Hanoi vs Hoi An

Hanoi and Hoi An compared across the three travel tiers — budget, mid-range and luxury — for daily costs, hotels, food, things to do and the practical stuff that actually decides which one you should visit.

Hanoi

Vietnam · Asia

Hanoi is a sensory overload in the best possible way — motorbikes swarm ancient French-colonial streets, phở simmers on every corner, incense drifts from Buddhist temples, and the Old Quarter's 36 streets each still specialise in a single trade.

Hoi An

Vietnam · Asia

A trading port from the fifteenth to the nineteenth century, Hoi An kept its Chinese assembly halls, Japanese bridge and mustard-yellow merchant houses when the river silted up and trade moved on. Today its lantern-lit old town, tailors, beaches and some of the best food in Vietnam make it the country's most loved small town.

Daily cost per tier (USD)

Tier	Hanoi	Hoi An
Budget	$15–$30	$20–$40
Mid-range	$50–$90	$60–$120
Luxury	$200–$400	$250–$600

At a glance

	Hanoi	Hoi An
Country	Vietnam	Vietnam
Currency	VND (D)	VND
Language	Vietnamese (northern dialect - tonal, with 6 tones; English widely spoken in tourist areas)	Vietnamese
Best months	October - April	February–April for warm, dry days before the heat. May–August is hot and good for the beach; October–November brings heavy rain and floods.
Climate	Hanoi has a distinct four-season climate rare in Southeast Asia. October-April is the dry and cooler season: October-November (25-28 degrees C, dry, perfect) and December-February (15-20 degrees C, occasionally chilly - bring a layer; the winter drizzle creates an atmospheric mist over the Old Quarter). March-April warms up again before the summer heat. May-September is hot and humid (33-38 degrees C) with heavy rain and occasional typhoons. The Tet festival (Vietnamese Lunar New Year, usually January-February) is the most culturally significant time to visit - the city empties as families reunite, then erupts in fireworks and flower markets. Many restaurants close for 1-2 weeks around Tet.	Tropical monsoon: dry and warm February to July (25–34°C), wet September to December with typhoons and flooding, cooler and grey in January.
Visa	E-visa required for most nationalities ($25 USD, 90 days, apply online at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn - takes 3 working days). Visa-free for some ASEAN countries and a few others (check current list). Always verify before travel as rules change.	UK passports and several European ones (Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the Nordic countries among them) are visa-free for 45 days; US, Canadian and Australian travellers need an e-visa (up to 90 days), applied for online.
Safety	Generally safe for tourists. Watch for motorbike bag snatchers (wear bags on the side away from traffic), taxi scams (use Grab app exclusively), and aggressive souvenir sellers. The Old Quarter at night is lively and safe.	Very safe. The main hazards are traffic, motorbike bag-snatching on quiet roads at night, and floods in the old town in October and November.
Tipping	Not traditionally expected but increasingly appreciated. 10% at tourist restaurants is generous. Round up for taxi (through Grab, no cash tip needed). Tip tour guides and hotel staff 50,000-100,000 VND for good service.	Not traditional but welcome: leave 5–10% in restaurants with table service, and tip guides, drivers and spa staff.
Metro	No	No