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If you have 4 to 5 days and only one stop, pick Hoi An for a slower, prettier trip with a beach 3 to 5 km away, and pick Hanoi if you want a big-city buzz plus Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh on your doorstep. Hoi An suits couples, families and first-timers who want easy walking.
Hanoi suits food lovers and anyone after the limestone scenery. Season matters too: central Vietnam floods in October and November, while Hanoi is at its best then.
| Factor | Hanoi | Hoi An |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | Loud, fast, scooter-packed capital | Lantern-lit, walkable old town |
| Best months | October to November | February to April |
| Worst months | Grey, drizzly winter (January average 17°C) | Flood season, October to November |
| Signature day trips | Ha Long Bay (2 to 3 hrs by road), Ninh Binh (about 100 km) | My Son Sanctuary (about 40 km), An Bang beach |
| Nonstop from Australia | Vietnam Airlines from Sydney and Melbourne | Several carriers into Da Nang, 30 km away |
| Best for | Foodies, culture, scenery | Couples, families, slow travel |
City energy vs old-town charm
Hanoi is a working capital. The Old Quarter packs street food, motorbikes, beer corners and temples into a few blocks, and it runs late. Our Hanoi travel guide covering the Old Quarter, food and neighbourhoods breaks the city down area by area.
Hoi An is the opposite: a compact, UNESCO-listed old town lit with silk lanterns after dark, built for tailors, cafes, rice-paddy bike rides and riverside dinners. The downside is that it is small and very touristy, so some travellers feel done after two or three days. Entry is a VND 120,000 ticket for foreign adults (AUD 6.40 · USD 4.60), covering five of the 22 ticketed sites.
Day trips: limestone bays vs ruins and beaches
Hanoi wins on scenery. Ha Long Bay is about 2 to 2.5 hours away on the expressway, and an overnight cruise is the way to see it. Mid-range two-day, one-night cruises run about AUD 180–345 · USD 130–250 per person, usually including transfers, meals and kayaking.
Ninh Binh’s karst valleys are about 100 km south: roughly 2 hrs 15 min to 2.5 hrs by train, or 2.5 to 3 hours by tourist bus at AUD 4–11 · USD 3–8 (VND 80,000–200,000).
Hoi An’s day trips are gentler. My Son Sanctuary, the Cham temple ruins, is about 40 km inland, with a VND 150,000 foreign ticket (AUD 8 · USD 5.80). An Bang beach is about 3 to 5 km from the old town, an easy cycle.
Da Nang is close if you want a bigger beach city, and our Da Nang vs Hoi An comparison for where to base yourself covers that choice.
Weather by month: northern winter vs central flood season
Hanoi is best in October and November, with October averaging 22 to 28°C and mostly clear skies. December to February is cool and often grey, with January averaging about 17°C and drizzle possible. Our month-by-month guide to the best time to visit Hanoi covers the humid summer too.
Hoi An is best from February to April, when it is mild and drier. The rainy season runs September to December and peaks in October and November, which is also central-coast typhoon season.
The old town sits low beside the Thu Bon River: in October 2024 Typhoon Trami dumped more than 600 mm of rain in 72 hours, and on 30 October 2025 the river hit its highest level in roughly 60 years.
So a late September or early October school-holiday trip points to Hanoi, and a March or April trip points to Hoi An.
Costs: where your money goes further
Hanoi’s mid-range hotels run about AUD 35–83 · USD 25–60 a night. Hoi An has plenty of family-run homestays from about AUD 22 · USD 16 a night, many with free bicycles.
The bigger difference is activities. A Ha Long cruise is the most expensive item on most Hanoi trips, while Hoi An’s old town ticket, My Son and bike hire add up to far less (tailoring and cooking classes are the budget-blowers). Budget travellers spend less in Hoi An unless they skip Ha Long.
Getting there from Australia
Vietnam Airlines flies nonstop to Hanoi from Sydney and Melbourne, but only about twice a week on each route, taking roughly 9 hrs 40 min to 10 hrs 30 min. VietJet has dropped its direct Hanoi to Australia routes.
Hoi An has no airport. You fly into Da Nang, then drive about 30 km (30 to 45 minutes). VietJet, Jetstar and Vietnam Airlines have offered nonstop Australia to Da Nang services, so compare fares from your home city. From Hanoi, the domestic flight to Da Nang is about 1 hr 20 min.
Verdict by traveller type
– First-timers: Hoi An. Easier to navigate and calmer on foot. – Couples: Hoi An for lanterns and a beach; Hanoi if a night on a Ha Long cruise is the dream. – Families: Hoi An.
Flat bike paths, a nearby beach and short transfers beat Hanoi traffic. – Budget travellers: Hoi An, unless Ha Long is the whole point. – Foodies and culture buffs: Hanoi, for deeper street food and city life. – Scenery chasers: Hanoi, for Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh.
When to do both
With 8 days or more, do both: 3 to 4 nights in Hanoi (one on a Ha Long cruise, or a Ninh Binh day instead), fly 1 hr 20 min to Da Nang, then 3 to 4 nights in Hoi An. Fly in and out of different cities.
With 5 days or fewer, pick one, because the flight and transfers eat most of a day. Our Hoi An travel guide with things to do and day trips helps you fill the southern leg.
Where to stay in Hanoi or Hoi An
– Old Town edge: Best for first-timers and couples who want to walk to the lanterns but sleep somewhere quieter. – Cam Thanh rice paddies: Suits families and slow travellers who want space and a bike ride into town. – An Bang beach: For sand in the morning and the old town at night, about 10 to 15 minutes by car.
Find your Hoi An hotel on the map
Live prices from Booking, Airbnb and more — move the map or change dates to compare stays across Hoi An.
See hotels in Hanoi →See hotels in Hoi An →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hanoi or Hoi An better for a first trip to Vietnam?
Hoi An is the easier first taste of Vietnam. The old town is compact and walkable, the pace is slow, and you can cycle to a beach. Hanoi is more intense, with heavy scooter traffic and crowded streets, which some first-timers love and others find overwhelming. If you only have one stop and want a relaxed trip, choose Hoi An.
How many days do you need in Hanoi vs Hoi An?
Plan 3 to 4 days for Hanoi, plus a night if you want a Ha Long Bay cruise. Hoi An needs 3 to 4 days to cover the old town, My Son Sanctuary, a beach afternoon and a countryside bike ride. To do both properly, allow at least 8 days, including the 1 hr 20 min flight between Hanoi and Da Nang.
Should I avoid Hoi An in October and November?
Think carefully before booking then. October and November are the peak of central Vietnam’s rainy and typhoon season, and the old town floods most years. In 2024 Typhoon Trami brought over 600 mm of rain in 72 hours. If those are your only dates, Hanoi is the safer pick, as it is usually dry and clear in autumn.
Can you visit Ha Long Bay from Hoi An?
Not as a day trip. Ha Long Bay is in the far north, 2 to 2.5 hours by road from Hanoi, and Hoi An is in central Vietnam. You would need to fly Da Nang to Hanoi first. If Ha Long is a must and you can only pick one base, choose Hanoi, then book an overnight cruise.
