Da Nang and Hoi An are two famous tourist destinations in central Vietnam. These cities are close to each other (the distance is only 30 kilometers), so visitors can stay in one or both of them during the holiday. In this article, HoiAn Day Trip Company will tell you which is better between Da Nang and Hoi An in different cases (staying at night, things to do, beaches, nightlife, family with kids,…). By our sharings, you can choose the city (cities) for yourself then.
You may also like: Where to Stay in Da Nang, Where to Stay in Hoi An
• Content by Tam Le, founder of HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD
• Designed by Giang Cong Minh, co-founder of LS E&C LTD and his team
• Photo by Dang Cong Loi, Dao Xuan Son, Tam Le & others
Better to Know about Da Nang (Vietnam)
– Location: South Central Coast region, Vietnam, Southeast Asia
– Name’s meaning: Da Nang means the ‘large estuary’ in Cham language
– Name’s pronunciation: /da neang/
– Other name(s): Tuarane by French, Xiangang (the Clam Harbour) by Chinese
– Nickname: City of bridges, City by Han River
– Area: 1,256.53 km2 (excluding the Paracel/Hoang Sa Islands)
– Year of establishment: 1889
– Population: 1,134 million (2019) (4th largest city of Vietnam)
– Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Hoa, K’tur
– Districts: 6 urban districts, 1 outlying/rural district and 1 archipelago
– City logo: Han River Bridge, Marble Mountains, Han River
– Famous for: gorgeous beaches, Golden hands bridge
– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/da-nang-travel-guide
– Time zone: GMT +7
– Travel agent/tour operator: HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD
– Fact:
Better to Know about Hoi An (Vietnam)
– Location: Quang Nam province, Vietnam, Southeast Asia
– How to pronounce: /hoi an/
– Name meaning: Hoi An means ‘peaceful meeting place’
– Other name(s): Faifoo or Faifo
– Nickname(s): city of lanterns, yellow city, heritage city
– Area: 61,48 km2
– Population: 152,160 people (2018)
– Time zone: GMT +7
– International recognition(s): world heritage site (1999), world biosphere reserve (2009), Unesco creative city of craft & folk arts (2023)
– Symbol(s): Japanese Covered Bridge, lanterns
– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/hoi-an-travel-guide
– Tour guide: contact +84968009827 (hotline/WhatsApp/zalo/line)
– Nearest airport(s): Da Nang international airport
– Religion(s): Buddhism, Christianity, Caodaism, Confucianism, Taoism, folk beliefs
– Travel agent/tour operator: HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD
– Fact:
Da Nang or Hoi An: Which is Better to Stay?
If planning to have tailor made clothes, you need to stay in Hoi An to see local tailors, go for measurement and fitting, and picking up.
If you prefer to walking/cycling than taking a vehicle, Hoi An is better than Da Nang. The central area of this city (Hoi An’s old town and surroundings), is not big. Especially in the Hoi An Old Town – the world heritage site area, there is one pedestrian zone designated for visitors. Here, many streets (such as Tran Phu Road, Bach Dang Road, Nguyen Thai Hoc Road,…) will have no motorbikes and cars from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM and from 3:00 to 9:30 PM everyday. On walking streets, you can see old quarters, historical sites, temples, shops, café, markets, lots of lanterns,… that are perfect for sightseeing, taking pictures, shopping, chilling, etc. See more information & details
If you prefer historical and cultural experiences, Hoi An is better than Da Nang. This city is inscribed by Unesco to be a world heritage site. It has the heritages of different people (Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese,…) such as old bridges, wooden houses, temples, markets, assembly halls,…
If seeking an accommodation with a sea view, there are more choices in Da Nang. This city has many high rise hotels along the beachfronts (My Khe Beach,…), and resorts and villas along Non Nuoc Beach. From these places, the guests just take a short walk to see the beach and go swimming. On the other hand, along the seafront of Hoi An, there are some resorts to stay. Meaning that if do not have enough budget for a resort, it’s nearly impossible to find a room with an ocean view in Hoi An.
To see/explore the countryside, Hoi An is better to stay than Da Nang. In this small city, only a 10-15 minutes drive is needed to see villages, rice fields,… To get there, you can walk or ride the bicycle/motorbike. The most popular way is cycling. See all Hoi An countryside tours By the way, if looking for cycling tours, no matter with or without a guide, you should stay in Hoi An. There are lots of accommodations around rural areas of Hoi An, where the guests can avoid the hustle and bustle.
If you want to have a shorter trip to Golden Hands Bridge (a world-famous attraction), Da Nang is better than Hoi An because it’s closer. From Da Nang city center or My Khe Beach, the distance to the bridge is around 25 kilometers. Meanwhile, from Hoi An city, it’s 40 kilometers. If don’t mind spending about 1 hour extra for the Golden Bridge tour, just stay in your favorite city.
To visit My Son Sanctuary, Cham Islands and Vinwonders Theme Park, Hoi An is definitely better to stay than Da Nang because it’s closer. In case of My Son Sanctuary, although the drive from Da Nang or Hoi An is nearly similar, there are still more tour choices from Hoi An (group tours, tours with boat trips, sunrise/sunset tour, see all My Son tours). If don’t need private tours, Hoi An should be your city to begin a journey to this world heritage site. In the case of Cham Islands, you will be picked up later and dropped off earlier than those who stay in Da Nang. Therefore, Cham Island tour from Hoi An is cheaper. In the case of VinWonders Park, a popular place for families with kids, it takes parents about 30 minutes to reach from Hoi An (instead of 1 hour if going from Da Nang).
To visit Hue city (a Vietnamese imperial/heritage city), Da Nang is definitely better than Hoi An because of the shorter distance.
HOIAN DAY TRIP company daily organizes tours and transfers to Da Nang and Hoi An. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo), hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com, or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Where Should I Stay Da Nang or Hoi An If I Have 1 Night?
If you just spend 1 night, you should stay in Da Nang. This city has the only international airport (and train station) in the area. After landing, you just need about 15 minutes to go to the hotel in its downtown and riverfronts, and about 20 minutes to My Khe Beach (beachfront, a popular area to stay for tourists). For that reason, you can save time and money.
To visit Hoi An from Da Nang, we recommend a Hoi An night tour with guide or just have a roundtrip transfer to Hoi An (and then self-explore). This tour should begin later than 3:00 PM. Before it, you can choose one of half day tours, such as Marble Marble & Monkey Mountain tour or Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills tour which covers iconic places in the city.
On the next day, it’s fast to go from the hotel to the Da Nang International Airport or Da Nang Train Station or Da Nang Central Bus Station to reach another city. To go to Hue, three popular ways are taking a private car or train or motorbike.
HOIAN DAY TRIP company daily organizes tours and transfers to Da Nang and Hoi An. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo), hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com, or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Where Should I Stay Da Nang or Hoi An If I Have 2 Nights?
If have 2 nights, Hoi An is better than Da Nang to stay. From the Da Nang International Airport, the closest airport to Hoi An, you need only 30-45 minutes to go to the hotel. A private transfer isn’t expensive and easy to book, either online or offline.
In Hoi An, you will spend one or even two nights in Hoi An Old Town, a world famous tourist attraction in Vietnam. After dark, this town becomes so atmospheric, romantic and colorful due to millions of lanterns, night markets, street foods, diverse people, floating lanterns,… If want to have a change for the 2nd night in Hoi An, watching a live cultural show absolutely is a perfect choice. Currently, there are two shows to select: Teh Dar Show (from 6 to 7 PM) and Hoi An Memories Show (from 8 to 9 PM). On the full moon night monthly, Hoi An Lantern Festival takes place, attracting thousands of people, both locals and foreigners.
Again, if you want to see tailors and get custom made clothes, 2 nights in Hoi An are enough. Research the best tailor in advance to save time.
During the day, from Hoi An, there are many day trips to famous attractions in the area, such as My Son Sanctuary, Ba Na Hills, Golden Bridge, Marble Mountain, Cam Thanh Coconut Village, Thanh Ha Pottery Village,… See all Hoi An day tours
To go back to Da Nang for the airport or train station, it takes visitors only 30-45 minutes from Hoi An. If Hue is the next city, you can take a motorbike adventure though Hai Van Pass to get there (a local rider will take you). See more information & details
HOIAN DAY TRIP company daily organizes tours and transfers to Da Nang and Hoi An. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo), hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com, or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Should I Stay Longer in Da Nang or Hoi An If I Have 3+ Nights?
Visitors are recommended to stay in the area of Da Nang and Hoi An for at least 3 days. Because of more activities in Hoi An, first timers should stay longer in this city.
To visit Golden Hands Bridge, a world famous tourist attraction today, it’s needed to spend at least 1 night in Da Nang because it’s closer to this place than Hoi An. Additionally, hotels in Da Nang are also near the airport or train station to go to the next city. A tour to Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills with pick up in the hotel in Da Nang and drop off in the airport, is available. See all Golden Hands Bridge tours
If have more than 1 night in Da Nang, you should consider making a trip to Hue, the old capital city of Vietnam and a Unesco world heritage site. This city has royal palaces, temples, mausoleums, great foods,… En route, you can see Hai Van Pass which has the most beautiful coasts in the country. See more information & details
HOIAN DAY TRIP company daily organizes tours and transfers to Da Nang and Hoi An. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo), hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com, or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Da Nang or Hoi An: Which is Better with Kids?
If travel with kids, Hoi An is better than Da Nang. Centre of this city (popularly known as Hoi An Old Town) is pedestrian-friendly during many hours in the day (including the night). So, kids will be safe while going around this heritage area.
In Hoi An, there are many activities and sightseeing places for children, such as beaches, lantern making class, pottery village, vegetable village, basket boat tour in coconut forest, crab fishing, rice paper making, water buffalo riding,…
Additionally, the distance between famous attractions in Hoi An is not long. Parents can plan short trips to the beaches, countryside, old quarters,… that don’t make kids too tired.
If just want to spend days in a hotel near the beach, both Da Nang and Hoi An have lots of places to offer. In this case, Da Nang may be better than Hoi An to stay because it’s closer to the airport. By Non Nuoc Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Da Nang, there are many all-inclusive resorts to choose from. Kids can play in swimming pools, gardens and nearby beaches with attentive lifeguards and other necessary gears.
Compared to Hoi An, Da Nang has more amusement parks. Within a 1 hour drive, it’s easy for parents to take them to water parks such as Mikazuki Park, Nui Than Tai Hot Springs or Da Nang Downtown (Asia Park). Meanwhile, Hoi An has only Vinwonders Nam Hoi An Park.
There are lots of hotels in either Da Nang or Hoi An which have swimming pools for your family.
HOIAN DAY TRIP company daily organizes tours and transfers to Da Nang and Hoi An. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo), hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com, or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Da Nang or Hoi An: Which is Better for Nightlife?
If have 1 night only in the area, Hoi An definitely is better than Da Nang for nightlife. To be honest, a night experience here should be always in the bucket list of visitors. After the sunset, this city is filled by thousands of lanterns that are hung up in streets or float on the river, making it so colorful, romantic and brilliant. In addition, visitors can expect to see vibrant night markets with lots of street food choices, a relaxing boat ride to watch the town and release lanterns, amazing cultural shows, folk games and singing, and much more. On every full moon night, traditional lantern festival takes place. In Hoi An, there are many restaurants and bars along the waterside, providing a glamorous view. See all things to do in Hoi An at night
It takes visitors only 40 minutes to get from Da Nang to Hoi An. So, even have 1 night in Da Nang, it’s still easy to make a trip to this beautiful town at night.
If have enough time for two cities (staying over 2 nights for example), visitors should explore the nightlife in both Da Nang and Hoi An. About things to do in Hoi An, please read the above information. In the case of Da Nang, we advise staying in the weekend (Friday to Sunday). On these days, it’s possible to see the fire and water show at the Dragon Bridge (9:00 pm). Nearby, Son Tra Night Market (the biggest night market in the city) and the Love Bridge are also good to visit. In June and July every year, the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival brings spectacular performances of lights. The city downtown becomes bustling while fireworks night happen. Rooftop venues by the river or cruise boats provide the best view, if you don’t buy a ticket.
If have 3 nights or more, you should spend more nights in Hoi An than Da Nang.
HOIAN DAY TRIP company daily organizes tours and transfers to Da Nang and Hoi An. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo), hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com, or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Does Da Nang or Hoi An Have Better Beaches?
Both Da Nang and Hoi An have beaches. Beaches in Hoi An share the same coastline with some famous beaches in Da Nang (My Khe Beach, Non Nuoc Beach, Phuoc My Beach, My An Beach,…). For that reason, they have nearly similar features (fine sand, clear water, small waves, the view,…) and all of them are safe for swimming and playing water sports. If just want to go swimming, sunbathe, get tanned, relax or sightsee, beaches in Hoi An and Da Nang have no big differences.
In Hoi An, Cham Island has a number of swimmable beaches (see full list of Cham Island’s beaches). Some of them are rest stops in the daily tours (which also have snorkeling/diving, roundtrip speed boat, foods,…). If going without a tour, visitors can reach the island by boat from Cua Dai Harbour in Hoi An. Therefore, if planning to visit Cham Island for beaches and underwater sports, Hoi An is better than Da Nang because it’s closer to the harbour.
In Da Nang, visitors can find some small beaches in Son Tra Peninsula. Some of them open to the public but some of them are hidden away in forests. See more information & details
If only need accommodation by the beach to relax, either Da Nang or Hoi An has lots of choices to choose from. In this case, many people prefer Hoi An to Da Nang. During the day, they can find half day trips from Hoi An to must see attractions. At night, the distance to Hoi An Old Town (one of the best places for nightlife in the area) is quite short. Shuttle buses from resorts to the town are often arranged for their guests.
HOIAN DAY TRIP company daily organizes tours and transfers to Da Nang and Hoi An. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo), hoiandaytripcompany@gmail.com, or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
