Hoi An Ancient Town

Hoi An's Ancient Town is one of the most photogenic places in Southeast Asia. Once a major trading port from the 15th to 19th centuries, the old town has been beautifully preserved — yellow-walled merchant houses, Chinese assembly halls, the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge, and a quiet river lined with sampans selling floating lanterns.

By day it's a maze of narrow lanes filled with tailors, lantern shops, and hole-in-the-wall noodle stalls. Hoi An is famous for fast custom tailoring — you can have a suit, dress, or coat made to measure in 24 to 48 hours, and good shops will do multiple fittings.

By night the lanterns light up and the whole town takes on a magical glow that draws crowds onto the central bridges to release floating candles into the river.

Buy the multi-attraction ticket on arrival; it covers entry to most of the heritage buildings worth seeing. Hire a bicycle to explore beyond the old town — rice paddies, beaches, and quiet villages are all within an easy ride. Eat the cao lầu noodles at least once; the recipe is unique to Hoi An.