Backpacking Hoi An Travel Guide For 2021: See, Do, Stay, & Save!
Finally, we made it to the most picturesque village in Vietnam: Hoi An. This is your complete, handmade guide to the absolute best hostels in Hoi An.
Đang xem: Backpacking hoi an travel guide for 2021: see, do, stay, & save!
Usually we only highlight the 3 top places to stay. Yet, for Hoi An we had to look a bit more outside the box. It is really not as easy as “THAT is the absolute best”. It really depends on you and your travel style.
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Important: You need a visa to enter Vietnam. You can check with iVisa.com which visa you need and how to get it. Here is my review on iVisa and how it works for Vietnam.
Hoi An is fairly small, surrounded by rice-fields and about 5 km from the beaches. We will give you several options for Hoi An Hostels. Besides, we will also share what we do NOT like about this village and what you should know before you head here.
This guide is perfect for YOU, when …
tired of bad and crappy hostelslove unique hostelsdon’t mind spending 1€-2€ more for a better experience
What we cover in this article:
Best hostels in detail
You can find all 5 Star Hostels here with travelhome.vn and all guides to “Best Hostels In” here.
Quick Introduction to Hoi An Hostels
Average price for a bed: Cheap as usual in Vietnam. A bed in a dorm can be as cheap as 4€ per night. A private room starts from 12€ up to 25€. This is a rough average just to give you an idea.
Prices always depend on season and holidays. Please always check exact rates on Hostelworld.com or Booking.com.
Check-In and Check Out: The average check-in time is from 15:00 (3pm), while the Check Out time is before 11:00 (11am). Hostels usually offer luggage storage in case you arrive earlier or leave later. Make sure you check if luggage storage is free or if there is an extra cost.
Location: Although it is a small village, the hostels are spread out the area. You can either stay at the beach-side, near the rice paddies or the central area of the Ancient Town. No worries though, in this guide we list cool places to stay in Hoi An at all of these spots.
Touristy: If you expect Hoi An to be romantic, tranquil with a bit of tourism, well, brace yourself. Hoi An is THE most touristy area you will experience in Vietnam. At peak season it is incredibly packed; we find this quite annoying. The bridge is full and you have to walk slooooooowly…
However, the mornings and after sunset are the best time to enjoy. This is when the city clears up from the tourists crowds. The perfect time to get your beautiful travel photos.
Scams: When there is tourism, scams are usually not far. Same goes for Hoi An. The village is known for tailor-shops, but there is a bunch of bad ones and obviously over-priced ones. You will be approached by street vendors a lot. Then there is an “entrance fee” for the ancient town – which is BS. Read more on tips for Hoi An.
New to Hostels? Read our full hostel starter guide here. We especially recommend to read:
Best Hostels in Hoi An:
P.S.: again, in this guide we cover not 3, but 4 places to stay.
1. Tribee Bana – Top backpacker hostel with best location
Number one on our list is Tribee Bana Hostel.
The Tribee Family runs 3 hostels, and we consider Tribee Bana the coolest one. The best Hoi An backpackers hostel and the best Tribee hostels Hoi An has to offer.
It comes with a top-location, perfect to explore Hoi An day and night. You can walk to the local food market in 2 minutes, and you are standing on the Japanese Bridge in 5-10 minutes.
Perfect location; check!
On top of that, we like their perfect fusion of homestay and backpacker hostel. It is a perfect guest house Hoi An has to offer.
It has the lovely family vibe of a Vietnamese Hostel and at the same time the backpacker ambiance. They organize the family-dinner several times a week, depending on the guests staying here.
You can expect a free, unlimited breakfast, free Hoi An mouthwatering street food tour (we highly recommend to join), and much more social activities like pub crawls.
So? What are you waiting for? Check availability of Tribee Bana right away.
Book Tribee Bana here
Compare rates at: Hostelworld | Booking.com
2. Leo Leo Hostel – easy-going hostel with top location
Leo Leo Hostel is the more calm, easygoing version of Tribee Bana. If you are looking for hostels in Hoi An to chill and explore the Ancient Town slow-paced, stay at Leo Leo.
The also run the great family-dinner we always enjoyed. Their billiard pool table and everything around is the place to mingle, have a drink at night.
You can expect clean, spacious rooms and a cool roof top terrace with a view over a party of the ancient town.
Book Leo Leo Hostel here
Compare rates at: Hostelworld | Booking.com
3. Vietnam Backpacker Hostels – “Western-Style” Party Hostel
If you are looking for a “western-style” backpacker hostel with party, bar and swimming pool, go with Vietnam Backpackers.
The best party hostel Hoi An has to offer.
The hostel is run by Australians, and they know their business: a fun vibe, party-ambiance and cool tours like the boat tours. Some of the rooms overlook rice paddies behind the accommodation.
Vietnam Backpackers Hostel is the best party hostel in Hoi An. They offer FREE Vodka & Rum everyday for 1 hour, as well as nightly events and dj’s.
Con: The location is in-between Hoi An Ancient Town and the Beach-side. We think this is not the best location, except if you are happy to ride a bike to the beach (2km) and the old town (3km).
Good to know: We love Hoi An especially at night, when the lanterns lighten up the narrow streets and the restaurants and bars are open. Therefore, we actually recommend staying in the ancient town. See our recommendation #1 for best hostels in Hoi An.
Book Vietnam Backpackers here
Compare rates at: Hostelworld | Booking.com
4. Under The Coconut Tree – Beach Hostel
Hoi An is gorgeous, seriously! It is surrounded by water and endless rice fields. The beaches are around 5km away from the Old Town.
And we have found the perfect place if you beaches are more your cup of tea.
Under The Coconut Tree Hostel is a beautiful place we enjoyed. We did not stay here personally, but visited a friend who stayed here. We tried their burgers – yummy! The rooms are bamboo huts, absolutely beautiful!
You are a 50 meters walk away from the beach. You will find hammocks here and lovely street vendors offer you to kick-back at the hammocks in exchange for you buying a drink from them. Now, you would think the drinks are pricey, right!? (at least we thought so…)
He, the street vendor, only asked for 30.000 Dong for a fresh Coconut. What a fantastic deal!
So, yeah, you can also stay at the Under the Coconut tree and hop on a bicycle to visit the Ancient Town. That is our 4th recommendation for places to stay in Hoi An.
Book Under The Coconut Tree here
Compare rates at: Hostelworld | Booking.com
Cheapest Hostels and Homestays
Expect that best budget hotels in Hoi An are expensive so we always suggest to stay in hostels and homestays. Truth be told, when traveling with a friend, many homestays can be even cheaper than staying in a hostel.
You can find cheap homestays for 10€ per night, while the coolest hostel in town might be 9€ per night per person.
That being said, hostels in Vietnam come with a lot of extras. That can be tours, free drinks, free family dinners, and other perks. Always check Hostelworld and Booking.com.
If you are not on a super-shoe-string budget and want to socialize, choose a hostel over a homestay.
Best hostels in Hoi An for Solo Travellers
In all our guides we share the absolute best hostel in town for solo-travellers. Here are the best place to stay in Hoi An for backpackers.
As for Hoi An, we really think it depends on you.
You have these options we gave you above. We think the best places to meet people are:
Obviously, you should avoid Homestays as a solo-traveler since it will be hard to meet anyone there. Homestays are usually visited by families, couples, older couples and so on. The backpackers go usually with hostels although they can cost more.
Here’s our guide on how to meet friends at hostels and build life-time friendships.
Party Hostels in Hoi An
For partying hard, go with Vietnam Backpacker Hostels. You cannot go wrong here.
Xem thêm: thuê xe máy tại tp.hcm
They even have FREE vodka and rum for 1 hour per day. They have Foosball, billiard pool, swimming pool crawls, drinking games, uff you name it.
Here’s a video of the place.
Best Homestays in Hoi An – for couples
A good homestay can be pure gold. We have found many cute home stays surrounded by rice paddies. This can be your perfect place to stay in Hoi An for couples.
Besides staying in the Ancient Town or at the beach directly (see #5 below), you can also go with a cute homestay in the rice paddies.
On Booking.com alone you find more than 200 homestays in Hoi An, rated with 9.0 or higher. You see, there is a wide selection.
We stayed at The Bau Bi Retreat. You have wonderful views over rice paddies, a swimming pool, and even an airport shuttle if needed.
The double room was around 25€, but prices always depend on dates.
Compare rates at: Booking.com
More Hoi An Hostels worth a mention
We hope that by now you already have a backpackers hostel Hoi An in mind and a pretty good idea where to stay in Hoi An.
Well, we have provided you our favorite hostels but if you still want more, we have more.
Tribee Cotu HostelTribee Kinh Hostel & BarLazy Bear HostelBed Station Hostel & Pool BarLittle Leo Homestay and HostelTribee Ede Hostel
Backpackers hostel Hoi An is indeed the best option because it is affordable. Yes, it is true! You can really find great but cheap Hoi An hostel.
If you are not into hostels, have a look at best hotels in Hoi An but we promise you hostel is worth a try!
Tribee Cotu Hostel
Tribee Cotu Hostel is a good choice for travelers who loves culture and budget friendly and cheap hostel Hoi An has to offer.
The hostel provides clean rooms and bathrooms. This is ideal for couples and for small traveling groups. You will also enjoy their free breakfast and strong WiFi connection.
Hostel Highlights:
Free WiFiAirport shuttleNon-smoking roomsFree parkingTerrace
Location: Located in Hoi An, within 400 m of Hoi An Historic Museum and 600 m of Japanese Covered Bridge. The nearest airport is Da Nang International and 27 km from Tribee Cotu Hostel.
Book Tribee Cotu Hostel here
Compare rates at: Hostelworld | Booking.com
Tribee Kinh Hostel & Bar
One of the good hostel Hoi An has to offer. This hostel is good for travelers and backpackers interested in culture.
You will surely experience Vietnam because it is near to almost all the attractions Cam Pho. There are many activities you could join and the staff of Tribee Kinh Hostel & Bar are really helpful with everything!
Hostel Highlights:
Free WiFiAirport shuttleNon-smoking roomsFree parkingPets allowedRoom serviceBar
Location: Set in Hoi An, 400 m from Hoi An Historic Museum. The nearest airport is Da Nang International, 27 km from Tribee Kinh Hostel & Bar.
Book Tribee Kinh Hostel & Bar here
Compare rates at: Hostelworld | Booking.com
Lazy Bear Hostel
Beaches? Shopping? Lazy Bear Hostel is a place to be. The hostel provides free bike rides to get around the town which is kinda cool.
They have tours everywhere that make it easier for backpackers to visit Hoi An attractions. Just approach the staff and they will definitely show you.
Hostel Highlights:
Free WiFiAirport shuttleFamily roomsNon-smoking roomsRestaurantFree parkingBarPrivate beach area
Location: Set in Hoi An, 3.6 km from Cua Dai Beach. The nearest airport is Da Nang International, 30.8 km from Lazy Bear Hostel. 14 km away from Friendly Guesthouse Hoi An and just 800 meters away from Sunflower Hostel Hoi An.
Book Lazy Bear Hostel here
Compare rates at: Hostelworld | Booking.com
Bed Station Hostel & Pool Bar
Bed Station Hostel & Pool Bar provides private rooms for couples and dorm room for group travelers.
Great buffet breakfast to share with other backpackers. The hostel is really clean. There are common areas to socialize if you are solo backpacker like the swimming pool area.
Hostel Highlights:
Swimming poolOutdoor poolFree WiFiAirport shuttleRestaurantFree parkingBar
Location: Located in Hoi An, 1.1 km from Assembly Hall of Chaozhou Chinese Congregation. 1.4 km from Hoi An Historic Museum, 1.2 km from Assembly Hall of the Hainan and 1.5 km from Quan Cong Temple.
Book Bed Station Hostel & Pool Bar here
Compare rates at: Hostelworld | Booking.com
Little Leo Homestay and Hostel
This hostel prides itself with it’s good reviews. Little Leo Homestay and Hostel is ideal for group travelers who wants to meet other people.
Little Leo provides clean rooms, shared kitchen and living area, motorbike rental, and laundry services.
Hostel Highlights:
Airport shuttleNon-smoking roomsRoom serviceFree WiFiFamily roomsBarVery good breakfast
Location: Little Leo is situated in in the An Bang Beach area. The property offers rooms in Hoi An city, 1.1 km from Cam Pho Temple. Assembly Hall of the Cantonese Chinese Congregation is 1.3 km from Little Leo, while Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese Congregation is 1.4 km from the property. The nearest airport is Da Nang International Airport, 22 km from the property.
Book Little Leo Homestay and Hostel here
Compare rates at: Hostelworld | Booking.com
Tribee Ede Hostel
Planning to get away and discover the ancient town of Hoi An? A certified UNESCO World Heritage Site in Vietnam? Tribee Ede Hostel can help you on that.
This hostel is absolutely amazing. Each bed has a locked rack and all rooms are locked. The atmosphere is fantastic!
Lantern making, spring roll classes and multiple tours are being offered to backpackers in Hoi An. You can rent bikes and scooters.
Hostel Highlights:
Airport shuttleNon-smoking roomsFree parkingRestaurantFree WiFiBarSuperb breakfast
Location: Located in Hoi An, Tribee Ede is 29.1 km away from Da Nang Airport and 1.1 km from Quan Cong Temple.
Book Tribee Ede Hostel here
Compare rates at: Hostelworld | Booking.com
Tips and Things to do in Hoi An
There’s a bunch of details nobody tells you about Hoi An before going there. In this section we share tips we think everybody should know before traveling to Hoi An.
Touristy:
Hoi An is so beautiful. It should not come as a surprise that the tourism is booming here.
The Ancient Town is quite small, and with the increasing number of tourists, it feels like the village is run down by tourism crowds.
Especially at mid day and for sunset, the center is packed. Like, really packed.
It can be overwhelming at times. We talked with a lot of travelers coming from Hoi An, and the verdict has been diverse. Many people love it, others did not enjoy the crowds at all.
We are definitely the kind of travelers that are bothered by big crowds. So if you tick the same way, we recommend to visit the Ancient Town in the early morning, before 8-9am. 7am seems to be a perfect time to wonder around. Then, when the masses arrive you can just head out to the rice paddies or the beach.
Paper Lanterns on the river and your Trash:
On the risk of sounding like a know-it-all, we still risk it: Please do not trash Hoi An like so many people do.
Every night you find endless street vendors selling small paper lanterns with candles. They float on the water. You pay around $1 for this paper lantern, light the candle and send your “wishes” on a journey.
Please, before you go for it and buy this paper lantern, go around the corner and look behind the main bridge Cau An Hoi. You will find hundreds of paper lanterns trashing the rivers bench. Basically, people produce $1 trash.
We know it looks cute and tempting, and it is totally up to you. We just ask you to consider and have a look on the trash before you join.
Take photos, leave only foot prints!
Best Banh Mi in Vietnam: The Banh Mi Queen
Oh we love Banh Mi. You will find it all over the country. We paid anything between 7.000 Dong to 55.000 Dong. This means anything between 0.23 cents and 2.20€. No kidding. Anyways…
Hoi An is known as the best place for eating a yummy Banh Mi. The most famous place is Banh Mi Queen.
While it’s fair to say, we were skeptical at first, the food is really good and the price average. A Banh mi costs here around 25.000 Dong, so 1€. You can choose between a sandwich with meat, vegetarian Banh Mi’s are also available.
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Tailor-Shops:
We are certainly not an expert when it comes to tailor-made clothing in Hoi An. We can only recommend you this place: Bebe Tailor.
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