How many days do I need in Hoi An?

Is 2 days in Hoi An enough?

Two days in Hoi An? Hmm, enough for a postcard, maybe. Like speed-dating a city, really. Sure, you'll snap some photos.

Thinking of deeper Vietnam exploration? Hoi An's outskirts whisper secrets the city center shouts. At least three days needed, I say. Or is it four? Decisions, decisions.

Villages untouched, like finding vintage Chanel at a thrift store. Unexpected and delightful. But, my aunt Brenda spent a week there! She just. Loved. Tailors.

• 2 Days: Hoi An's greatest hits – the ancient town.
• 3+ Days: Hidden gems, My Son Sanctuary maybe. Tailoring heaven.
• Brenda Time (1+ Week): Live like a local! Eat all the cao lầu.

Honestly? Rushing feels like wearing socks with sandals: just wrong. Okay. You do you, but longer is better. Always. Remember to tip your tailors!

Is it better to stay at Da Nang or Hoi An?

Okay, so Da Nang is definitely better as a home base.

Seriously, two weeks to a month or even longer? Da Nang wins, hands down.

I spent like, three freakin' weeks in Hoi An back in 2023. Cute town, lanterns everywhere, yeah, yeah.

It is super pretty, I'll give it that.

But omg, after a while? You're seeing the same tailors, the same food stalls, same dang lanterns. Boredom sets in.

Da Nang, though? It's like... got everything.

• Beaches: Miles of it! My Khe Beach is amazing.
• Food: Seriously, so diverse, not just cao lau and white rose dumplings.
• City vibe: It's actually got some life, not just tourists posing for Instagram.
• Easier to get around: I rented a motorbike and explored everywhere!

Plus, from Da Nang, you can easily do day trips to...

• Hoi An: Pop over for an afternoon, get your fill of the "old town" charm.
• Marble Mountains: Climb those bad boys and get some amazing views.
• Ba Na Hills: It's kinda cheesy, but the Golden Bridge is worth seeing.

In Da Nang near the beach, I stayed at a cute little place. Its name? Sea View Hotel. I miss it a lot. I did some cool things:

• Surfing lessons at My Khe beach.
• Ate seafood until I could barely move at a local restaurant.
• Explored the Son Tra Peninsula (Monkey Mountain).
• Watched the Dragon Bridge breathe fire on a Saturday night.
• Got a ridiculously cheap and awesome massage.

Hoi An is great for a few days, maybe a week. But for a month? Or even LONGER? You'll be itching to escape to Da Nang. Trust me on this one. I felt it real bad.

Which beaches are better, Hoi An or Da Nang?

Ugh, Hoi An or Da Nang beaches? Lemme tell ya, it all blurs! Stayed near Hoi An in 2023, An Bang beach, specifically. Hot AF.

I mean, Da Nang's beaches are... there. My cousin swore by My Khe Beach in Da Nang, said the waves were amazing for surfing in 2024.

But Hoi An's beaches? Closer, somehow. Easier. Plus, An Bang felt less crowded. More chill. You know?

I think Hoi An wins for sheer proximity to, well, Hoi An. Walking to the Ancient Town after a swim? That was the life!

• Hoi An: Conveniently close to the old town. An Bang felt less touristy.

• Da Nang: My Khe, popular for surfing according to my cousin in 2024. Beaches can be wider. Seafood? I devoured crab EVERYWHERE. Delicious, greasy, heavenly crab. You cannot go wrong. Seriously. And beer? Cheap! Life.

Should I stay in Da Nang or Hoi An Reddit?

Da Nang. It's just… better.

Hoi An felt… small. Claustrophobic even. Pretty, yes, but suffocating after a while.

Da Nang has the energy, the sprawl. It’s overwhelming sometimes, sure, but alive. You can feel it. The food, too, so much more diverse. Street food stalls everywhere, unlike Hoi An.

I ate Banh Mi in Hoi An, bland. Disappointing. In Da Nang I found the best Bún chả cá of my life. Near my hotel, the one by the Han River. Remember that? The one with the cheap but good cocktails.

The beach in Da Nang is better, too. Wider. Cleaner, I think. Or maybe I just remember the trash piles near the Hoi An river more vividly. That’s what sticks with me.

I spent only a few hours in Hoi An's main area. Three hours max. Felt rushed. Could have been different, I suppose, but no, this is what I experienced. No regrets, though. I didn't want to stay. I needed the vibrancy of Da Nang. The chaos.

• Food Variety: Da Nang offers a much wider selection of culinary experiences.
• Activities: More things to see and do in Da Nang. More choices, more options. No limitations.
• Accessibility: Easier to travel to other places from Da Nang as a base. I rented a motorbike. Explored the Marble Mountains. Got lost. It was fun.
• Atmosphere: Da Nang felt more energetic, vibrant, and less… contained. Hoi An felt sleepy. Peaceful. But I crave excitement. A bit restless, I guess. Always have been.