An Bang Beach is Hoi An’s favorite stretch of sand: about 4 km from the Old Town, lined with thatched umbrellas, beach cafés and seafood restaurants, and still relaxed enough to find a quiet spot on most days.
We’re the family behind Nam Gia Seafood Restaurant at Lot 2, An Bang Beach, and we’ve been cooking seafood on this beach since 2000. This is what we tell our own friends before they visit – how to get here, when to come, what the sunset really looks like and how to order seafood without surprises.
An Bang Beach at a glance
- Distance: about 4 km from Hoi An Old Town and about 30 km from Da Nang International Airport.
- Getting there: around 10 minutes by Grab or taxi, or 20 minutes by bicycle.
- Best months for swimming: roughly April to August, when the sea is usually calm.
- Best time of day: early morning, or from about 4 pm into the evening.
- Seafood dinner budget: live seafood is priced by weight; at Nam Gia most guests spend around 500,000–800,000 VND (roughly US$20–30) per person.
How to get to An Bang Beach
From Hoi An Old Town
Head north along Hai Ba Trung street – the road runs almost straight to the beach, past rice fields and the turn-off to Tra Que vegetable village. Grab (car or motorbike) is the easiest option and takes about 10 minutes. Many hotels lend bicycles for free; the flat 20-minute ride is lovely in the morning or late afternoon, when it’s cooler.
From Da Nang
From Da Nang city or the airport, a Grab or taxi along the coastal road takes about 40–45 minutes. On a day trip it’s easy to have lunch on the beach and then head into the Old Town for the lantern-lit evening – or the other way round.
Parking
Small paid car parks line the lanes leading down to the sand, for bicycles, motorbikes and cars. Keep a few small notes handy for the fee.
When to visit
Central Vietnam has two main seasons. From about February to August the weather is mostly dry and sunny, and from April to August the sea is usually calm enough for a proper swim. From September to December the rainy season brings storms, strong currents and big waves – the beach is still lovely for a walk and a long lunch, but check the flags and never swim when the red flag is up.
Whatever the month, the middle of the day is hot and bright. Locals swim early in the morning and come back from about 4 pm, when the light turns golden and the sea breeze picks up.
Sunset at An Bang Beach: what to expect
Here’s something many guides leave out: An Bang faces east, so the sun rises over the sea and sets behind the land. You won’t watch it sink into the water – but the hour before sunset is still the most beautiful time on the beach. The sand and the waves glow gold, the sky over the sea turns pink and lavender, and the fishing boats on the horizon slowly turn into silhouettes.
- Sunset is around 5:15–5:30 pm in November and December and about 6:15 pm in June. Arrive an hour earlier for the best light.
- To see the sun itself over the water, come for sunrise – between about 5:15 am in early summer and 6:15 am in January.
- On the ride back to town, stop by the rice fields beside the road – they catch the last colors of the sky.
Where to eat at An Bang Beach
The beachfront has everything from casual cafés serving smoothies and Western breakfasts to beach bars and family-run Vietnamese seafood restaurants. For lunch and dinner most visitors come for the seafood – and that’s where a little local knowledge helps.
How to order live seafood (and pay a fair price)
- Look for live tanks. Fresh seafood here means swimming seafood: prawns, crabs, lobster, fish, squid and shellfish kept alive in saltwater tanks until you order.
- Ask the price per kilo first. Live seafood is sold by weight, and prices change with the season and the day’s catch.
- Watch it being weighed. A good restaurant weighs your choice in front of you before it goes to the kitchen, so you know exactly what you’ll pay.
- Choose how it’s cooked. Grilled with garlic butter, steamed, grilled with scallion oil or tossed with salt and chili – ask the staff what suits each kind of seafood best.
Dishes worth trying
- Grilled lobster with garlic butter – the special-occasion dish.
- Grilled grouper in banana leaf – smoky, tender and made for sharing.
- Grilled pen shell with scallion oil – a large local shellfish topped with spring onions and roasted peanuts.
- Grilled black tiger prawns – simple, sweet and perfect with a cold drink.
- Steamed baby squid – tender and best dipped in salt, pepper and lime.
- Grilled oysters and scallops with scallion oil – a favorite starter.
With a group? A seafood platter lets you try lobster, prawns, oysters, squid and fried rice in one go, without choosing each item from the tanks.
Eating with us at Nam Gia
If you’d like to try all of this in one place, we’d love to have you. Nam Gia is a family-run seafood restaurant right on the sand at Lot 2, An Bang Beach. You pick your seafood from our tanks, we weigh it in front of you, and our chefs cook it the way you like.
- A covered terrace facing the sea – shaded at lunch, breezy at dinner.
- Menus in English, Korean and Chinese, and English-speaking staff (see the menu).
- Only a handful of front-row tables right by the sand – book ahead if you want one, especially for the golden hour.
- Open every day for lunch and dinner.
Prefer to message first? Send us a note on WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. When you arrive, look for the blue Năm Giã sign.
Local tips for a great beach day
- Sunbeds and umbrellas in front of a restaurant usually belong to it. They’re often free if you order food or drinks – just ask first.
- Bring sunscreen, a hat and water; the sun is strong even on cloudy days.
- Swim near the lifeguards and never when the red flag is flying. Currents can be strong, especially from September to December.
- Carry some small cash notes for parking and drinks.
- Grab works well for the ride back to town in the evening.
- At weekends and on holidays, book dinner ahead – front-row tables go first.
An Bang Beach FAQ
How far is An Bang Beach from Hoi An Old Town?
About 4 km – roughly 10 minutes by Grab or taxi, or 20 minutes by bicycle.
Can you see the sunset at An Bang Beach?
The sun sets behind the land rather than over the sea, but the hour before sunset is the prettiest time on the beach, with golden light and a pink sky over the water. For the sun over the sea, come at sunrise.
Is An Bang Beach good for swimming?
Yes – especially from April to August, when the sea is usually calm. From September to December waves and currents can be strong, so follow the flags and the lifeguards’ advice.
How much does a seafood dinner at An Bang Beach cost?
Live seafood is priced by weight, so it depends on what you choose. At Nam Gia most guests spend around 500,000–800,000 VND per person. Ask for the price per kilo and watch your seafood being weighed before it’s cooked.
See you on the beach!
– The Nam Gia family
