Routes & Day Trips
Hoi An to An Bang Beach: How to Get There & Which Ride to Choose
Quick answer
Hoi An to An Bang Beach is about 4 km (2.5 mi) — head north on Hai Ba Trung Street and you are at the sea in under 15 minutes.
The ride from Hoi An to An Bang Beach is one of the shortest — and prettiest — trips in Central Vietnam. It is barely 4 km from the lantern-lit edge of Hoi An Ancient Town to the open sea, yet the road slips past rice paddies, herb gardens and quiet village lanes on the way. Most travellers cover it in 10–15 minutes on a scooter, or 20–30 relaxed minutes by bicycle.
So the real question is not how far — it is which ride suits you. This guide compares every option: motorbike, 50cc scooter, electric motorbike, bicycle, taxi and Grab — with 2026 prices, the exact route, parking tips and the licence rules that actually apply to foreigners.
How Far Is An Bang Beach from Hoi An Old Town?
Measured from the Japanese Covered Bridge, the distance from Hoi An to An Bang Beach is roughly 4 kilometres (about 2.5 miles). There are no hills, no highway and no complicated junctions — it is a flat, well-paved, mostly straight run north on Hai Ba Trung Street. That makes it one of the most beginner-friendly rides in Vietnam, and a sensible first trip if you have never ridden a scooter before.
The Route, Step by Step
- 0.0 km · Hoi An Ancient TownStart near the Japanese Covered Bridge or Cua Dai Street. Pick up Hai Ba Trung Street and head north, away from the river.
- 1.5 km · Leaving the tourist streetsTraffic thins out fast. Cafes and tailor shops give way to low houses and open sky.
- 2.5 km · Rice paddies & Tra Que turn-offThe green stretch everyone photographs. A right turn here loops through Tra Que Vegetable Village — adds roughly 10 minutes and is worth it.
- 3.5 km · An Bang village lanesNarrow lanes, seafood restaurants, surf shops. Slow down — children and dogs use this road too.
- 4.0 km · An Bang Beach car parkThe road ends at the beach. Park, pay 5,000–10,000₫, walk 30 seconds to the sand.
You genuinely cannot get lost. If you would rather not think about it at all, type “An Bang Beach” into Google Maps and follow the blue line — but honestly, the road is signposted and Hai Ba Trung runs almost straight to the sand.
Every Way to Get from Hoi An to An Bang Beach, Compared
Six realistic options, with real prices from our own rental fleet and current local taxi rates. Costs are per day for rentals, and one way for taxis.
| Ride | Time | Typical cost | Licence? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scooter 110–125ccMost popular | 10–12 min | from 180,000₫ / day | Yes | Beach days plus Da Nang & My Son trips |
| 50cc scooterNo licence | 12–15 min | from 200,000₫ / day | No | Riders without a motorbike licence |
| Electric motorbike | 12–15 min | from 150,000₫ / day | No | Quiet, fuel-free, eco-conscious rides |
| Electric bicycle | 15–20 min | from 100,000₫ / day | No | Cycling feel without the sweat |
| Bicycle | 20–30 min | from 50,000₫ / day | No | Slow travel, early mornings, sunset |
| Taxi / Grab car | ~10 min | 80,000–100,000₫ one way | No | Rain, luggage, families with toddlers |
| GrabBike / xe om | ~10 min | 30,000–50,000₫ one way | No | Solo, one-off trip, no parking hassle |
The maths most people miss: a return taxi costs about 160,000–200,000₫ — roughly the same as renting a scooter for a whole day. If you plan to visit the beach more than once, or want to see Tra Que, Cua Dai or Da Nang too, renting is almost always cheaper.
Motorbike or 50cc Scooter — Fast and Flexible
If you value convenience and freedom, a motorbike rental in Hoi An is still the option most travellers pick. Twelve minutes each way means the beach stops being a day trip and becomes something you can do before breakfast, or after your tailor fitting, or twice in one day.
With a scooter you can:
- Carry beach bags, towels and a surfboard rack easily
- Ride two-up with a passenger
- Stop whenever you want — coffee, rice fields, photos, banh mi
- Continue on to Cua Dai Beach, Tra Que or Da Nang the same day
No licence? Take the 50cc
A 50cc scooter is the honest answer for anyone without a motorbike licence. Under Vietnamese law, vehicles under 50cc can be ridden by anyone aged 16 or over with no licence at all — and for a 4 km flat run to An Bang, you will never miss the extra power. They are light, low, and forgiving in traffic.
For 110cc and above — a Honda Vision, Air Blade or Yamaha NVX — you legally need a licence. More on exactly what counts below.
Electric Motorbike — Quiet, Smooth and Eco-Friendly
Electric motorbikes have quietly taken over Hoi An, and this route is exactly where they shine. No engine noise, no petrol smell, no gear changes — just the sound of the wind and, once you clear the town, actual birds.
Range anxiety is a non-issue here. An electric bike like the VinFast covers 60–80 km on a charge; the beach round trip is 8. You could ride to An Bang and back four times over and still have battery left for dinner in the Old Town.
- No licence required — same rules as a 50cc
- No fuel stops, no petrol cost
- Genuinely pleasant at 6am and 5pm, the two best hours to ride here
Bicycle or E-Bike — Slow Travel at Its Best
Hoi An built its reputation on slow travel, and cycling is the purest version of it. On a bicycle the trip from Hoi An to An Bang Beach takes 20–30 minutes — and those minutes are the point, not the cost.
Riding through the paddies you get things a scooter goes too fast to notice: farmers in conical hats working Tra Que’s herb beds, water buffalo, kids cycling home from school, the smell of the sea arriving about a kilometre before you see it.
Two honest warnings. Between roughly 11am and 3pm from April to August, this ride is hot — there is almost no shade on the paddy stretch. And a standard city bike with a basket is fine, but the wind coming off the coast in the afternoon is real.
That is exactly what an electric pedal-assist bicycle solves. You still pedal, you still glide past the rice fields at cycling speed — you just arrive without needing a second shower.
Taxi, Grab and Xe Om — When You Would Rather Not Ride
Not everyone wants to drive, and that is completely fine. Hoi An to An Bang Beach is a cheap, easy taxi ride.
- Grab car — around 80,000–100,000₫ one way. Air conditioned, fixed price in the app, no haggling.
- GrabBike — around 30,000–40,000₫. A scooter taxi. Fastest and cheapest if you are alone.
- Xe om — the traditional version, 30,000–50,000₫. Agree the price before you sit down.
The catch: getting back. An Bang has fewer drivers waiting than the Old Town, especially after dark, and the app can take a while at sunset when everyone leaves at once. Either book your return in advance or accept a short wait at the beach bar — which, to be fair, is not the worst place to be stuck.
Do You Need a Licence to Ride to An Bang Beach?
This is where a lot of travel blogs are vague, so here it is plainly. The rules do not change because the trip is short — a 4 km ride is legally identical to a 400 km one.
| Vehicle | What you legally need |
|---|---|
| Under 50cc & most e-bikes | No licence. Age 16+. Helmet required. |
| 50–175cc (Vision, Air Blade, NVX) | A valid motorbike licence, or your home licence plus a 1968 Vienna Convention IDP. |
| Bicycle | Nothing. Helmet recommended anyway. |
The IDP trap nobody tells you about. Vietnam recognises International Driving Permits issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention only. IDPs issued under the older 1949 Geneva Convention — which is what the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Singapore typically issue — are not officially accepted. Check which one yours is before you assume you are covered. If in doubt, a 50cc or electric bike keeps you 100% legal with zero paperwork.
Why it matters beyond a fine: riding without a licence your insurer recognises can void your travel insurance entirely — including medical cover. That is the real risk, not the traffic police. You can confirm the current position with your own government; the Australian Embassy in Hanoi publishes a clear summary that applies broadly to most nationalities.
Whatever you ride: wear the helmet. It is legally required for every motorbike and e-bike rider and passenger in Vietnam, and every bike from Anh Khoa comes with helmets included free. If you want extra peace of mind, see our motorbike insurance options.
Parking at An Bang Beach
The road ends in a car park a few steps from the sand. Attended parking costs 5,000–10,000₫ for a bicycle or motorbike — you get a numbered ticket, keep it, you need it to collect the bike.
One local shortcut: if you are eating or drinking at one of the beachfront restaurants, most of them let you park free. Ask before you pay elsewhere. And take your valuables with you — not because An Bang is unsafe, but because the seat compartment of a rented scooter is not a safe.
The Best Time of Day to Ride
- 6:00–8:00am — the local favourite. Cool, empty roads, mist over the paddies, and An Bang at its calmest. Best light for photos by a distance.
- 11:00am–3:00pm — hottest and brightest. Fine on a motorbike, punishing on a bicycle in summer.
- 4:00–6:00pm — golden hour, swimming weather, beach bars filling up. The ride back at dusk is the one people remember.
- After dark — the road is quiet but poorly lit in places and a few stretches have no street lighting. Ride slower than you think you need to.
Rainy season note: October to December brings heavy afternoon downpours and parts of the route between the paddies can flood briefly. It usually clears within an hour. If the water is over the footpegs, turn around — that is the local rule, and it is a good one.
Which Ride Should You Choose?
There is no wrong answer here — only the journey you want to feel today.
You want the beach today, Da Nang tomorrow, My Son the day after. One vehicle, whole region.
Scooters 110–160cc →You never got a motorbike licence, or your IDP is the wrong convention. Still want to ride.
50cc & e-bikes →No noise, no petrol, no smell. Just you, the paddies and the sea breeze.
Electric motorbike →You are not in a hurry. The rice fields are the destination, the beach is a bonus.
Bicycles & e-bikes →
Bikes Rental
Hoi An to An Bang Beach: FAQ
How far is An Bang Beach from Hoi An Old Town?
About 4 km (2.5 miles), straight north on Hai Ba Trung Street. That is 10–15 minutes by motorbike, 20–30 minutes by bicycle, or roughly 10 minutes by taxi.
What is the best way to get from Hoi An to An Bang Beach?
For most travellers, a rented scooter or electric bike — it is the cheapest option if you go more than once, and it lets you continue to Tra Que, Cua Dai or Da Nang. Choose a bicycle if you want the rice-paddy scenery slowly, or a Grab car if it is raining or you have small children.
Can I cycle from Hoi An to An Bang Beach?
Easily. The route is flat, paved and roughly 20–30 minutes each way. Go early morning or late afternoon — there is very little shade on the paddy section, and midday between April and August is genuinely tough. An electric pedal-assist bike is a good middle ground.
How much is a taxi from Hoi An to An Bang Beach?
Around 80,000–100,000₫ one way for a Grab car or metered taxi, and 30,000–50,000₫ for a GrabBike or xe om. A return car trip costs about the same as renting a scooter for the entire day.
Do I need a licence to ride a scooter to An Bang Beach?
For anything under 50cc or an electric bike, no licence is required (age 16+). For 110cc and above you need a valid motorbike licence, or your home licence plus a 1968 Vienna Convention IDP — note that 1949 Geneva Convention IDPs, common in the US, Australia and Japan, are not officially recognised in Vietnam.
Where do I park at An Bang Beach?
There is an attended car park where the road meets the sand. It costs 5,000–10,000₫ and you get a numbered ticket you will need to collect your bike. Most beachfront restaurants let customers park free.
Is it safe to ride from Hoi An to An Bang Beach?
It is one of the calmest routes in Vietnam — flat, slow-moving, no highway, no hills. That said, ride defensively, always wear your helmet, watch for children and dogs in the An Bang village lanes, and take extra care after dark as several stretches have no street lighting.
Rent Your Ride in Hoi An
Anh Khoa is Hoi An’s largest rental fleet — 300+ well-maintained motorbikes, electric bikes, e-bicycles and bicycles, all a few minutes from the Old Town. Whatever you choose for the run out to An Bang, we deliver it to your hotel door.
Free helmets, 24/7 WhatsApp support, free swap if anything goes wrong, and hotel delivery from 30,000₫. Transparent prices, no hidden fees.
Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice · 3 branches in Hoi An · Open 7:00–21:00 daily
Planning more than the beach? See our Routes & Day Trips guides, check the delivery fees, or read the full rental FAQs before you book.
Ride slowly. Feel the breeze. The 4 kilometres from Hoi An to An Bang Beach are short enough that the journey really can matter as much as the destination — if you pick the right ride.
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