Thuong has 6 ensuite bedrooms for up to 12 guests, an indoor pool, an elevator to floors 1–4 and a rooftop jacuzzi with a sunset bar, a 4–5 minute ride from My Khe beach. It starts from 7,800,000 VND per night. If you want to wake up a walk away from the lanterns, the Hoi An riverside pool villa is the better fit. See our private villa in Hoi An and our villa in Da Nang page.
Booking direct
Booking at anamoivilla.com puts you in touch with our team directly. When you book directly at our Hoi An villa:
- Free airport pickup from Da Nang Airport for stays of 3 nights or more, for bookings from 3 November 2026 to 31 January 2027
- Free early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best area to stay in Hoi An for a first visit?
- Stay in or just outside the Ancient Town, so you can walk to the old streets, the river and the lantern-lit evenings. The riverside lanes a short walk from the centre give you the same access with quieter nights and more space.
- Is it better to stay in the Ancient Town or near the beach in Hoi An?
- Stay near the Ancient Town if sightseeing, food and evening walks are your priority. Choose An Bang or Cua Dai if you mainly want beach days. The two are only a short drive apart, so whichever you pick, the other is easy to visit.
- Where should a large group or family stay in Hoi An?
- A private villa is usually easier than several hotel rooms. Anamoi Hoi An Pool Villa Riverside has 7 bedrooms for up to 16 guests, a pool and a riverside BBQ area, and is a 3-minute ride or about a 15-minute walk from the Ancient Town.
- How far is Hoi An from Da Nang Airport?
- Roughly 45 minutes to an hour by car, depending on traffic and where in Hoi An you are staying. Book directly for 3 nights or more between 3 November 2026 and 31 January 2027 and your airport pickup is free.
- When is the rainy season in Hoi An?
- Heavy rain usually falls from around October to December, when the Thu Bon River can rise and flood low-lying streets of the Ancient Town. Check the forecast before you travel and keep your plans flexible during these months.
Tell us your dates and how many people are travelling — we’ll check whether the Hoi An Pool Villa Riverside is free and suggest the best option for your group.
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