Hoi An vs Da Nang: Which One Is Better For Your Trip?

Comparing Hoi An and Da Nang: Travel Style, Activities and Atmosphere

If you are planning a trip to central Vietnam, chances are you’re asking yourself the same question many travellers ask: Hoi An or DaNang? The good news is there’s no wrong answer. Both places offer beautiful beaches, great food, scenery, and day trips. While Da Nang offers the energy of a modern coastal city, Hoi An tends to win over the hearts of travellers with its quaint small-town feel, rice fields, and lantern-lit streets. So the better question is, what kind of holiday are you looking for? 

Da Nang: A Modern Coastal City

Da Nang is a fast-growing city with palm tree-lined roads, long beaches such as My Khe Beach, and high-rise hotels. There is a lively nightlife and multiple beach clubs to choose from. It is also home to an International Airport, which makes it a practical entry point for travellers.

Da Nang is also well located for accessing some of central Vietnam’s most popular attractions, including Ba Na Hills, the Hai Van Pass, and the historic city of Hue, making it a convenient base for wider regional travel.

Hoi An: Small-Town Charm and Countryside Living

Although Hoi An is only a 40-minute drive away, the places feel miles apart. Hoi An is a quiet, slow-paced town where you can get a taste of rural life without travelling far. The lantern-lit streets in the Old Town and the rice fields leading to the laid-back beaches such as An Bang and Cua Dai beach are what make Hoi An feel so special. There isn’t anywhere else quite like it.

Pace and Atmosphere

One of the biggest differences between the two is pace. Da Nang feels busier than Hoi An, especially during peak hours. Many travellers find the slower pace of Hoi An makes it easier to relax, connect with locals, and truly switch off.

Hoi An evenings tend to wind down earlier, with many shops and restaurants closing around 10 pm, while Da Nang continues late into the night with rooftop bars, beach clubs, and a more energetic nightlife scene.

Activities and Experiences

Da Nang offers a wide range of attractions within the city and a short drive away, including landmarks such as the Dragon Bridge, Son Tra Peninsula, the Lady Buddha, Han Market, and Marble Mountain. These sights are easy to visit and suit travellers who enjoy structured sightseeing and city-based exploration.

Hoi An, on the other hand, is known for hands-on and cultural experiences. From countryside tours and cooking classes to boat rides, bicycle tours, visits to traditional craft villages, and the tailoring Hoi An is famous for, many of the region’s most memorable activities take place in and around the town’s surrounding villages and rural areas.

So, Which One Is Better for Your Trip?

If you’re looking for a modern city with beaches and convenience, Da Nang may suit you best. But if your idea of a great trip includes wandering without a plan, discovering small family-run restaurants, and riding bicycles through the rice fields, Hoi An naturally lends itself to that style of travel. Hoi An is the destination most travellers fall in love with. 

Explore Hoi An with HoiAnGO

Whether you’re staying in Hoi An or based in Da Nang, HoiAnGO tours are designed to work for your travel plans.

👉If you’re staying in Hoi An, our tours are a great way to step beyond the Old Town and explore the surrounding countryside, villages, and local communities at a relaxed pace.

👉If you’re based in Da Nang and visiting Hoi An on a day trip, our sightseeing tours help you make the most of your limited time.

HoiAnGO tours are designed to help you experience the very best of Hoi An, all at a relaxed pace and with local insight.

6th February 2026
Written by the HoiAnGO team — local experts providing sightseeing tours and E-Taxi services across Hoi An.