A lazy river, mustard-yellow houses, and sprawling beaches, Hoi An is a traveller's dream come true

HOI AN

Region: Vietnam

The ancient town of Hoi An is a much more idyllic place to spend a few days, with its lazy river lined with mustard-yellow merchants’ houses, and beaches a few kilometres away. It owes its wonderfully wellpreserved state to the silting-up of the Thu Bon river in the 19th century. Cars and even motorbikes are banned from the centre of Hoi An.


Food remains at the heart of Vietnamese culture, which makes it quite distinct.

Tourists should not miss some of the great festivals of Hoi An, among which is ‘Full Moon festival’, held on the 14th of every lunar month, one night before the full moon, when the Old Town becomes even more festive than usual. Another one is the ‘Mid-Autumn festival’ held on the 14th of the August lunar month. Similarly, ‘the Lantern festival’ is celebrated by hanging colourful cloth and paper lanterns on the 15th of every lunar month.