Hoi An Review as a Digital Nomad

Hoi An was one of those cities that nearly all my friends urged me to visit, and I even had a few digital nomad friends who stayed there for a while.

It’s definitely a top choice for those “in the know.” Personally, I found it to be a beautiful retreat, but since I also wanted a bit more of an urban vibe for my photography project, I leaned toward the city.

It was only after struggling with Da Nang’s tough rental market that I decided to give the place a closer look.

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A few words on Hoi An

Hoi An is famous for its enchanting ancient town — a warm riverside city renowned for its glowing lanterns that light up the night. Beyond the old quarter, it also offers a retreat with beaches, rice fields, and a few modern main roads with very nice restaurants that bring contrast to its traditional charm.

Hoi An is just a 35-minute drive from Son Tra, Da Nang, making it an ideal week-end trip for Dan Nang City residents.

How does it compare to Da Nang?

For us, Hoi An offers a richer, more authentic, and unique cultural experience, even though the old town is somewhat tailored for tourists.

The areas surrounding the Old Town are truly impressive. Just a 15-minute drive takes you to An Bang Beach, where seafood restaurants and local vendors offer a much more authentic Vietnamese experience compared to My Khe.

That being said, the beach at An Bang isn’t quite as stunning, and the sand isn’t as soft or white. My Khe’s long stretch of shoreline, framed by the hills and the Linh Ứng Pagoda, is truly hard to surpass.

How is the food?

The food here is exceptional—honestly, I find it even better than Da Nang. The quality feels noticeably higher. Take Banh Mi Phượng, for instance; it’s easily one of the best Banh Mi I’ve had in Vietnam, and I’ve sampled quite a few.

Cao Lầu, Mỳ Quảng, and Cơm Gà are other regional specialties, and they’re all quite tasty as well.

The best chè desserts I’ve had in Vietnam were also located near our hotel on Trang Hung Dao.

It’s hard to admit, but I believe the best Bún Đậu I’ve ever had was actually in Hoi An, even though it’s traditionally a dish from Hanoi.

How is the ambiance?

Hoi An has a relaxed, laid-back vibe. It reminds me a lot of my best experiences in Phu Quoc—an authentic, welcoming place where people generally seem happier and more at peace than in the bustling city.

For example, exploring Cam Chau or Cam Ha offers a relaxed beach house vibe, similar to Ocean Beach in San Diego—perfect for those who choose to slow down and savor the serene surroundings.

The Old Town is heavily geared toward tourists, particularly at night when bars and professional singers perform Western songs. Honestly, it felt a bit overwhelming for me, though the atmosphere during the day might be quite different.

We still enjoyed the boat ride and floating candles on the river, but for us, Hoi An was more about exploring the rice fields, visiting the beaches, and cruising along Hai Ba Trung and Trang Hung Dao streets.

As a digital nomad, I’d definitely opt to live either close to nature or along one of those main streets. The town is fairly small, and driving is easy, so a 10-minute trip is usually a breeze—unless it’s raining.

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Is it easy to find a place?

To be honest, securing a place to live in Hoi An—whether short- or long-term—is even more challenging and costly than in Da Nang. Homes typically start around 12,000,000 VND per month, and there are far fewer options available compared to Da Nang.

For Westerners 12-25,000,000 VND seems like a good deal, but when you compare to the retail price of the house and especially that with this price you would easily get a 3 floors full house or 150m2 in Hanoi which is has more traffic it changes your perspective.

If you’re genuinely considering living in Hoi An, you need to plan your timing carefully—or, like us, be prepared to spend an extended period in a hotel while searching for the ideal place to stay.

Verdict

9.0 out of 10.

When I imagine settling down, this is exactly the kind of atmosphere I’d love to spend the rest of my life in.

To be honest, we only stayed a few days, but leaving Hoi An made me feel genuinely sad—that’s how much I enjoyed it. It would easily rank as my second favorite city to live in Vietnam.

Ultimately we chose Da Nang, because we aren’t retiree and still need the bustling of the city for our projects to move forward.

I can easily understand why my digital nomad friends chose to settle here—these are people who have traveled all over the world. Hoi An seems to have a unique vibe that makes it feel like a little slice of paradise, even if only temporarily.