Visit Hoi An

Located about 30 kilometers south of Da Nang City, Hoi An is Vietnam’s most atmospheric and delightful town. Previously known as a popular trading port in South-East Asia dating from the 15th to the 19th century, the city’s buildings and streets today reflect the influences, both indigenous and foreign, that have contributed to this unique heritage site. Its enchanting riverside setting absolutely befits its heritage; in addition, the curses of traffic and pollution are almost entirely absent here. Hoi An is a living museum of architecture and urban lifestyle.

The city’s fascinating legacy lies in tottering Japanese merchant houses, Chinese pagodas and ancient tea warehouses. Yellow houses draped in bougainvillea, shop fronts lit with a gleam of silk lanterns, fisherman hauling up baskets of slippery fish from their boats – life in old town Hoi An looks like a postcard of a typical Vietnamese riverside town. And yet, residents and rice fields have been gradually taken over by tourist developments. Lounge bars, boutique hotels, travel agents and the rise of tailor shops are very much part of the scene here.

Some of central Vietnam’s most fascinating, rural scenery and beaches are within easy reach nearby. For those interested in dining experience, Hoi An has all to offer. From cheap street eats to fabulous five-star feasts, the old town makes for the ultimate gourmet getaway.