Home › Compare › Hanoi or Hoi An
Hanoi or Hoi An? An honest comparison
The short answer
Pick Hanoi for a big, busy capital with outstanding street food, history and trips to Ha Long Bay. Pick Hoi An for a slower, prettier stay: a lantern-lit old town, tailors, cycling through rice fields and a beach nearby, and it is far easier with children. Mid-range costs are the same on our numbers, so choose by pace.
Hanoi: suits solo travellers, friends and backpackers who want street-food nights, temples and a base for northern Vietnam.
Hoi An: suits couples, families and first-timers who want a small, walkable old town, beaches and a slower pace.
Side by side
| Hanoi | Hoi An | |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range day* | €65 VND1,900,000 local | €65 VND1,900,000 local |
| Budget day* | €27 | €24 |
| Value for money | ●●●●●Mid-range about 1,900,000 VND per day | ●●●●●Mid-range about 1,900,000 VND; ticketed Ancient Town and resort prices |
| Crowds (5 = calm) | ●●●●●Dense Old Quarter, but visitors spread across a large city | ●●●●●Ancient Town packs out every evening with tour groups |
| Food | ●●●●●Pho, bun cha and some of Vietnam's best street eating | ●●●●●Cao lau and chicken rice are excellent; choice is smaller |
| Nightlife | ●●●●●Beer corner, bars and live music in the Old Quarter | ●●●●●Lantern-lit strolls and a few bars; quiet by late evening |
| Family-friendly | ●●●●●Lakes and water puppets are fun; traffic is stressful | ●●●●●Small, calm, with beaches and bike rides for all ages |
| Getting around | ●●●●●Walkable centre, ride-hailing apps, heavy motorbike traffic | ●●●●●Walk or cycle almost everywhere |
| Best months | Jan, Nov, Dec | year-round, see below |
| Warmest / coolest | Jun 33°C / Jan 21°C | Jun 35°C / Jan 23°C |
| Known for | Hoan Kiem Lake, Temple of Literature, Old Quarter, Train Street | Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky House, An Bang Beach, Assembly Hall of Fujian |
* Per person per day with two sharing a room: bed, food, sights and local transport, from our Hanoi and Hoi An day-cost tables (approximate 2026 prices; other currencies converted at recent rates). Ratings are our editorial judgement.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Hanoi if…
- you want big-city street life and food
- you plan Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh or Sapa
- you enjoy museums, temples and colonial architecture
- you want nightlife beyond a quiet drink
Pick Hoi An if…
- you want a slower pace and pretty streets
- you are travelling with children
- you want a beach day at An Bang or Cua Dai
- you want clothes made by a tailor
Weather month by month
| Month | Hanoi high / rainy days | Hoi An high / rainy days |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21°C · 8 | 23°C · 21 |
| Feb | 22°C · 10 | 25°C · 14 |
| Mar | 26°C · 12 | 27°C · 11 |
| Apr | 29°C · 14 | 30°C · 11 |
| May | 32°C · 16 | 32°C · 16 |
| Jun | 33°C · 18 | 35°C · 11 |
| Jul | 33°C · 20 | 33°C · 14 |
| Aug | 32°C · 23 | 34°C · 18 |
| Sep | 31°C · 22 | 30°C · 25 |
| Oct | 28°C · 13 | 28°C · 27 |
| Nov | 27°C · 8 | 27°C · 25 |
| Dec | 21°C · 4 | 24°C · 27 |
Average daily high and number of rainy days. Copernicus ERA5, 2021–2023.
What you will eat
Hanoi
Beef noodle soup · Grilled pork with noodles · Steamed rice rolls · Turmeric fish with dill · Fried tofu with fermented shrimp paste · Baguette sandwich
Where: Dong Xuan Market, Weekend Night Market (Hang Dao to Dong Xuan), Old Quarter (Hoan Kiem), Ta Hien and the beer corner
Hoi An
Cao lau · Chicken rice · Quang noodles · Banh mi · White rose dumplings · Rice pancakes and grilled pork skewers
Where: Hoi An Central Market (Chợ Hội An), Ancient Town (Phố Cổ), Hoi An Night Market, Nguyễn Hoàng street (An Hội), Trà Quế vegetable village
Doing both in one trip
8 days: 4 in Hanoi + 4 in Hoi An
Start in Hanoi for the busy part of the trip, then fly to Da Nang and finish slowly in Hoi An with a beach day or two.
Getting between them: Fly Hanoi to Da Nang in about 1 h 20, then drive about 45 minutes to Hoi An. Overnight trains to Da Nang take roughly 15–17 h; check current timetables. Distance about 630 km as the crow flies. Check current timetables.
- Day 1–2: Hanoi — Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, Temple of Literature, street food
- Day 3–4: Ha Long Bay overnight or Ninh Binh, back to Hanoi
- Day 5: Fly to Da Nang, transfer to Hoi An, Ancient Town at dusk
- Day 6–8: Cycling to Tra Que village, An Bang beach, cooking class, My Son ruins
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Common questions
Is Hanoi or Hoi An cheaper?
At mid-range they are the same on our numbers: about 1,900,000 VND per person per day in each. At the budget end Hoi An is slightly cheaper, but at the comfort end its beach resorts cost more than Hanoi hotels. In both places street food is very cheap; the Ancient Town in Hoi An also requires a ticket for its main heritage sites.
How do I get from Hanoi to Hoi An?
Fly to Da Nang, which takes about 1 h 20, then drive or take a taxi or shuttle around 45 minutes to Hoi An. Hoi An has no airport or main-line railway station. Overnight trains run from Hanoi to Da Nang in roughly 15 to 17 hours, which saves a hotel night. Check current timetables.
When is the best time to visit Hanoi and Hoi An?
Hanoi is most comfortable from November to January. Hoi An is best from about February to April, when it is dry and not yet at its hottest; from roughly September to December central Vietnam gets heavy rain and the old town can flood. A trip in February or March usually suits both, though Hanoi may still be cool.
How many days do I need in Hoi An?
Three to four days is ideal. One day covers the Ancient Town, Japanese Covered Bridge and assembly halls, and another for cycling, a cooking class or the beach. Add a half day for the My Son ruins or the Marble Mountains near Da Nang. Staying in the evening matters most, when the lanterns are lit.