Hoi An

The part of Hoi An most sought-after by visitors is its incredibly photogenic mustard-coloured Old Town, a UNESCO-listed collection of beautifully preserved buildings; some of these still function as private homes, while a total of 22 are open to the public and operate largely as museums. Of particular interest are historic merchant residences, some of which offer short guided tours (the Old House of Tan Ky is among the most interesting), and Chinese assembly halls used for gatherings and celebrations by individual ethnic groups. Visiting each attraction will require one of the 5 admission slips that come with a general Hoi An Ancient Town entry ticket.

Cầu Vàng is a footbridge extending through Ba Na Hills that allows you to enjoy the surrounding natural landscape. The way it is structured may make you think that it is supported by the two massive stone hands, but they're actually decorative fibreglass structures that remain nonetheless a spectacle of their own.

Coloured lanterns are a symbol of Hoi An. Here locals believe they bring happiness, luck, and wealth. Why not join a lantern-making class and craft your own? Select from a variety of silks and work with an instructor to create your own bamboo-framed lantern. The class also includes a delightful Vietnamese tea tasting, making it a memorable and enriching activity.

Join this fun tour for a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural immersion, and culinary exploration. Begin with a visit to the Bay Mau coconut forest, exploring its waters on traditional bamboo basket boats. As night falls, witness the Old Town of Hoi An come alive. End your adventure with a dinner featuring unique local dishes like 'cao lau', 'hoanh thanh', 'banh bao', and 'banh vac'.

The bustling Hoi An market takes a little getting used to: it's distinctly more hectic than the downtown area and teems with local vendors and shoppers as much as it does with tourists. Abundant Asian herbs, souvenirs like lacquered coconut shell bowls, Vietnamese coffee-makers and traditional cone hats are some of the wares on sale. Of particular interest are the indoor food stands serving up scrumptious snacks at some of the lowest prices in town.

Cycling through the rice paddies in the surroundings of Hoi An is a popular day trip from town. Organised tours may include visits to rice farms and guides that walk you through the entire process of rice cultivation; tours are organised by multiple local providers and can be arranged privately or as part of a group. If you choose to go it alone, follow Cua Dai in the direction of Cua Dai Beach, and you will eventually end up in the rice fields traversed by bike paths. You're likely to encounter rice farmers and water buffalo who plough rice paddies along the way. Continue along Hai Ba Trung Street to reach An Bang Beach.

The Chinese who settled in Hoi An identified themselves according to their province of origin. Each community built its own assembly hall, known as 'hoi quan' in Vietnamese, for social gatherings, meetings and celebrations. The Fujian Assembly Hall is, perhaps, the best-known one; the Cantonese Assembly Hall stands out for its beauty and contains a tranquil inner courtyard, while the 19th-century Hainan Assembly Hall functions, in part, as a memorial to the 108 merchants from Hainan who met a tragic fate being mistaken for pirates – the entire story is narrated via wall posters.

Although Hoi An is perfectly walkable, cycling is an easy way of getting around, if your itinerary extends beyond the Old Town (including An Bang Beach). The Hoi An Old Town is closed off to all motorised traffic (including motorbikes) on most days, between 8.30 and 11.00 and then again 15.00 to 21.30, which means streets can be comfortably navigated by cyclists and pedestrians. Many hotels and guest houses offer bike rental services (or even complimentary bicycle use in some cases), but multiple bike rental shops operate throughout town as well. Prices are normally very reasonable and can be as low as 1 USD per day (depending on the bike). Single-gear bikes will suffice for cycling through town, but mountain bikes are recommended for those who wish to venture into the countryside. While locals will often be seen riding without helmets on, we recommend asking for one at your bike hire provider to ensure safety.

Seven generations saw the Tan Ky house remaining in the excellent condition it welcomes visitors in today, as it continues to stand as an excellent example of the confluence of cultural influences that define Hoi An. This 18th-century merchant home combines elements of Chinese and Japanese design and even features elements of European influence (such as the grape leaves carved into the courtyard balcony). The house comes furnished with original period pieces and contains a small gift shop; an open courtyard at its centre brings in light and air, creating an organic link to nature and preventing the structure from flooding (although this isn't a remedy in extremely high water).