Hoi An: the Most Charming Town in Vietnam

Andy Hill

Vietnam can often be a chaotic, fast-paced, crowded, noisy and busy place for travelers. Its cities are clogged with motorbikes, frenetic commerce, incessant activity and a heightened vibration of expedient industriousness.

Although there are countless remote areas in which to enjoy vast, verdant sweeps of nature, many visitors to Vietnamese towns and cities are sure to feel overwhelmed at some point.

An oddly slow and laid-back destination in Vietnam, and perhaps the best place to bask in the country’s centuries-old history, art and culture, is the beautiful little town of Hoi An. It should absolutely be on the itinerary of every traveler to Vietnam, no matter the length of his stay.

The entire old section of Hoi An is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a designation which has magnificently preserved the old city such that tourism has been unable to blemish Hoi An.

Quiet, pedestrian-only roads are lined with shops whose wooden signs are hand-made. Like the best little towns anywhere, there is a plethora of small alleys and byways to explore that hide real travel gems.

Many quirky and creative cafes offer amazing baked delectables and coffee, and there is no shortage of opportunities to try Hoi An’s famous local dishes, such as cao lau and white rose.

Hoi An is rightfully famous for being the best place in southeast Asia where one may have custom clothes made at any one of the city’s countless tailors and silk shops. If you want a new suit, wait until you arrive in Hoi An. It’s an experience in and of itself.

Perhaps the most iconic thing about Hoi An is the Japanese bridge built in the 17th Century by traders, although I did hurry a little when crossing over it. There are also a handful of small, mostly one room museums where a traveler can glean a little information of the 2,000+ years of local history rich with Chinese and Japanese influence, as well as that of the ancient Sa Huynh culture which flourished some millennia ago.

An excellent way to round out a day of culture-vacuuming is by taking a stroll along the water to one of the city’s small breweries, where one can get sloshed for a pittance with new friends on a delicious and fresh-tasting brew.