Hoi An Areas Guide

Best for: First-time visitors, history buffs, photographers, culture seekers

The beating heart of Hoi An and the reason most travelers come here. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a remarkably well-preserved example of a 15th-19th century Southeast Asian trading port, where Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, and European architectural influences blend into something utterly unique. Narrow pedestrian streets are lined with centuries-old merchant houses, Chinese assembly halls, Japanese bridges, and French colonial buildings — all painted in the town's signature mustard yellow and draped with silk lanterns that glow magically at dusk. The Ancient Town is vehicle-free during the day, making it a rare pocket of calm in Vietnam. Every evening, the streets transform into a lantern-lit wonderland as the Thu Bon River reflects thousands of floating candles. Tailor shops, art galleries, and family-run restaurants occupy the historic buildings, creating a living town rather than an open-air museum.

Best for: Beach lovers, cyclists, long-stay visitors, digital nomads

Located just 4 km northeast of the Ancient Town, An Bang Beach has evolved from a sleepy fishing village into Hoi An's premier beach destination — but it has done so gracefully, retaining a laid-back charm that more developed Vietnamese beaches have lost. The wide, clean stretch of golden sand is lined with beach bars and restaurants serving fresh seafood, cold beers, and Vietnamese coffee with your toes in the sand. Behind the beach, a network of quiet lanes winds through a mix of homestays, boutique hotels, and Vietnamese family homes. The cycling path between An Bang and the Ancient Town is one of the most pleasant rides in Vietnam — flat, scenic, and lined with rice paddies. An Bang has become the preferred base for longer-stay visitors who want beach access and a quieter evening atmosphere than the Ancient Town.

Best for: Nature lovers, eco-tourists, families, off-the-beaten-path seekers

Cam Thanh is a lush, green village on the outskirts of Hoi An, famous for its water coconut palm forest (Bay Mau) and traditional basket boat rides. This is where Hoi An's rural soul lives — narrow paths wind through coconut groves and rice paddies, past fish ponds and vegetable gardens, to the waterways where local fishermen navigate round bamboo basket boats with remarkable skill. The Bay Mau coconut forest, named after its seven hectares of nipa palms, is a peaceful labyrinth of green tunnels on the water. Unlike the Ancient Town's polish, Cam Thanh offers an authentic glimpse of Vietnamese village life. Cycling here from the Ancient Town takes about 15 minutes along quiet roads, and the contrast between the two areas could not be more striking.

Best for: Foodies, sunset seekers, photographers, budget travelers

The Thu Bon River defines Hoi An's character, and the areas along its banks offer some of the town's most atmospheric experiences. The Bach Dang riverside promenade on the Ancient Town side is where evening boat rides depart and lantern sellers create a kaleidoscope of color. Cross the An Hoi Bridge to the south bank for a quieter perspective — the night market, riverside restaurants, and views back across to the illuminated Ancient Town. Further south, Cam Nam Island is a local residential area accessible by bridge, where family-run restaurants serve authentic Hoi An cuisine at local prices. The island's narrow lanes, vegetable gardens, and riverside views provide a peaceful escape from the tourist center. At sunset, the entire riverside corridor glows with golden light and floating lanterns.

Best for: Cooking class enthusiasts, cyclists, slow travelers, families

Tra Que is a 300-year-old herb and vegetable village about 3 km north of the Ancient Town, where generations of farmers have cultivated the same plots using traditional methods — fertilizing with seaweed from the nearby De Vong River rather than chemicals. The herbs grown here supply Hoi An's restaurants with the mint, basil, lettuce, and coriander that make the town's cuisine so fresh and aromatic. Several farms offer cooking classes where you help harvest vegetables, learn to make cao lau and white rose dumplings, and eat what you have cooked. Cycling through the village at dawn or dusk, when farmers are tending their plots and the light is golden, is one of Hoi An's most peaceful experiences.