Hoi An is one of Vietnam’s most charming towns – a place where lantern-lit streets, riverfront cafés and centuries of trading history combine to create an atmosphere that feels both romantic and wonderfully easy to enjoy. Its UNESCO-listed Old Town is a beautifully preserved patchwork of wooden shop-houses, Chinese assembly halls and faded French touches, all threaded together by narrow lanes that are best explored slowly, on foot or by bicycle.

By day, Hoi An is all about gentle discoveries. Browse small galleries and craft boutiques, wander through local markets, and pause for a coffee or a cold drink in a courtyard café shaded by bougainvillea. The town’s heritage is surprisingly layered, shaped by Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese and European influences, and that blend gives Hoi An a distinctive look and feel. As afternoon fades, the riverside becomes the perfect place for an early evening stroll, especially as the lights begin to appear.

Food is another major draw. Hoi An has its own local specialities and a strong cooking culture, making it a brilliant place for a market visit and cooking class, or simply a night of grazing from one great little restaurant to the next. Beyond the old streets, the surrounding countryside is made for easy, scenic cycling through rice fields and waterways, with quiet villages and family-run farms offering a more local perspective.

It’s also an ideal place to slow the pace of a Vietnam itinerary. Spend time at nearby beaches, enjoy a spa treatment, or use Hoi An as a base for day trips to historic Hue or the Marble Mountains and Da Nang coast. With characterful boutique stays, a warm, welcoming feel, and evenings that glow with lantern light, Hoi An is the sort of place travellers often wish they’d booked for longer.