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Hoi An travel guide

Best Hostels in Hoi An : Budget Dorms Near the Ancient Town

Β· Updated Β· 5 min read City Guide
Fishing boats moored on Thu Bon River, Hoi An, Vietnam

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Contents

  1. Best hostels
  2. What Hoi An hostels typically provide
  3. An Bang Beach alternatives
  4. Budget eating near the hostels
  5. Budget tips for Hoi An
  6. More in Hoi An

Hoi An has a decent backpacker hostel scene, though it is smaller and quieter than Da Nang or Hanoi. The town’s walkable scale means all the main hostels are within 10 minutes of the Ancient Town on foot, and bicycle rental from hostels makes reaching An Bang Beach (4 km) straightforward.

Best hostels

Vietnam Backpacker Hostels Hoi An / Mad Monkey Hoi An (near the old quarter): The main social hostel in the town. Clean dorm beds with lockers, privacy curtains, and individual reading lights. Outdoor pool, lively common area, and regular events including a sunset river cruise, pub crawl, and Saturday pool party. Free cocktail at the nightly 19:00 meet-up. The tour desk handles cooking class bookings (from approximately β‚«300,000 / $12), My Son Sanctuary half-day trips (from approximately β‚«200,000 / $8), and bicycle rental. Dorm from β‚«180,000 ($7.20). Private rooms from β‚«500,000 ($20) as of 2026.

iHome Hoi An (near the Ancient Town): Highly rated social hostel with a Hostelworld score of 9.2 from over 700 reviews. Swimming pool with a pool bar, unlimited free beer during happy hour, buffet breakfast included, and free bicycle hire. Located close to the old town and night market. Good for social travellers who want a pool and full-service hostel environment. Dorm from approximately β‚«200,000 ($8). Private from approximately β‚«500,000 ($20) as of 2026.

Under the Coconut Tree (Cam Nam Island): On the quiet island south of the old quarter, connected by a pedestrian bridge. The location is 10 minutes walk from the old town but significantly quieter than the town-side hostels. Garden setting with hammocks. Free bicycle use, which is essential from this location. Dorm from β‚«150,000 ($6). Private from β‚«400,000 ($16) as of 2026.

Tribee Bana Hostel (near the old quarter): Design-focused hostel with modern pod-style bunks. Better sound isolation than open dorms. Communal kitchen, coworking corner, and a small courtyard. Good for digital nomads who want a social environment with workspace. Dorm from β‚«200,000 ($8). Private from β‚«550,000 ($22) as of 2026.

What Hoi An hostels typically provide

  • Bicycle rental: Free or β‚«30,000–50,000 ($1.20–2) per day. Essential for reaching An Bang Beach and exploring the surrounding rice paddies
  • Tour booking: Cooking classes (from β‚«300,000 / $12 for a half-day class including market visit), My Son Sanctuary half-day trips (from β‚«200,000 / $8 including transport and entry), Da Nang day trips, and Hue connections
  • Breakfast: Most Hoi An hostels include breakfast - typically Vietnamese coffee, bread or banh mi, and fruit
  • Tailoring guidance: Staff can recommend reliable tailors in the old quarter (Hoi An is famous for custom tailoring) and advise on fair pricing - expect β‚«500,000–1,500,000 ($20–60) for a custom shirt, β‚«1,500,000–4,000,000 ($60–160) for a custom suit as of 2026
  • Laundry: β‚«25,000–40,000 ($1–1.60) per kilogramme, returned same day or next morning

An Bang Beach alternatives

Several guesthouses at An Bang Beach operate at hostel-equivalent prices - β‚«200,000–350,000 ($8–14) for a basic private room with air conditioning. These suit budget travellers who prioritise beach access over old town proximity. The beach has its own restaurant strip and a relaxed bar scene.

The trade-off is distance: An Bang Beach is 4 km from the old quarter. By bicycle it takes 20–30 minutes on flat roads through rice paddies. By Grab, approximately β‚«40,000–60,000 ($1.60–2.40). The ride is pleasant during the day but less appealing after dark.

Budget eating near the hostels

Hoi An has strong street food at budget prices:

  • Cao lau (Hoi An’s signature noodle dish): β‚«30,000–50,000 ($1.20–2) at local restaurants
  • Banh mi Phuong (famous banh mi shop at 2B Phan Chau Trinh): β‚«25,000–30,000 ($1–1.20) - expect a queue
  • White rose dumplings (banh bao vac): β‚«25,000–40,000 ($1–1.60) at dedicated shops
  • Com ga (Hoi An chicken rice): β‚«30,000–50,000 ($1.20–2) - the turmeric-yellow rice version is specific to Hoi An
  • Market food: The central market has multiple stalls with meals from β‚«20,000–40,000 ($0.80–1.60)

Budget tips for Hoi An

Hoi An is more expensive than comparable Vietnamese towns for accommodation and tourist activities. A few cost-saving strategies:

  • The β‚«120,000 ($4.80) old town entry ticket as of 2026 covers five attraction visits within its validity period - plan your heritage building visits together rather than spreading them across multiple tickets
  • Eat at the central market and street food stalls rather than the riverside tourist restaurants, where prices are 2–3 times higher for similar dishes
  • Rent a bicycle rather than using Grab for the beach trip - it saves approximately β‚«80,000–120,000 ($3.20–4.80) per round trip
  • The lantern-lit evening atmosphere along the Thu Bon River is free to enjoy - you don’t need a ticket to walk the old quarter streets after the ticket checkpoints close

See also: Looking for mid-range or upmarket options? Read our guide to the best hotels in Hoi An.

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More in Hoi An

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do hostels cost in Hoi An?
Dorm beds start from approximately β‚«150,000 ($6) at Under the Coconut Tree on Cam Nam Island. Mad Monkey Hoi An charges from approximately β‚«180,000 ($7.20) for dorms and β‚«500,000 ($20) for private rooms. iHome Hoi An and Tribee Bana charge from approximately β‚«200,000 ($8) for dorms.
Are Hoi An hostels close to the Ancient Town?
All the main hostels are within 10 minutes walk of the old quarter. They also provide bicycle rental (free or β‚«30,000–50,000 per day), tour booking for cooking classes and My Son, and free or cheap breakfast.
Is the Hoi An old town entry ticket a daily cost for budget travellers?
The β‚«120,000 ($4.80) old town entry ticket is valid for multiple visits within the validity period. Plan your old town visits to avoid paying entry daily - use the ticket for all your heritage building visits within its timeframe.

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