An Bang Beach Hoi An 2026: Swimming, Beach Bars & Tips

An Bang Beach (Bãi biển An Bàng) is Hoi An’s best-known beach: a sandy shore on the East Sea about 4 km north of the Ancient Town, lined with casual beach bars, seafood restaurants and homestays. Access to the sand is free; you only pay for parking, sunbeds or food. Most visitors cycle or take a 10–15-minute taxi from the old town.

Status (checked October 2026): open as normal and free to enter, but storms in late 2025 eroded parts of the Hoi An coast, including An Bang, so some stretches of sand are narrower than in older photos. From October to December the sea is often rough and red flags are common; swim only near lifeguard posts and when flags allow.

Why An Bang Beach is worth seeing:

Closest beach to the old town: about 4 km from the Ancient Town, easy by bicycle, scooter or Grab.
Relaxed beach-bar scene: many bars and restaurants lend sunbeds to customers, so a drink or lunch buys you a shaded spot.
Fresh seafood: grilled fish, squid, clams and prawns cooked to order, a few steps from the sand.
Fishing-village character: round basket boats (thúng chai) still rest on the sand at the quieter ends of the beach.
Easy to combine: swim in the morning and be back for lanterns in Hoi An Ancient Town by sunset.

An Bang Beach at a Glance

Vietnamese name	Bãi biển An Bàng
Location	Hoi An Tay Ward (formerly Cam An Ward), Da Nang city; the former Quang Nam province merged into Da Nang on 1 July 2025
Distance	About 4 km north of Hoi An Ancient Town; about 30 km south of central Da Nang
Known for	Beach bars, seafood restaurants, free public sand, laid-back atmosphere
Opening hours	Public beach, open all day; lifeguards and most beach bars operate in daytime
Entrance fee	Free; parking roughly 5,000–20,000 VND; sunbeds usually free with food or drinks, or rented
Time needed	Half a day (2–4 hours)
Best time	April to August for calm sea; early morning or late afternoon to avoid the midday sun
Nearby	Cua Dai Beach, Tra Que Vegetable Village, Hoi An Ancient Town
Find it	Google Maps · Tripadvisor

Is An Bang Beach Worth Visiting?

Yes, if you want a beach break during a Hoi An stay. An Bang is not a remote, empty beach, but it is the most convenient and atmospheric one near the old town, with good food and easy transport. Check sea conditions in the rainy season, when swimming can be unsafe.

Best for: couples, families and anyone staying in Hoi An who wants a few hours of sun, sea and seafood.
Skip if: you are visiting from October to December mainly to swim, or you want an untouched island beach (go to the Cham Islands in season instead).
Short on time: come for a late-afternoon swim and an early seafood dinner, then return to the old town for the lanterns.

About An Bang Beach

An Bang began as a fishing hamlet of Cam An, on the sandy coast north-east of Hoi An. As tourism in Hoi An grew in the 2000s and 2010s, small family restaurants and then foreign-run beach bars opened along the sand, and the village became the town’s favourite place for a swim.

Under Vietnam’s 2025 administrative reform, the city of Hoi An was dissolved and Quang Nam province became part of Da Nang city from 1 July 2025. Cam An Ward, where An Bang lies, was merged with Thanh Ha, Tan An and Cam Ha into the new Hoi An Tay Ward. Signs, maps and booking sites may still show the old names.

Erosion and coastal protection

The Hoi An coastline has suffered serious erosion for more than a decade. High tides and strong waves in late 2025 hit An Bang and the neighbouring Tan Thanh shore, and Da Nang’s civil defence authorities reported nearly 3.5 km of eroded coastline across Hoi An Dong and Hoi An Tay wards. In April 2026 Da Nang ordered an emergency project worth about 498 billion VND (US$18.9 million), including a coastal embankment of nearly 2 km in Hoi An, planned for completion in 2026. Expect sandbags, works or narrower sand in places.

What to See and Do at An Bang Beach

1. Swim in the East Sea

From roughly April to August the sea is usually calm and warm, with a gently sloping sandy bottom. Lifeguard towers and flags mark the main swimming area; currents can be strong outside it.

Umbrellas and sunbeds on An Bang Beach, Hoi An — Beach bars rent sunbeds and umbrellas along the sand. Photo: Mig Gilbert, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

2. Relax at a beach bar

The central part of An Bang is lined with beach bars and restaurants that put out sunbeds and umbrellas. Many let you use a sunbed free if you order food or drinks; others charge a small rental. Ask before you sit down.

3. Eat fresh seafood

Local restaurants display tanks and trays of fish, squid, clams, crab and prawns. Choose, agree the price by weight first, then have it grilled with salt and chilli or steamed with lemongrass. Our Hoi An food guide explains local dishes to try.

4. See basket boats and fishing life

At the quieter northern and southern ends of the beach you may still see round bamboo basket boats and fishermen sorting nets early in the morning, a reminder of the village’s origins.

5. Watch sunrise or a late-afternoon walk

An Bang faces east, so sunrise over the sea is the most photogenic moment, often with fishing boats on the horizon and the outline of the Cham Islands on clear days. Late afternoon brings softer light and locals coming for a swim after work.

6. Cycle through the countryside

The ride from the old town passes rice fields and the vegetable gardens of Tra Que Village, which makes a good stop on the way.

An Bang Beach Costs

Item	Typical cost
Beach access	Free
Bicycle or motorbike parking	About 5,000–20,000 VND (US$0.20–0.80)
Sunbed and umbrella	Often free with a food or drink order; otherwise a small rental fee
Coffee or soft drink at a beach bar	From about 30,000 VND
Seafood meal	Priced by weight; agree before cooking

There is no ticket or management board for An Bang; prices are set by individual parking lots, bars and restaurants and change with the season.

Beach Safety and Etiquette at An Bang

Swim between the flags and near lifeguard towers; never swim when a red flag is flying.
Do not swim after drinking alcohol or alone at night.
Use reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water; the midday sun is strong.
Keep valuables with you or in the car; do not leave phones unattended on the sand.
Take rubbish away with you, and cover up with a shirt or sarong when you walk into the village or a restaurant.

How to Get to An Bang Beach

From	How	Time
Hoi An Ancient Town	Bicycle (most hotels lend them free or cheaply)	About 20 minutes
Hoi An Ancient Town	Grab car or taxi, or Grab bike	10–15 minutes
Hoi An Ancient Town	Rented scooter (only with a valid licence)	About 10 minutes
Da Nang city centre	Car, taxi or Grab via the coastal road	40–50 minutes
Da Nang International Airport	Private transfer or taxi	About 45 minutes

For more options see our guide to getting around Hoi An.

Best Time to Visit An Bang Beach

When	What to expect
February – March	Mild, mostly dry; sea can still be choppy and cool for some swimmers
April – August	Best beach season: hot, sunny and usually calm sea; busiest with domestic tourists in June–August
September	Hot with more showers; sea conditions start to change
October – December	Rainy and storm season; rough waves, frequent red flags and erosion; good for walks, not swimming
January	Cool, cloudy and windy; quiet beach bars
Time of day	Sunrise to 9:00 or after 15:30; avoid the strong midday sun

Read our Hoi An travel tips for month-by-month weather and festival dates.

Local Expert Tips for An Bang Beach

These tips come from years of arranging Hoi An tours for international travellers.

Go early. Between 6:00 and 8:00 the light is soft, the sand is cool and you share the sea with local swimmers.
Pick one beach bar and stay: ordering lunch there usually covers your sunbed for the day.
Agree seafood prices by weight before cooking, and check whether the price is per kilogram or per 100 g.
Use guarded parking with a ticket; it costs very little and avoids problems.
In the rainy season, check local news or ask your hotel about erosion and sea conditions before planning a beach day.
Combine the beach with a cycling or cooking experience at Tra Que on the same morning.

An Bang Beach vs Cua Dai Beach

Feature	An Bang Beach	Cua Dai Beach
Distance from old town	About 4 km north	About 5 km east
Atmosphere	Lively beach bars and restaurants	Quieter, local seafood stalls, resorts
Sand condition	Wider beach, some eroded stretches since late 2025	Long history of severe erosion; narrow in places
Special role	Hoi An’s main swimming beach	Near Cua Dai port and the boat pier for the Cham Islands
Best for	A relaxed beach day with food and drinks	Seafood, sunrise and combining with a Cham Islands trip

Our view: for a classic beach day choose An Bang; visit Cua Dai Beach if you are heading to the islands or want a quieter seafood lunch.

Nearby Attractions

Hoi An Ancient Town: UNESCO-listed trading port, about 4 km away.
Tra Que Vegetable Village: organic herb gardens on the road to the beach.
Cua Dai Beach: the next main beach to the south.
Bay Mau Coconut Forest: basket boat rides in the nipa palm waterways of Cam Thanh.
Hoi An Market: morning market by the Thu Bon River.
My Khe Beach: Da Nang’s long city beach, about 45 minutes north.

Sightseeing in Hoi An for First-Time Visitors: Where An Bang Beach Fits

Two or three days in Hoi An? Spend the first morning in the Ancient Town, seeing the Japanese Covered Bridge and Tan Ky Old House. Keep the second day for My Son Sanctuary at dawn, and then reward yourself with an afternoon at An Bang Beach. Choose a hotel from our where to stay in Hoi An guide; beachfront homestays in An Bang are an option if you prefer sea views to the old town.

Plan your trip with our Hoi An travel guide and Hoi An tours. Contact Vietnam Tour Expert Team for a free custom itinerary.

Frequently Asked Questions about An Bang Beach

1. Where is An Bang Beach?

An Bang Beach is on the East Sea coast about 4 km north of Hoi An Ancient Town, in Hoi An Tay Ward (formerly Cam An Ward), which has been part of Da Nang city since 1 July 2025.

2. Is An Bang Beach free?

Yes. Access to An Bang Beach is free; you only pay for parking, sunbed rental (often free if you order food or drinks) and anything you eat.

3. How far is An Bang Beach from Hoi An Old Town?

An Bang Beach is about 4 km from the Old Town, roughly 20 minutes by bicycle or 10–15 minutes by car or Grab.

4. How do I get to An Bang Beach from Hoi An?

Most visitors cycle to An Bang Beach on a hotel bicycle, take a Grab or taxi, or ride a rented scooter if they hold a valid licence.

5. Can you swim at An Bang Beach?

Yes, swimming at An Bang Beach is good from about April to August when the sea is usually calm; swim near lifeguard towers and never when a red flag is flying.

6. When is the best time to visit An Bang Beach?

The best time for An Bang Beach is April to August, early in the morning or late in the afternoon; October to December brings rough seas and storms.

7. Is An Bang Beach affected by erosion?

Yes. Storms in late 2025 eroded parts of An Bang Beach and the nearby Tan Thanh shore, and Da Nang ordered an emergency coastal embankment in Hoi An in April 2026.

8. Are there lifeguards at An Bang Beach?

Lifeguard towers operate on the main swimming stretch of An Bang Beach in the daytime, especially in the summer season; outside that area you swim at your own risk.

9. How much are sunbeds at An Bang Beach?

Many beach bars at An Bang Beach lend sunbeds free to customers who order food or drinks; others charge a small rental fee, so ask first.

10. Is An Bang Beach good for families?

Yes, An Bang Beach suits families in the calm season thanks to its sandy bottom, shade from beach bars and restaurants close by; keep children in the flagged area.

11. What is there to eat at An Bang Beach?

An Bang Beach has seafood restaurants serving grilled fish, squid, clams and prawns priced by weight, plus beach bars with Vietnamese and Western dishes. See our Hoi An food guide.

12. Can I stay overnight at An Bang Beach?

Yes, the village behind An Bang Beach has homestays, villas and small hotels; compare them with old-town options in our Hoi An accommodation guide.

13. Is An Bang Beach better than Cua Dai Beach?

For a relaxed day with beach bars, An Bang Beach is usually the better choice; Cua Dai Beach is quieter and closer to the boat pier for the Cham Islands.

14. Is An Bang Beach crowded?

An Bang Beach is busiest on summer weekends and Vietnamese holidays; weekday mornings are much quieter.

15. Can I see the Cham Islands from An Bang Beach?

On clear days you can see the outline of the Cham Islands on the horizon from An Bang Beach; boats to the islands leave from Cua Dai, a short drive south.