Hoi An vs Hanoi
Vietnam's enchanting ancient town versus its thousand-year-old capital compared head-to-head across culture, food, nightlife, attractions, budget, and more
Hoi An and Hanoi represent two beautifully different sides of Vietnam. Hoi An is the lantern-lit UNESCO ancient town on the central coast — a place of gentle charm, world-class tailoring, cooking classes, and cycling through rice paddies to the beach. Hanoi is the bustling thousand-year-old capital of the north — a city of motorbike chaos, ancient temples, the legendary Old Quarter, and some of the deepest culinary traditions in Southeast Asia. Here is our honest, category-by-category breakdown to help you decide.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Hoi An
Ancient, charming, and impossibly romantic. Hoi An is a UNESCO World Heritage town where lantern-lit streets, centuries-old merchant houses, and Japanese, Chinese, and Vietnamese architecture blend into one of Southeast Asia's most photogenic settings. The pace is relaxed and walkable — you can cycle everywhere, stop for a cao lau lunch, and watch the Thu Bon River drift past. It feels like stepping into a living museum that also happens to have world-class tailoring and a beach.
Hanoi
Historic, bustling, and deeply cultured. Hanoi is Vietnam's political and cultural capital with over a thousand years of history layered into the narrow streets of the Old Quarter. Motorbike chaos, French colonial architecture, ancient temples, and tranquil Hoan Kiem Lake create a city that is equal parts exhilarating and elegant. The cultural identity runs deep — literature, theatre, traditional arts, and a fierce local pride define the Hanoian character.
Hoi An
Hoi An has one of Vietnam's most distinctive regional food scenes. Cao lau (thick rice noodles with pork and crispy croutons, only made in Hoi An), white rose dumplings (banh bao banh vac), and banh mi from Banh Mi Phuong (Anthony Bourdain's favourite) are must-tries. The Central Market is a food paradise. Cooking classes are a top activity — learn to make spring rolls, pho, and local specialities using market-fresh ingredients. Street food meals cost 20,000-50,000d.
Hanoi
Hanoi is Vietnam's culinary capital for traditional Northern cuisine. Pho here is a cleaner, more delicate broth served without the herb mountain — purists consider it the original and the best. Bun cha (grilled pork with noodles, Obama's famous Hanoi meal), cha ca La Vong (turmeric fish), and egg coffee (ca phe trung) are quintessential dishes. The Old Quarter is a food labyrinth where every alley hides a specialist stall that has been perfecting one dish for generations.
Hoi An
Japanese Covered Bridge (iconic symbol of Hoi An), Ancient Town with its 800+ heritage buildings, Fujian Assembly Hall, Central Market, Thu Bon River, An Bang Beach (4km away), Tra Que Vegetable Village, Cham Islands (snorkelling day trip), My Son Sanctuary (Cham temple ruins, Vietnam's Angkor), lantern-making workshops, and the legendary tailoring shops where you can have a suit or dress made in 24 hours.
Hanoi
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Old Quarter (36 streets), Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple, Temple of Literature (Vietnam's first university), Hanoi Opera House, St. Joseph's Cathedral, Vietnamese Women's Museum, Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton), West Lake, Train Street, and the Water Puppet Theatre. Day trips to Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh (Tam Coc), and Sapa add world-class natural scenery.
Hoi An
Hoi An's nightlife is gentle and atmospheric rather than wild. The Ancient Town glows with hundreds of silk lanterns after dark — an evening stroll along the river is magical. The night market sells souvenirs and street food. Bars along Bach Dang and Nguyen Phuc Chu streets serve cocktails with river views. An Bang Beach has relaxed beach bars. The Full Moon Lantern Festival (14th of each lunar month) transforms the town with floating candles and traditional performances.
Hanoi
Hanoi's nightlife centres on Ta Hien (Beer Street) in the Old Quarter — plastic chairs on the pavement, flowing bia hoi (fresh draught beer for 5,000-10,000d), and lively social atmosphere. West Lake has cocktail bars and craft beer spots. The Old Quarter buzzes until late on weekends. Hanoi's scene is more social and atmospheric than clubby — conversation over cheap beer is the vibe. It closes earlier than Saigon but later than Hoi An.
Hoi An
Hoi An is excellent value. A mid-range hotel or homestay costs 400,000-900,000d per night. Street food meals run 20,000-50,000d. Bicycle rental is just 30,000-50,000d per day (the best way to get around). Tailoring a custom suit costs 2,000,000-5,000,000d. A cooking class runs 500,000-800,000d. Daily mid-range budget: 800,000-1,500,000d including accommodation, food, activities, and transport.
Hanoi
Hanoi is similarly affordable. Mid-range hotels in the Old Quarter cost 500,000-1,000,000d per night. Street food is 25,000-50,000d per meal. Grab rides are cheap due to compact distances (20,000-60,000d). Daily mid-range budget: 1,000,000-1,800,000d. Hanoi is slightly more expensive than Hoi An due to being a major capital, but both cities are extremely affordable by international standards.
Hoi An
Hoi An is one of the safest destinations in Vietnam and all of Southeast Asia. Violent crime is virtually nonexistent. The main concerns are minor: overcharging by some tailor shops (agree on prices in writing), bicycle theft (use a lock), and sunburn at An Bang Beach. The Ancient Town is pedestrian-friendly with limited motorbike traffic. Solo travelers, couples, and families all feel completely safe walking the streets at any hour.
Hanoi
Hanoi is safe for tourists with very low violent crime. The main concerns are bag snatching from motorbikes (hold bags on the building side of the pavement), petty theft in the crowded Old Quarter, taxi scams (always use Grab rather than street taxis), and crossing the road through the motorbike swarm. Both cities are safe for solo travelers including women, but Hoi An feels noticeably calmer and lower-risk.
Hoi An
Hoi An is gloriously walkable and bikeable. The Ancient Town is car-free, and a bicycle is the perfect way to explore — pedal to An Bang Beach, Tra Que Village, and the surrounding rice paddies. Grab is available for longer distances. There is no airport; the nearest is Da Nang (30km, 45 minutes by taxi/Grab). The compact size means you never need to travel far. Most things are within a 10-minute cycle.
Hanoi
Hanoi is motorbike-heavy but the Old Quarter is compact and walkable. Grab (car and motorbike) is the easiest transport option. The city has a small but useful bus system and a new metro line. Walking is the best way to explore the 36 streets of the Old Quarter. Distances between major attractions are manageable on foot. Noi Bai Airport is 45-60 minutes from the Old Quarter by Grab (250,000-350,000d).
Hoi An
Hoi An has a tropical climate with a notable rainy season from September to January — October and November see the heaviest rain with possible flooding in the Ancient Town. The dry season (February to August) is warm to hot, with February to April being the most pleasant (25-30C, low humidity). May to August is hot (35C+) but great for beach days at An Bang. The Full Moon Lantern Festival happens monthly regardless of season.
Hanoi
Hanoi has four distinct seasons including a genuine cold winter. Summer (May to September) is hot, humid, and monsoon-heavy. Autumn (October to November) is the most pleasant season — cool, dry, and golden. Winter (December to February) drops to 10-18C with drizzle and grey skies — bring a jacket. Spring (March to April) is warm and pleasant. The weather variety is much greater than Hoi An's tropical pattern.
Choose Hoi An If...
- 1You want a relaxed, walkable town where you can cycle between ancient streets, rice paddies, and the beach
- 2Custom tailoring appeals to you — Hoi An is world-famous for made-to-measure suits, dresses, and shoes in 24-48 hours
- 3You love combining culture with beach time — UNESCO heritage in the morning, An Bang Beach in the afternoon
- 4Cooking classes, lantern-making workshops, and hands-on cultural experiences are your style
- 5You prefer a gentle, romantic atmosphere over big-city energy — perfect for couples and families
- 6The Full Moon Lantern Festival, floating candles on the river, and lantern-lit streets sound magical
Choose Hanoi If...
- 1You want big city energy, deeper history, and the buzz of Vietnam's thousand-year-old capital
- 2Northern Vietnamese cuisine — bun cha, pho with clean broth, egg coffee, and Old Quarter street food — calls to you
- 3You plan day trips to Ha Long Bay, Sapa, or Ninh Binh — Hanoi is the gateway to northern Vietnam's natural wonders
- 4The Old Quarter's narrow streets, temples, lakes, and motorbike chaos are your idea of an adventure
- 5You want a more local, less international tourist experience — Hanoi feels distinctly and deeply Vietnamese
- 6You enjoy museums, war history (Hoa Lo Prison), and cultural performances like water puppet theatre
Our Verdict
Hoi An and Hanoi are two of Vietnam's most beloved destinations and together they showcase the country's extraordinary diversity. Hoi An wins on charm, relaxation, tailoring, beach access, and romantic atmosphere. Hanoi wins on history, street food depth, big-city energy, and access to Ha Long Bay and northern Vietnam.
For couples and families seeking a relaxed, beautiful base, Hoi An is hard to beat. For travelers who thrive on urban energy and want to explore deeper Vietnamese culture, Hanoi delivers. With a 1.5-hour flight between Da Nang and Hanoi, combining both is the obvious answer — and the classic Vietnam itinerary.
Get Our Hoi An ItineraryHow to Combine Both Cities
By Flight (Recommended)
Fly between Da Nang Airport (DAD) and Hanoi's Noi Bai Airport (HAN) in just 1.5 hours. Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, and Bamboo Airways operate multiple daily flights with one-way fares starting from 800,000d. Da Nang Airport is 30km from Hoi An — a 45-minute Grab ride costing 250,000-350,000d.
This is the fastest option. Book flights 2-4 weeks ahead for the best fares. VietJet frequently runs promotional fares. A morning flight gets you from Hoi An to Hanoi's Old Quarter by lunchtime.
By Reunification Express Train
Take a Grab from Hoi An to Da Nang station (30km, 45 minutes), then board the Reunification Express north to Hanoi (16-17 hours overnight). Soft sleeper berths cost 800,000-1,200,000d. The journey passes spectacular coastal scenery and is a classic Vietnamese travel experience.
Many travelers break the journey in Hue (2.5 hours from Da Nang by train), exploring the Imperial Citadel and royal tombs before continuing to Hanoi. The Da Nang to Hue section crosses the Hai Van Pass — one of the most scenic stretches of railway in Southeast Asia. Book on baolau.com.
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