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Inclusivity, Tolerance & LGBTQ+ Scene in Hoi An

Same-sex marriage
Not recognized

Updated July 2026

Good to know

Good to Know

  • Hoi An itself has no distinct 'LGBTQ+ neighborhood' — the scene centers on a couple of small, dedicated bars near the Old Town rather than a nightlife district.
  • Same-sex sexual activity is legal throughout Vietnam and has never been criminalized, but same-sex marriage and civil unions are not legally recognized, so couples have no formal legal protections.
  • Public attitudes are generally tolerant especially among younger Vietnamese, but overt public displays of affection (for any couple) are culturally more reserved outside of dedicated venues.
  • Vietnam has no nationwide anti-discrimination law covering sexual orientation or gender identity, so protections in practice can be inconsistent.
  • Hoi An does not host its own named Pride festival — LGBTQ+ travelers looking for organized Pride events will need to time a trip to coincide with Hanoi Pride or VietPride events in Ho Chi Minh City/Da Nang instead.
  • There is no dedicated lesbian, queer-women, or non-binary-specific venue or recurring night in Hoi An; Living Colors LGBTQ+ Bar is the closest thing to a queer social hub and multiple reviewers report feeling welcomed there as women, but it's a general LGBTQ+ space rather than a women-focused one.
  • Vietnam is broadly considered one of the more LGBTQ+ friendly countries in Asia for tourists, and same-sex sexual activity has never been criminalized, which contributes to a generally relaxed, low-drama atmosphere in Hoi An even without dedicated infrastructure.

National Legal Status

Same Sex Activity
Legal never criminalized
Same Sex Marriage
Not recognized
Gender Change On Documents
Legal but procedure incomplete
Anti Discrimination Protections
limited

Details

  • Both female and male forms of same-sex sexual activity between consenting adults are legal and never have been criminalized in Vietnamese history; however, same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are ineligible for the legal protections available to heterosexual couples.
  • Vietnam does not recognize same-sex marriages, civil unions, domestic partnerships or any other form of recognition for same-sex couples.
  • The right to change gender was officially legalized in Vietnam after the National Assembly passed an amendment to the Civil Code in 2015.
  • In 2013, the government announced it would no longer fine people who carry out public same-sex wedding ceremonies; however, these unions have no legal recognition, and as such same-sex couples are unable to access the legal rights and benefits of marriage.

Recent Developments

  • A proposed Gender Affirmation Law was expected to be voted on but the Standing Committee of the National Assembly announced the removal of the bill from its 8th plenary session in September 2024, and the bill is now delayed indefinitely.
  • In 2022, the Vietnam Health Ministry officially confirmed that same-sex attraction and being transgender are not mental health conditions, bringing Vietnam's health policy in line with global health and human rights standards.
  • Polling suggests a majority of Vietnamese support legal recognition of same-sex marriage, with a 2023 Pew Research Center poll showing 65% of respondents in favor.

Social Climate Local Hoian

Summary
Vietnam is broadly considered one of the more socially tolerant countries in Southeast Asia for LGBTQ+ people, though this coexists with conservative Confucian-influenced family attitudes and no formal legal protection from discrimination.
Hoian Specific Note
Hoi An is a small, tourism-driven riverside town rather than a nightlife hub like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, so there are no specific LGBTQ+ neighborhoods here; however, there are a small number of dedicated, well-regarded LGBTQ+ owned or LGBTQ+ friendly bars that anchor the scene, drawing a mixed crowd of locals, expats, and travelers.

Details

  • Traditional cultural beliefs, particularly influenced by Confucian values, still shape societal attitudes towards LGBTQ+ individuals, leading to discrimination and stigma.
  • Society is becoming more tolerant; however, LGBT community members are still judged with a high rate of discrimination, and acceptance significantly varies between regions and different age groups.
  • Factual misunderstandings and negative stereotypes help fuel human rights abuses against LGBT people in Vietnam, and the false belief that same-sex attraction is a diagnosable mental health condition remains pervasive.

Named Venues

  • Living Colors LGBTQ+ Bar Hoi An
    Type
    LGBTQ+ bar
    Address
    78 Ba Trieu, Hoi An
    Notable Features
    Hosts drag shows and drag bingo nights, and guests report being greeted by name on repeat visits, creating a strong community feel.
    Description
    A dedicated LGBTQ+ bar in central Hoi An run by owners Duc (Dave) and Guillaume, known for an extensive cocktail menu and an inclusive, welcoming atmosphere for all.
  • WOOP WOOP Bar & Food
    Type
    gay-owned bar with garden
    Address
    About a 5-minute walk from the Old Town, down a lane off street #114
    Notable Features
    Casual garden setting good for meeting other travelers and locals; often described by visitors as a highlight of their stay in Hoi An.
    Description
    A gay-owned, gay-managed, LGBT friendly bar with a bar area and large garden, popular with both local LGBTQ+ residents and travelers.

Best Gay Bars

  • Living Colors LGBTQ+ Bar
    Vibe
    Hoi An's dedicated LGBTQ+ owned cocktail bar, run by owners Duc and Guillaume. Reviewers describe it as a welcoming, inclusive space with a strong sense of community, quality cocktails, and regular weekend drag bingo and drag show events.
    Neighborhood
    Ba Trieu Street, Cam Pho ward (central Hoi An, near the Ancient Town)
  • Woop Woop Bar
    Vibe
    Not an exclusively gay venue, but repeatedly singled out by reviewers as the most welcoming spot for LGBTQ+ travelers in Hoi An. Small, laid-back, dog-friendly bar run by an Australian-Vietnamese owner duo, popular with expats and travelers who swap tips over drinks.
    Neighborhood
    A quiet residential side-street a short ride from the Ancient Town center

Named Annual LGBTQ Events

In Hoi An
No dedicated, named annual LGBTQ+ Pride festival or parade takes place in Hoi An itself. The town is small and its queer scene centers on a handful of venues rather than organized public events.

Nearest Regional Events

  • Hanoi Pride
    Location
    Hanoi (not Hoi An)
    Description
    Hanoi Pride is an annual series of events which celebrates lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+) life in Hanoi, Vietnam, first held in 2012 and celebrated annually since, with in-person celebrations resuming in 2022 after pandemic-era online editions.
  • VietPride / Viet Pride
    Location
    Multiple cities including Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and dozens of other provinces (not Hoi An specifically)
    Description
    Vietnam's first annual gay pride parade took place in Hanoi on 5 August 2012, and by 2017 pride parades were held in around 34 other cities and provinces, with the event organized by the Vietnamese LGBTQ+ community and supporting friends and family.

Women And Nonbinary Specific Spaces

Regional Comparison
Nearby Da Nang and the larger cities (Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi) have more developed scenes; Ho Chi Minh City's queer nightlife includes at least one recurring party geared specifically toward a lesbian audience (a party called Gái Nhảy, meaning 'dancing girls'), but this is run in HCMC, not Hoi An.
Dedicated Venues In Hoi An
No venue in Hoi An is marketed specifically as a lesbian bar, queer-women's night, or non-binary-specific space. The town's one openly LGBTQ+ branded venue is general/mixed rather than women-focused.

Closest Available Option

Location
78 Ba Trieu, Hoi An
Venue Name
Living Colors LGBTQ+ Bar
Notes
Living Colors is Hoi An's LGBTQ+ bar, and reviewers specifically note that although attending gay bars can sometimes feel less comfortable as a lesbian, they felt very welcomed and celebrated there. The bar also hosts occasional drag bingo and drag shows on weekend nights, which are mixed-audience but LGBTQ+ affirming events rather than women-only nights.

Commercial Cruising Venues

Nearby Hub Checked
Yes
Note
No documented licensed gay sauna/bathhouse or adult cinema exists in Hoi An; LGBTQ+ travel guides confirm the town has no specific queer venues, with Vietnam's gay sauna/bathhouse scene concentrated in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Danang instead.

Nearby Hub

City
Da Nang
How to get there
drive
Country
Vietnam
Travel time
0.5 hours
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026

This section has no cited sources.

More About Hoi An

Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.