Good to know
Good to Know
- Hoi An's expat population is diverse and family-oriented; unusually high number of expat families with children compared to other Southeast Asian cities.
- The town has evolved rapidly as a digital nomad destination with dedicated infrastructure (Hub Hoi An coworking space), though it maintains a slower, more lifestyle-focused vibe than Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City.
- Most expats live outside the UNESCO Ancient Town due to flooding risk during the September-November wet season; higher-elevation areas like Cam Chau District are preferred.
- English is widely spoken among expat community and tourism sector, but basic Vietnamese useful for local interactions and business.
- Working legally as an expat requires a work permit; however, many remote workers operate on tourist visas (technically not legal, but enforcement is typically lenient for short-stay digital nomads).
Median Age
32
Expat Community
- Key Nationalities
- Primarily Australian, British, and European residents; significant representation from English-speaking countries
- Primary Motivation
- Tourism-driven economy; digital nomad hub; affordable cost of living; lifestyle choice for families
- Growth Characteristics
- Both permanent residents and seasonal migrants; many expat families with children
- Foreign Born Population Growth
- Expanded from less than 50 residents to more than 1,000 over the past decade
Population Note
2025 estimate; population of Hoi An city district-level municipality
Age Distribution
- Ages 0 14 Percent
- 19
- Ages 15 64 Percent
- 72
- Ages 65 Plus Percent
- 9
Total Population
121742
Ethnic Composition
Kinh (Vietnamese)
- Description
- Majority ethnic group
Hoa (Chinese-Vietnamese)
- Description
- Notable historical community with continued presence
Other Minorities
- Description
- Small populations of indigenous and other ethnic groups
Migration Patterns
- Internal Migration Rate Annual
- Approximately 1.5%
- Primary Sources
- Rural migration from nearby areas; seasonal workers for hospitality sector; international tourists and digital nomads
- Seasonal Fluctuations
- Population varies significantly during peak tourism months; seasonal influx from October-November flooding risk avoidance
Gender Distribution
- Male Percent
- 48
- Female Percent
- 52
Literacy Rate Percent
98
Business And Tech Presence
- Business Ecosystem
- Tourism-focused with growing digital nomad and entrepreneur presence; limited formal tech startup scene compared to larger cities (Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi)
- Digital Nomad Community
- Growing seasonal community; known for attracting slower-paced remote workers and creative professionals; smaller but active networking scene with Facebook groups and meetup events
- Expat Business Activity
- Boutique hotels, art galleries, cafes, design studios, restaurants, English language schools; growing number of online entrepreneurs and digital nomads
- Coworking Infrastructure
- Hub Hoi An is the primary dedicated coworking space; attracts remote workers and slow-living nomads
Economic Drivers
- Tourism and hospitality
- Crafts and traditional arts
- Textile and tailoring industry
- Creative industries
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this local demographics research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Hoi An
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.