Hoi An Impression

About An Bang Beach

Golden sand, clear blue water, palm trees, and palapas, An Bang Beach is a true paradise! Found by following Hai Ba Trung out of town, An Bang has become the number one beach location for tourists in Hoi An after the erosion at Cua Dai limited its appeal. In 2016, An Bang was voted among the top 100 beaches in the world by CNN.

It’s easy to see why An Bang is such a popular destination. Along with the sand, sea, and eateries is a gorgeous view. Between Da Nang and the Son Tra Peninsula to the north, plus Cham Island to the south, you’ll find open water dotted with fishing boats. As the sun sets, you’ll see the fishing boats start to sweep across the water with floodlights on, hoping to attract squid.

An Bang may be the busiest beach in Hoi An, but it’s easy to find a quiet spot by taking a short walk along the edge of the water. Otherwise, go first thing in the morning before the tourists arrive and the sun is at its coolest – many cafes and restaurants along the An Bang coastline are open from 8 am, and it’s the time you’ll see the beach at its very best.

Not so long ago, there weren’t many facilities at An Bang Beach. These days, you’ll find tons of food and drink, convenience stores, ATMs, pharmacies, and even a splash of petrol if you get caught out. This once remote fishing village is remote no longer.

Getting to An Bang

An Bang Beach is approximately 5km from Hoi An’s Old Town, and the quickest route is via Hai Ba Trung. This street wends its way all the way from Tran Phu in the Old Town to the coast itself.

Taxis and Grab vehicles frequent the route, and it’s easily accessible by bike or scooter, with ample parking close to the beach. Although much depends on traffic, a taxi ride at non-peak times of the day will take around 10 minutes and cost approximately 80,000 VND (3.45 USD).

If you’re in no rush to get to the sand, An Bang is easily accessible via Cua Dai Road and Lac Long Quan. This coast-hugging route may even introduce you to a few lesser-known specks along Hoi An’s coast, including Hidden Beach.

Another alternative is to avoid the main roads where possible and cycle to An Bang Beach via the scenic route.

Parking

Sitting at the end of Ha Ba Trung, you’ll find plenty of places to park your motorbike, scooter, or bicycle if making your own way there. Many cafes and restaurants a short walk away will let you park your steed for the price of a drink (around 20,000 VND (0.85 USD). Parking spots closer to An Bang Beach can be used for 5,000-20,000 VND (0.22 – 0.85 USD) per vehicle. Many of these have showers and changing facilities.

Some touts will try and lord it over you and act as if they have official parking areas that you must use. If you don’t want their service, don’t let them force you. Give them a smile and a wave and move on, no matter how much they shout and gesticulate.

Things to Do

Sunbathing & Swimming

The laidback vibe and idyllic setting make An Bang a great place for kicking back with a book and headphones, or simply catching a few rays. You’ll find a great selection of umbrellas and loungers along the main stretch, attached to the cafes and restaurants that live behind them. Places charge around 10-40,000 VND for a sun lounger, but they’re usually free for the day if you order food or drinks.

Swimming is perfectly safe on An Bang Beach. Any water sports are kept separate, with designated swimming areas clearly marked. Depending on the time of day, the water is often so clear that you’ll be swimming among fishes, so don’t forget your goggles!

Water Sports

The water at An Bang is mainly reserved for swimming and fishing, but you can also find jet skis and parasailing on offer. Prices vary, but start for 30 minutes at around 600,000 VND (25.85 USD) for jet skis and 700,000 VND (30 USD) for parasailing.

Surfing season begins in October and can continue through to April. There’s not a consistent swell, but some days are great, and from Nov to Feb, you can usually catch something. Up near Marble Mountain, the swell can be a foot or so bigger.

Yoga and Wellness

Depending on the time of year, An Bang Beach offers morning yoga and other wellness activities. These often begin around 6 am, when the sun has risen but before it gets too hot to move around!

Restaurants & Nightlife

The coastal end of Ha Ba Trung is full of cafes and restaurants, from simple places to obtain a swift Robusta hit to larger restaurants dedicated to Vietnamese, seafood, Western, or vegan food. And for the true taste of Vietnam, the local market has terrific, cheap breakfasts of staples such as pho, banh xeo, and banh beo, but be sure to get there before 9 am when it closes!

An Bang may be quieter after dark, but it’s not hard to find somewhere to drink, eat, or while away a few hours at a live music venue. Indeed, An Bang has always been the hub of live music in Hoi An. Soul Kitchen has traditionally led the way, while other venues such as Shore Club, Bungalow Beach Bar, and the newly opened Red Lantern Cocktails are solid contributors. It’s worth noting that a few hotspots are springing up just south of An Bang, which you can reach along Nguyen Phan Vinh Road – Tan Thanh Beach – or in around 10 minutes’ walk along the beach.

Our pick of restaurants and nightlife follows.

Cafes and Fast Food

Restaurants

Nightlife

For Salt Pub, Kahuna’s Beach Club, and Sea Crab, see Tan Thanh Beach

Spas

Two spas at An Bang Beach consistently boast 5-star reviews from delighted customers. Ocean Spa Hoi An and Heaven Garden Spa lead the field outside the pricier hotels and resorts in the area (see map below).

Where to Stay

At An Bang Beach, homestays and boutique hotels with just a few rooms dominate. Homestays can get you closer to the Vietnamese community, but most of them are better thought of as B&Bs. There are plenty of options under 50 USD (1.1 million VND) a night and a fair smattering of affordable mid-priced, villa-style venues like The Watermark with pools and great locations near the beach. At the top end, the Chi Villa offers all sorts of extras, including a private chef at breakfast.

In terms of location, most of the options at An Bang are just a couple of minutes from the beach, but Ocean House An Bang is pretty hard to beat with Sea View rooms going for around 80 USD (1.8 million VND) and Waterside rooms for 150 USD (3.4 million VND).

Here are some good accommodation options  to check out and book:

Hotels & Homestays