Hoi An: Untangling Vietnam's Most Confusing Place Name
The name 'Hoi An' appears across Vietnam—from the UNESCO World Heritage site to administrative wards and rural communes. Here's how to tell them apart.
The Name That Appears Everywhere
If you're planning a trip to Vietnam and see "Hoi An" mentioned multiple times in different contexts, you're not imagining it. The name refers to at least four distinct places across the country, which can trip up travelers and researchers alike. Most people mean the famous Old Town, but the others exist too—and they're nothing like what tourists expect.
Hoi An Old Town — The UNESCO World Heritage Site
This is the Hoi An you've heard about. The Old Town is a preserved port city that flourished from the 15th to 19th centuries, when it was a major Southeast Asian trading hub. Its architecture blends Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese influences in a way that feels authentic rather than reconstructed.
Walk the narrow streets in the evening (motorbikes are restricted then) and you'll see why UNESCO granted it World Heritage status in 1999. Lanterns hang above shopfronts. Wooden shutters frame doorways. The Japanese Covered Bridge, built in the 1590s, stands as the most recognizable symbol. The Thu Bon River runs alongside, and the town sits a short distance inland from the coast.
This is the Hoi An that matters for tourism. It's in Quang Nam province, though it sits between Da Nang and the coast.
Image by Christopher Crouzet via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)
Hoi An Ward, Inside Da Nang City
Da Nang absorbed the Old Town's former administrative territory and created a modern ward called Hoi An. It's an urban administrative division—not a travel destination on its own. The historic Old Town area is technically within this ward's boundaries now, but when locals or officials say "Hoi An ward," they usually mean the broader Da Nang district, not the heritage site specifically.
Hoi An Commune, An Giang Province
Deep in the Mekong Delta, in the southern province of An Giang, there's a rural commune also named Hoi An. It's in what used to be Cho Moi district. There's no connection to the famous Old Town—same name, completely different place, entirely different scale and character. It's agricultural land, not a tourist draw.
Image by Steffen Schmitz (more photos) via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)
Hoi An City (Dissolving in 2025)
Historically, there was a provincial municipality called Hoi An City within Quang Nam. It was bigger than the Old Town alone and served as the administrative hub for the region. Vietnam has been reorganizing its administrative divisions in recent years, and Hoi An City is scheduled to be dissolved in 2025. This doesn't affect the Old Town itself—the heritage site will remain—but it signals a shift in how the region is governed.
How to Know Which Hoi An You're Looking At
Context is everything. If someone is talking about tourism, temples, lanterns, or history, they mean the Old Town. If an article mentions Da Nang, look for "ward" or "district." If it says An Giang or Cho Moi, you're in the Delta. And any reference to administrative changes typically refers to the former provincial municipality.
When booking hotels, researching restaurants, or reading travel guides, you'll almost always be reading about the Old Town. That's the Hoi An that deserves your time.
The other three are real places, but they exist for bureaucratic or geographical reasons, not because they have anything tourists want to see. The name is shared; the experiences are worlds apart.
Going to Vietnam? Eat and travel smarter.
Monthly: new dishes, off-the-beaten-path destinations, and itineraries — straight to your inbox. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Join 0 expats. (We just launched.)
More from Hoi An
Other articles covering this city.
Drinking Water in Vietnam: What's Safe, What Isn't, and Why
Tap water isn't safe to drink straight from the tap in Vietnam. Here's what you need to know about bottled water, ice, brushing teeth, and hot drinks.
Eating with Food Allergies in Vietnam: Peanuts, MSG, Fish Sauce & Gluten
Peanuts hide in desserts and sauces, MSG seasons nearly everything, and fish sauce is in almost every savory dish. Here's how to navigate Vietnamese food safely.
Wifi and Internet in Vietnam: What to Expect and How to Stay Connected
Free wifi is nearly everywhere in Vietnamese cities, but speeds drop in rural areas. Here's what works, where to find it, and what to pay.
More from Central Vietnam
Other articles covering the same region.
5 Days in the Central Highlands: Buon Ma Thuot, Pleiku, Kon Tum
Coffee plantations, ethnic minority villages, and colonial-era towns in Vietnam's cooler interior. A quieter route through Dak Lak, Gia Lai, and Kon Tum provinces.
3 Days in Phong Nha: Caves, Underground Rivers & Jungle Trails
A three-day loop through Phong Nha's cave systems and karst valleys. Boat through flooded caverns, trek to stalactite chambers, zipline over jungle, and sleep in a valley homestay.
3 Days in Da Lat for Couples: Lakes, Strawberries & Mountain Views
A long weekend built around quiet mornings at Tuyen Lam Lake, strawberry picking on misty farms, and sunset coffee in the highlands—no crowds, no rushing.
More in Destinations
More articles from the same category.
Dong Ba Market: Hue's Riverside Trading Hub
Dong Ba Market sits on the Perfume River's north bank in Hue, Vietnam's imperial capital. Over 150 years old, rebuilt after war and flood, it remains the city's liveliest marketplace for produce, fish, textiles, and local crafts.
Binh Tay Market: Cho Lon's Beating Heart
Binh Tay Market in District 6 has anchored Cho Lon commerce since 1930, built with wealth from a garbage collector turned tycoon. Walk its crowded aisles for spices, textiles, and a snapshot of old Saigon trade.
Thet Xoan Singers: Farmers and Taxi Drivers Keeping Ancient Art Alive
In Phu Tho province, the Thet xoan troupe includes taxi drivers, farmers, and factory workers who abandon their day jobs to perform centuries-old worship songs. We visited them at their communal house to see how this ancient tradition survives.
Water Puppetry at Thang Long: A German Delegation's Hanoi Afternoon
On January 23, 2024, German First Lady Elke Budenbender attended a traditional water puppet performance at Thang Long Theatre in Hanoi, joining Vietnam's First Lady. The afternoon included tea, backstage visits, and a rare glimpse into Vietnam's thousand-year-old art form.
Dong Ho Painting: Vietnam's Folk Woodcut Tradition
Dong Ho paintings are hand-printed woodcuts from Bac Ninh Province, made on special seashell paper with natural pigments. Created for Tet since the 11th century, they depict good-luck symbols, folk tales, and social satire—and you can watch artisans make them today.
Bat Trang Pottery: 600 Years of Vietnamese Ceramic Craft
Bat Trang, a village just outside Hanoi, has been producing ceramics for over 600 years. Today it's home to over 200 workshops where you can watch artisans throw clay, fire kilns, and paint intricate designs—and try it yourself.