Two cities, just 30 minutes apart, feel like they exist in completely different centuries. While Da Nang races towards the future with its fire-breathing bridges and sleek skyline, Hoi An seems frozen in time, its ancient streets illuminated by thousands of lanterns that haven’t changed in 400 years.
I’ve spent time in both cities and they are, without a doubt, well worth a visit. The awesome thing is that choosing between these two isn’t really necessary unless you are super duper tight on time. Otherwise, their close proximity means you can easily experience both.
But knowing their distinct vibes will help you decide where to base yourself for the kind of holiday you’re after. Then you can always make a day or short trip to the other.
Overall Vibes: Danang vs Hoi An
Although both cities are situated along Vietnam’s stunning central coast, Da Nang and Hoi An offer two rather different flavors of Vietnamese life.
The urban city of Da Nang hits you with its modern energy right away.
Wide boulevards lined with sleek cafes, the iconic Dragon Bridge breathing fire on weekends, and My Khe Beach stretching endlessly along the coast. It’s a city that’s grown from a sleepy fishing village into Vietnam’s third-largest metropolis, but somehow still manages to feel surprisingly chill (No thanks to the beaches).
Then there’s Hoi An Ancient Town, which feels like stepping through a time portal.
The Ancient Town is exactly what you expect of a UNESCO World Heritage site – narrow streets lined with yellow merchant houses, Japanese bridges draped in moss, and thousands of lanterns that transform the place into a fairy tale once the sun sets. The whole town tells the story of its trading port past, with architecture that blends Vietnamese, Chinese, and European influences.
What’s I think is exciting about these two spots is how they complement each other. In Da Nang, you can hit the beach/ocean in the morning and sip craft beer at a rooftop bar by night. Meanwhile, Hoi An slows everything down – you can cycle through rice paddies, get measured for a custom suit, or watch elderly locals practice tai chi by the riverside at dawn.
Cultural Experiences
Hoi An and Da Nang couldn’t be more different when it comes to their cultural vibes.
Hoi An’s Cultural Focus
In Hoi An, history seeps from every corner of its UNESCO-listed Ancient Town. I spent hours getting lost in the maze of 800+ historically significant buildings, each telling stories of the town’s glory days as a bustling trading port.
The famous Japanese Covered Bridge, with its wooden beams and guardian monkey statues, is just a start. There’s lots more to see, some of which are hidden in the courtyards of the ancient houses, so don’t be afraid to explore past the surface facade.
There’s also opportunities to dive into the local living culture. At the craft villages, you can admire artisans hand-throwing pottery in Thanh Ha, learn about silk production at the Silk Village, or cycle through the aromatic herb gardens of Tra Que.
Da Nang’s Cultural Focus
Da Nang, meanwhile, rocks a totally different cultural rhythm. Sure, it doesn’t have Hoi An’s historical weight, but it’s got its own modern charm.
The Cham Museum houses the world’s largest collection of Cham artifacts, while the Marble Mountains blend natural beauty with Buddhist sanctuaries. The city is also known for hosting a big International Fireworks Festival, when the night sky explodes with color.
If you’re after traditional culture, Hoi An’s your spot. But if you want to see how modern Vietnam celebrates its heritage while embracing the future, the bustle of Da Nang offers more of that.
Beaches And Natural Attractions
If you’re a beach bum, both cities have something to offer – but they serve up different flavors of coastal life.
Da Nang
Da Nang is known for the stunning My Khe Beach filled with pristine white sand. I spent many mornings running through here while watching local Vietnamese doing their sunrise exercises.
The beach scene here has a distinctly urban edge – think resorts, beach bars, and an amazing skyline backdrop. A bit of the Dubai vibes, although not as luxurious looking.
Da Nang’s natural attractions don’t stop at the beach. The Marble Mountains is another famous attraction. Limestone karsts jutting out of the ground, packed with hidden caves and Buddhist sanctuaries is just a whole other wonder.
And at the Northern end, you have the Son Tra Peninsula with insane greenery and amazing views of the ocean from elevated grounds.
If you are thinking about where to stay in Da Nang, these attractions are good markers to consider, as each district brings about it’s own convenience and special atmosphere.
Hoi An
On the other hand, Hoi An’s beaches hit different. It’s got this laid-back, village vibe that feels worlds away from Da Nang’s energy. Picture bamboo beach bars, traditional fishing boats bobbing offshore, and the kind of peace that makes you want to stay all day with a good book.
An Bang Beach is the famous sandy hangout spot here. I prefer the ends, which are quieter so you avoid the crowds. It is still a touristy spot after all.
When you venture inland, you can find another side of Hoi An’s nature scene. Many people like to take a bicycle tour through the countryside, weaving through rice paddies and small lakes. Two of my favorite cafes in Hoi An are here because they are so tranquil to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee, alongside those nature views.
Another amazing nature landscape of Hoi An is the Coconut Village. You can explore it by floating through narrow waterways in traditional basket boats, surrounded by water palms and local fishermen going about their day.
Dining Options
Being in the same region, the food scene in both cities are not distinctly different in that you can get regional specialties in both places.
Da Nang
Da Nang, being a bigger city, you will find much more varieties here. There are plenty of options from regional dishes to famous Vietnamese food, and international cuisines all throughout the different districts.
Here are some of the restaurants that I have tried and enjoyed in Da Nang.
There are also more modern cafes catering to the international crowd. Here are my favorite café spots to hang out at, and many are great for working. Want some ideas?
Overall you have a lot more choices spread across a larger geographical area in Da Nang
Hoi An
On the other hand, Hoi An’s tourism scene clearly revolves around the Old Town. And you will find most of the local specialties clustered together here. There are many options to seek out a good bowl of Cao Lau or tasty white Rose dumplings.
While there will also be international cuisines and famous Vietnamese dishes, there are lesser options compared to Da Nang. Nevertheless, it is much more convenient to find all the local highlights within a smaller geographical zone in Hoi An.
One thing I love about cafes in Hoi An is that you’ll find many with unique themes. From charming, rustic vibes in the old town, to the chill, relaxing ones amongst rice paddies, they are some of the most memorable coffeeshops for me. Not to mention, great for photos as well!
Overall, if you really want to differentiate the food scene between both cities, I will say you probably get a more local cuisine vibe in Hoi An, whereas Da Nang will feel more upscale and international.
Generally, tourism sector is a much bigger deal to Hoi An than Da Nang (a big city naturally have more industries). So you can be sure Hoi An puts a lot more effort into promoting and showcasing Vietnamese culture, it is their core selling point.
Nightlife
The after-dark scene in these two cities are also slightly different, but both has something to offer.
Da Nang, being a more metropolitan city, comes alive at night with a modern, vibrant energy can go on until sunrise. You can find party spots in several districts as with any large city.
During my morning runs, I often see locals having breakfast at 24-hours shops or roadside stalls early in the morning. They have just finished a night out drinking.
The Han River waterfront is another a popular spot at night – you can take a cruise past the illuminated Dragon Bridge or hit up one of the rooftop bars for that perfect nighttime skyline shot. There’s also many food and entertainment stalls by the river serving up street food and drinks.
Over in Hoi An, nightlife takes on this magical, almost ethereal quality. Once the sun sets, thousands of colorful lanterns light up the Ancient Town, creating this incredibly romantic atmosphere, albeit one with a lot of people. The lantern boat experience is a cheap and popular activity for many visitors.
The Ancient Town transforms into this dreamy maze of narrow streets where you can pop into traditional bars and restaurants, many of which offers live music. Many cafes by day will become bars here as well.
If you want the real party though, that’s all clustered in An Hoi – right across the Ancient Town. A whole stretch of bars by the riverside with live music covering different genres. Next to it, you will also find Hoi An’s Night Market serving up local snacks and handcrafted souvenirs under the glow of beautiful lanterns.
And if you want something more cultural, the memories show in Hoi An is one performance to go for. Essentially, Hoi An’s nightlife (or at least what you will likely visit as a tourist) is more clustered within a small zone compared to Da Nang.
Transportation
Getting Around The Cities
For tourists, the two most common ways to get around both cities are either via renting your own motorbike/bicycle or ordering a Grab – which is the Uber in Vietnam.
I generally don’t see many foreigners using regular public transportation because cost in Vietnam isn’t very high; so the time and effort you save by going with the convenient options are just a no-brainer in my opinion.
Considering that, there’s no big difference between both cities. The only thing to note is maybe if you are using a bicycle. You can get to most of the tourist places in Hoi An with a bicycle, while that might be more tiring in Da Nang with the longer distances.
The traffic in Da Nang also feels more chaotic comparatively. In Hoi An, you have the option of going through rice fields and villages which are less hectic zones.
Getting Out of The Cities
When it comes to transportations out of the city or country, Da Nang definitely offers more options and convenience.
It’s basically the transport hub for all of Central Vietnam. Flights/trains from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City come to Da Nang regularly, and there are also overnight bus options. In addition, both the train station and airport are very near the city center.
In Hoi An’s case, there’s no airport or train station. In many cases, people visiting Hoi An will arrive or depart from Da Nang.
Transiting between Da Nang and Hoi An is easy with many options. My personal preference is a getting a shared or private shuttle which is fast, comfy and very affordable.
Activities And Things to Do
Although Da Nang is a bigger city, I think both cities fare equally well if you’re just considering travel/tourist highlights. However, if you are looking at day-to-day activities and the social scene, Da Nang will have more to offer since there’s more options and a higher population. Most expats also base themselves here.
When it comes to day trips, most adventures that can be done from one city, is likely do-able from the other city as well – just that one city might be closer.
Da Nang’s got this perfect mix of urban excitement and natural wonders that’ll keep you busy for days. From shopping in the city, to hiking the Marble Mountains and chilling at the beaches, you have lots of variety for different interests. Best of all, you can even do multiple of them within just one day.
Definitely check out our things to do in Da Nang article for more comprehensive information.
Hoi An is equally interesting with different types of activities. For me, I like to generally segment it into three districts. The old town for ancient culture and people watching. The beach area for relaxing and nature. The village zone for hands-on workshops/activities and tranquillity over a nice cup of coffee.
These zones are also great to use as markers when deciding where to stay in Hoi An. Similarly, read our activities in Hoi An article to get more ideas and recommendations!
You can cycle through the countryside, weaving through rice paddies and learn about traditional farming. The Ancient Town’s got tons of hands-on workshops like lantern-making. Cruise through water palm forests in traditional basket boats and watch local fishermen show off their spinning tricks.
Suitability for Different Types of Travelers
Having bounced between these two cities, the distinction is pretty clear. Da Nang will appeal to those looking for more urban life in a big city. On the other hand, Hoi An will appeal to those looking for more cultural and village town feels.
Digital nomads tend to gravitate towards Da Nang’s growing expat scene. I worked from many fantastic coffee shops with reliable WiFi. The cost of living’s super reasonable, and you can find several proper coworking spaces. Plus, you can hit the beach anytime easily.
Culture vultures and photography enthusiasts will likely find more attractiveness in Hoi An. Many districts around the city are pure gold at sunrise or sunset, you get so much diversity from rice fields to ancient houses to riverside shots. There’s limitless backdrops and settings to express your creativity, or discover the historical and cultural side of Vietnam.
While it is possible to see the highlights of Hoi An in 1-3 days, some people really like the slower pace and idyllic vibe, and end up staying for weeks.
Short-term tourists often split their time, basing themselves in Da Nang for the beaches and modern comforts while making day trips to Hoi An. That’s a convenient move to get the best of both worlds.
But if you’re looking to really soak in traditional Vietnamese culture and don’t mind a more laid-back scene, staying in Hoi An lets you experience the magic after the day-trippers and group tours leave.
Da Nang or Hoi An
Trying to crown a winner in the Da Nang vs Hoi An debate is missing the point entirely. These cities are like yin and yang, perfectly complementing each other’s strengths. It really depends on what you prefer.
Da Nang gives you that modern Vietnamese energy with a side of pristine beaches, while Hoi An offers a time-capsule experience that’ll make you forget what century you’re in.
Base yourself in one and explore the other. Whether you choose Da Nang’s urban buzz or Hoi An’s ancient charm as your home base, you’re setting yourself up for one hell of an adventure in Central Vietnam.
