A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hoi An vs. Datong for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Hoi An or Datong?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Hoi An and Datong. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Hoi An or Datong?

Hoi An

Located just south of the city of Da Nang, Hoi An is famous for it's beautiful old town. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unfortunately, since its designation as a World Heritage Site in 1999, mass tourism has grown and the city has felt the growing pains. Most of the homes and shops in the old town are now used for commercial purposes. The city is still quaint, but the old town is lined with tailor shops, souvenir stores, and restaurants. Foreigners are required to purchase a ticket to enter the old town of Hoi An (120,000 VND, about $5).

Datong

If you're looking for an old world city, with a renovated feel, you might want to spend some time in Datong, China. This city was once walled-in and the newest initiative is to rebuild their great wall to maintain their old world charm. Datong is definitely done a lot to make itself a contender in the world of vacation destinations.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Vietnam, The Best Historical Tours in Vietnam, The Best Cultural Tours in China, and The Best Luxury Tours to China.


Which place is cheaper, Datong or Hoi An?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Hoi An is $51, while the average daily cost in Datong is $71. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Hoi An and Datong in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hoi An $20
    Datong $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hoi An $40
    Datong $46
Compare Hotels in Hoi An and Datong

Looking for a hotel in Hoi An or Datong? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Hoi An


Hotels in Datong


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Hoi An Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Hoi An $18
    Datong $13
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hoi An

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Hoi An are as follows:


  • Taxi From Danang to Hoi An
    $8.34
  • Bus From Hoi An Bus Station to Town
    $0.57

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hoi An

Also for Hoi An, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Hue Private Car with Driver for Customizable Trip & Transfer: $7.09

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Datong

Also for Datong, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer from Datong Railway Stations to Hotels in City Center: $35
  • Private Transfer Service from Yungang Airport to Datong Hotel: $29
  • Private Round-Trip Transfer Service to Hanging Temple and Hengshan from Datong: $118
  • Private One Way Transfer from Datong to Beijing : $211
  • From 4-Day Private Tour to Pingyao with Transfer: $988
  • Dunhuang Private Round Trip Transfer to Jiayuguan and Xuanbi Great Wall : $100
  • Transfer or Tour to Yungang Grottoes&Hanging Temple: $102
  • Datong Yungang Airport Chauffeur Service , to Datong Transfer: $12
  • Datong Hanging Temple Private Transfer from Hotel or Station: $69

Is it cheaper to fly into Hoi An or Datong?

Prices for flights to both Datong and Hoi An change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Hoi An $16
    Datong $35
Typical Food Prices in Hoi An

For Hoi An, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Dinner at Bamboo Village (for Two)
    $13
  • Casual Lunch (for Two)
    $3.79
  • Casual Dinner (for Two)
    $7.58

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hoi An $12
    Datong $25
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hoi An

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Hoi An's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Golf (for Two)
    $140
  • Short Boat Ride
    $1.52

Tours and Activities in Hoi An

For Hoi An, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Cruiseship Tour to MY SON HOLYLAND - DA NANG CITY From Chan May or Tien Sa Port: $179
  • Cruiseship Trip from TIEN SA or CHAN MAY Port to MY SON HOLYLAND & DA NANG City: $154
  • Cruiseship Trip from TIEN SA or CHAN MAY Port to MY SON HOLYLAND & HOI AN City: $154
  • Cruiseship Trip to GOLDEN BRIDGE & MY SON SANCTUARY from CHAN MAY orTIEN SA Port: $189
  • Cruiseship Trip to My Son Sanctuary & GOLDEN BRIDGE from TIEN SA orCHAN MAY Port: $200
  • Hoi An Experience 3 Hours Wood Carving Class with Local Artist: $47
  • Hue : Shuttle bus from Hue to Hoi An and sightseeing: $16
  • Hue-Da Nang-Hoi An Bus Tour with English Guide & Sightseeing: $22
  • Hue: Half-Day Tour with Optional Dragon Boat Perfume River: $28
  • My Son - Danang from Tien Sa cruise harbor: $150
  • My Son - Danang from Tien Sa cruise harbor: $180
  • My Son - Hoi An Full Day Private Tour With Meals: $75

Tours and Activities in Datong

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Datong.

  • 1 Day Datong Yungang Grottoes & Hanging Temple Tour/from Beijing: $275
  • 1-Day Pingyao tour from Datong and ends of Beijing or Xi'an by Bullet Train: $267
  • 2-Day Private Datong Tour:Hanging Temple, Yugang Grottoes,Wooden Pagoda and More: $298
  • 4-8 hours Private Datong Great Wall Tour: $99
  • All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Hanging Temple at Hengshan from Datong : $188
  • All-Inclusive Private Day Tour to Wooden Pagoda and Hanging Temple from Datong: $220
  • All-Inclusive Private Tour to Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple from Datong: $220
  • Datong Classic Day Tour: $208
  • Datong Day Tour to Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple: $203
  • Datong Hanging Temple Wooden Pagoda Self-guided Tour by Car: $95
  • Datong Private Day Tour to Deshengbu and Zhenchuankou Great Wall with Lunch: $190
  • Datong Private Day Tour to Yanmenguan Great Wall and Yingxian Wooden Pagoda: $258

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Hoi An $8.59
    Datong $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Hoi An

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Hoi An are as follows:


  • Bottle of Wine
    $9.10


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hoi An and Datong, we can see that Datong is more expensive. And not only is Hoi An much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hoi An would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hoi An and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Datong would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Datong than you might in Hoi An.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hoi An Expensive? and Is Datong Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Hoi An or Datong?

Datong has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Hoi An. When comparing the sizes of Hoi An and Datong, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.