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Built for people who stayed.

Citieschevron_rightHoi An

Vietnam

Hoi An

A slower, riverside life beside a UNESCO old town

The old town is walkable and finishes early. An Bang is the beach life. The two are a Grab apart, and that distance is the actual decision, more than the lanterns.

It suits people who want a slower week and will accept a smaller hospital and an early night. It is the wrong base if every day needs a full-city service district.

  • Ancient Town, An Bang, Cam Nam, and Cam Thanh are the real menu. Each one changes how you spend the evening.
  • The food is good. The price jumps as soon as the street is aimed at visitors.
  • Da Nang is close enough for the airport and a larger hospital. It is not close enough to pretend you live there.
The market hall
The market hall
Lanterns after dark
Lanterns after dark

Visa Options

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long-term

Vietnam Temporary Residence Card (3-month)

schedule90 daysattach_money$35
business

Vietnam Business Visa

schedule90 daysattach_money$50
tourist

Vietnam Tourist Visa (1-month)

schedule30 daysattach_money$25

Guides

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lifestyle · 5 min

Eating in Hoi An

What to order, where the price jumps, and the cheap meal this page is still waiting on.

lifestyle · 6 min

The first month in Hoi An

Airport, a week in one neighbourhood, and the admin that is easier before you have signed a lease.

housing · 7 min

Where to live in Hoi An

Ancient Town, An Bang, Cam Thanh, Cam Nam: what you are choosing, without pretending the rent is stable.

Neighbourhoods

An Bang Beach

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The centre of gravity for Hoi An's long-stay foreign community. A wide public beach lined with easygoing bar-restaurants, strong flat-white coffee culture, yoga, and a steady social scene of remote workers and families. You get sea air and a village feel while the Ancient Town stays a flat 10-minute cycle away. Trade-offs: it can feel seasonal (quiet in the winter rains), and the best beachfront houses go quickly through word of mouth. Ideal for people who want community and the beach without the tourist crush of the old town.

beachexpat hublaid backcafe culture

1-bed avg: ~$450/mo

Ancient Town (Minh An)

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The UNESCO heart of Hoi An — ochre shophouses, the Japanese Covered Bridge, tailors and lantern shops, all car-free and endlessly walkable. Living here means the town is your front garden, but you pay for it: higher rents, restricted renovation on heritage buildings, and a tide of day-tourists every late afternoon and evening. Best for short-to-medium stays and those who want atmosphere over quiet. Cafés, markets and riverside dining are all on foot; a bicycle covers everything else.

heritagewalkabletouristyatmospheric

1-bed avg: ~$500/mo

Cam Nam Island

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A small island across a footbridge from the Ancient Town — close enough to walk in for dinner, far enough to escape the crowds and the prices. Cam Nam stays largely local: cheap com and che stalls, family homes, and some of the best value long-term rentals in Hoi An. The trade-off is fewer Western cafés and services on your doorstep. A smart pick for budget-conscious long-stayers who want the town within reach but a quieter, more Vietnamese daily life.

localaffordablequietcentral

1-bed avg: ~$340/mo

Cam Thanh (Coconut Village)

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The water-coconut palm groves southeast of town — a green, rural pocket of homestays, garden houses and small guesthouses threaded by the Thu Bon's tributaries. This is where you come for space, birdsong and a big garden at a low rent, accepting that you will rely on a motorbike or bicycle for everything and that amenities are thin on the ground. Popular with families and anyone wanting a genuine countryside base within cycling reach of both the Ancient Town and the beach.

ruralriversidequietfamily friendly

1-bed avg: ~$380/mo

Businesses

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storefront
Phin Coffeeverified
food

Cafe they run in the old town, plus a lounge at An Bang.

storefront
Sai Gon Hoi An General Hospital
healthcare

The hospital formerly called Pacific, on Phan Dinh Phung. Confirm before you go.

storefront
TGM Dental
healthcare

English reception on WhatsApp, written quotes, same-day emergencies.

Recent Discussions

Questions about Hoi An are awaiting a team answer before they go public — nothing sits unanswered here. Need a reply now? The concierge gets back within 24 hours.

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Your record in Hoi An

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    Read

    The guides in Hoi An are the practical notes. Start there before you sign a lease or buy a ticket.

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City Scores

Value for money
8
Internet
7
Healthcare
5
Safety
9
Expat-friendly
8
English spoken
6

Scores on a 1–10 scale, based on our research and resident input.

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