What is the best beach near Hoi An?
An Bang Beach is the best choice — 4km from old town, clean sand, lined with restaurants and bars. Cua Dai Beach has severe erosion since 2014 — many sections have disappeared. Best swimming: March–August. October–November has rough waves, avoid swimming. An Bang has no entrance fee; beach clubs rent loungers for 50k–100k VND.
The two beaches
Hoi An has two main beaches: An Bang and Cua Dai. They’re 3km apart along the same coastline. One is thriving. The other is dying.
An Bang Beach — the winner
Distance: 4km from old town (8 min motorbike, 15 min bike) Sand: Wide, clean, well-maintained Facilities: Restaurants, bars, loungers, showers Crowd: Mix of tourists and locals
An Bang is where you go. The beach is wide, the water is clean, and there’s infrastructure — you can rent a lounger, grab a beer, shower off salt.
Beach clubs:
- Soul Kitchen: Beachfront restaurant, loungers 50k VND (free with food order)
- La Plage d’An Bằng: French-Vietnamese menu, sunset views
- An Bang Beach Café: Local prices, plastic chairs, no frills
Getting there:
- Motorbike: Follow Lac Long Quan Street north from old town. Straight shot, 8 minutes.
- Bicycle: Same route. Some hotels lend bikes free. Rent: 50k–100k VND/day.
- Grab: 50k–80k VND each way. Call for pickup — signal is spotty at the beach.
Cua Dai Beach — the erosion problem
Distance: 5km from old town Sand: Severely eroded — 50–100m lost since 2014 Facilities: Resort beaches (Four Seasons, Anantara), some public access Crowd: Mostly resort guests
Cua Dai used to be the main beach. Then the sea ate it.
What happened:
- 2014: First signs of erosion
- 2018: Beach lost 50m in some sections
- 2026: Many resorts have imported sand to rebuild their beachfront
The public sections are narrow. The water is rough — strong currents, no lifeguards. Not recommended for swimming unless you’re experienced.
Resort beaches: Four Seasons and Anantara maintain artificial sand patches. Day passes: 500k–1M VND (includes pool, food credit). Expensive, but the beach is actual beach.
Seasonal reality
| Month | An Bang | Cua Dai | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan–Feb | Rough waves | Rough waves | Avoid swimming |
| Mar–May | Calm, clear | Calm, clear | Best time |
| Jun–Aug | Warm, crowded | Warm, crowded | Good (hot) |
| Sep | Occasional rain | Occasional rain | Okay |
| Oct–Nov | Typhoon risk | Typhoon risk | Avoid |
| Dec | Improving | Improving | Hit or miss |
Typhoon season (October–November) is no joke. Waves reach 2–3 meters. Currents are deadly. Beaches close. Flights get cancelled. Don’t plan beach time during these months.
Other beach options
Ha My Beach (between Hoi An and Da Nang):
- 6km from old town
- Quieter than An Bang
- Local crowd, fewer tourists
- Same conditions as An Bang
Bai Bac (north side of Son Tra Peninsula, Da Nang):
- 20km from Hoi An (30 min motorbike)
- Clear water, rocky outcrops
- Good for snorkeling
- No facilities — bring your own water
What to bring
- Sunscreen: 200k–400k VND at Vietnamese pharmacies (Biore, La Roche-Posay)
- Lounger rental: 50k–100k VND (often free with food order)
- Motorbike parking: 10k–20k VND (informal, locals watch bikes)
- Fresh coconut: 30k–50k VND from beach vendors
My recommendation
For swimming: An Bang Beach, March–August. Go before 10am or after 3pm to avoid peak sun.
For sunset: La Plage d’An Bằng — order a beer (50k), watch the sun dip.
For luxury: Four Seasons Cua Dai day pass — 1M VND, but you get pool, private beach, and service.
Avoid: Cua Dai public sections — eroded, rough, unsafe.