An Bang Beach Hoi An: Complete Guide to Hoi An's Beaches
An Bang Beach is 4 kilometers from Hoi An Old Town, reachable by bicycle (20 minutes) or taxi (80,000 to 120,000 VND, US$3 to US$5). The swimming season runs March to August; September to December brings rough seas and typhoons. Cua Dai Beach has suffered erosion but remains partly accessible; Ha My is quieter. This information is current as of November 2026 (exchange rate: 1 USD = 25,000 VND, Vietcombank).
Hoi An sits on the Thu Bon River estuary, not directly on the coast. The three main beaches—An Bang, Cua Dai and Ha My—serve both day-trippers from the Old Town and visitors staying in beachfront hotels. Each beach has a different character, and the season matters: Central Vietnam's coast faces the South China Sea, which turns rough during the southwest monsoon.
An Bang Beach: The Most Popular
An Bang Beach lies 4 kilometers northeast of Hoi An Old Town. It is the most visited beach, with a long stretch of sand, rows of sunbeds, beach clubs, seafood restaurants and coconut groves behind the shore. The beach is wide at low tide and narrows when the water rises.
Development has been steady since 2015. You will find Vietnamese families, backpackers and package tourists. Sunbeds and umbrellas cost 50,000 to 100,000 VND per day depending on the establishment. Many beach clubs offer free use if you order food or drinks. A plate of grilled seafood ranges from 150,000 to 300,000 VND; a beer 30,000 to 50,000 VND.
The area known as "coconut village" refers to the palm-lined lanes inland from An Bang Beach. Small guesthouses, cafés and coconut-palm huts dot the neighborhood. It is quieter than the beachfront but still within a five-minute walk of the sand.
From Hoi An center, a taxi takes 10 to 15 minutes and costs 80,000 to 120,000 VND. A motorbike taxi (xe ôm) is cheaper, around 50,000 to 70,000 VND. Many hotels and hostels rent bicycles for 30,000 to 50,000 VND per day; the ride is flat and takes 20 to 30 minutes. Grab works in Hoi An and often matches or undercuts street taxis.
Cua Dai Beach: Erosion and Access
Cua Dai Beach, 5 kilometers east of the Old Town, was once Hoi An's main beach. Severe coastal erosion began around 2007 and accelerated through the 2010s. According to a UNESCO report on Hoi An, sand mining upstream on the Thu Bon River and the construction of hydropower dams reduced sediment flow, contributing to the erosion. By 2017, large sections of the beach had disappeared, and several beachfront resorts lost their sand entirely.
As of November 2026, parts of Cua Dai remain accessible. The local government has built rock groynes and planted casuarina trees to slow erosion. Some resorts have rebuilt small beaches with imported sand. The beach is narrower and less attractive than An Bang, but it is not entirely gone. A few restaurants and guesthouses still operate.
A taxi from Hoi An to Cua Dai costs 100,000 to 150,000 VND. The ride takes 15 to 20 minutes. Bicycles are an option, though the distance is slightly longer than to An Bang.
Ha My Beach: The Quieter Option
Ha My Beach lies south of Cua Dai, about 6 kilometers from Hoi An Old Town. It is less developed: fewer sunbeds, fewer restaurants, more local fishermen. The sand is similar to An Bang's, and the water is the same. Ha My appeals to travelers who want a calmer atmosphere.
A handful of small resorts and guesthouses line the beach road. Sunbed rental is cheaper, often 30,000 to 50,000 VND. Seafood shacks serve grilled fish, clams and squid at lower prices than An Bang.
A taxi from Hoi An costs 120,000 to 150,000 VND. Few tourists cycle this far, but motorbike rental (around 100,000 to 150,000 VND per day) makes the trip easy.
Swimming Season and Rough-Sea Months
The best months for swimming at Hoi An beaches are March to August. The sea is calm, the weather is hot and mostly dry, and the water is clear. May to August can be very hot, with temperatures above 35°C, but the beaches are busy and safe for swimming.
September to December is the rainy season and typhoon season in Central Vietnam. According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, this period brings heavy rain, strong winds and rough seas. The South China Sea becomes dangerous for swimming. Red flags go up on the beaches, and lifeguards warn bathers to stay out of the water. Typhoons are not constant, but they occur several times each season, most often in October and November. Waves can be high even when no storm is directly overhead.
January and February are cooler and drier than the monsoon months, but the sea can still be choppy and the water cold. Some travelers swim in January, but it is not the ideal season.
For a month-by-month breakdown of weather across Vietnam, see the guide on the best time to visit Vietnam.
Getting to the Beaches from Hoi An Old Town
Hoi An Old Town is compact and car-free in the center. Most hotels and hostels are within walking distance of the Japanese Bridge and the market. The beaches are not walkable from the Old Town.
Bicycle: The most popular option. Hoi An is flat, and the ride to An Bang takes 20 to 30 minutes. Hotels rent bicycles for 30,000 to 50,000 VND per day. The route follows Hai Ba Trung Street northeast out of town, then turns onto the beach road. Signage is clear. Lock your bike when you arrive; theft is rare but not impossible.
Motorbike: Rental shops charge 100,000 to 150,000 VND per day for a semi-automatic scooter. An international driving permit and a Vietnamese motorcycle license are legally required, though enforcement is inconsistent. The ride to any beach takes 10 to 15 minutes.
Taxi and Grab: Taxis wait near the market and major hotels. Agree on the fare before departure or insist on the meter. Grab is reliable and transparent. A one-way trip to An Bang costs 80,000 to 120,000 VND; to Cua Dai or Ha My, 100,000 to 150,000 VND. For a day at the beach, arrange a return pickup time with the driver or book a new Grab when you are ready to leave.
Motorbike taxi (xe ôm): Cheaper than a car taxi, around 50,000 to 70,000 VND to An Bang. Negotiate the price in advance. You sit on the back of a motorbike. Helmets are provided.
Most travelers from the United States, Australia, India and Canada need a visa or e-visa for Vietnam; the official portal is evisa.gov.vn. If you prefer someone to handle the application, visa-vietnam.app can do it. visa-vietnam.app is run by the same publisher as this site.
What to Bring and Beach Practicalities
Beach clubs at An Bang rent sunbeds, umbrellas and towels. Smaller setups at Ha My may not have towels; bring your own or buy a cheap sarong in Hoi An market (50,000 to 100,000 VND). Sunscreen is essential year-round; the tropical sun is strong even on cloudy days. Vietnamese pharmacies sell international brands, but they are more expensive than at home. A 200 ml bottle of SPF 50 costs around 200,000 to 300,000 VND.
Showers and toilets are available at most beach clubs and restaurants. Some charge a small fee (10,000 to 20,000 VND) if you do not order anything. Bring cash: many small vendors do not accept cards. ATMs are in Hoi An town, not on the beaches.
Jellyfish appear occasionally, usually after storms. They are rarely dangerous, but stings are painful. If you are stung, rinse with seawater (not freshwater) and seek advice from a beach vendor or lifeguard. Lifeguards are present at An Bang during the high season (March to August) but rare at Ha My and Cua Dai.
Coconut Village and Staying Near An Bang Beach
The area behind An Bang Beach, sometimes called coconut village, has grown into a small resort zone. Guesthouses, boutique hotels and Airbnb rentals are cheaper than staying in Hoi An Old Town. A private room in a guesthouse costs 300,000 to 600,000 VND per night; a small hotel 600,000 to 1,200,000 VND. Beachfront resorts charge more.
Staying near the beach makes sense if you plan to spend several days swimming and want a quieter base. The Old Town is a 10-minute taxi ride away, so you can still visit the temples, tailors and night market. For more on where to stay in Hoi An, see the guide on where to stay in Hoi An.
Combining Beaches with a Visit to Hoi An
Most travelers visit Hoi An for the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and add a beach day or two. If you are based in Da Nang, Hoi An is 30 kilometers south. A taxi or Grab from Da Nang to Hoi An takes 40 to 50 minutes and costs 300,000 to 450,000 VND. Many visitors stay in Da Nang and take a day trip to Hoi An, then continue to An Bang Beach. For transport details, see the guide on Da Nang to Hoi An.
If you are touring Central Vietnam, Hoi An is often combined with Hue (120 kilometers north) and Da Nang. A typical itinerary is two to three nights in Hoi An, including one beach day. For a broader overview of Hoi An, see the complete guide to visiting Hoi An.
Conclusion
An Bang Beach is the most convenient and lively of Hoi An's beaches, with good infrastructure and easy access by bicycle or taxi. Cua Dai has been damaged by erosion but remains partly accessible. Ha My is quieter and cheaper. The swimming season runs from March to August; avoid the sea from September to December when rough conditions and typhoons make it dangerous. Plan your visit during the dry season, bring cash and sunscreen, and allow half a day or a full day for the beach. If you are staying in Da Nang, a day trip to Hoi An and An Bang Beach is straightforward and takes less than an hour each way.
Frequently asked questions
Jérémie
Author, based in Da Nang
A French entrepreneur living in Da Nang, Jérémie writes these guides from first-hand experience and official sources, cited and dated.
About the author