Hoi An: The Most Beautiful Town in Vietnam

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I know I'm far from being one in a million when I say that Hoi An was hands down my favorite city in Vietnam. Most people who have visited Hoi An will proclaim the same thing. It's one of those places that makes you feel like you're in a fairy tale - that is, a fairy tale with uniquely stunning Chinese architecture.

It's one of those places that makes you (literally) stop in your footsteps and think how fortunate you are for being there. It's one of those places that could easily be the official image found under the definition of pretty or charming in the dictionary.

Yes, it's that dreamy of a place. (Oh, it's also a UNESCO World Heritage site but even if it weren't it would still be just as dreamy).

Dating back to the 15th century, exceptionally-preserved Hoi An can seem overly touristic with a wide selection of restaurants (with English-written traveler-friendly menus) and bars thumping the latest top-ten hits but it somehow still managed to retain loads of charm thanks to its flaxen houses and terracotta roof tiles. (I admit the row of bars across the quiet Thu Bon River slightly tainted my picture-perfect image of Hoi An but there was so much more to like that I didn't let it phase me).

Despite its seemingly overdeveloped nature, Vietnamese women of all ages still wear their conical nón lá hats, the central market still shamelessly overflows onto the streets with all sorts of local foods and the colorful Vietnamese silk lanterns still look quintessentially authentic. Like I said, loads of charm.

Many visitors flock to Hoi An to take advantage of its reputation as being the capital of custom-made (silk) clothing. Here you could have a whole suit made in a matter of days for very little money. There's certainly no shortage of shops lined with stacks of fabrics on offer - the choice was almost intimidating!

If you absolutely need a pair of shoes to match your newly-made clothes, several shops offer custom-made footwear. I did contemplate having some made but (notwithstanding the above-mentioned reasons) I wasn't convinced the quality would be good enough to hold up for an extended period of time.

Take the bridge across the Thu Bon River to stroll through the night market where all sorts of ~~cheap~~ goodies can be found including lots of street food stalls. If you want to bring back a souvenir from your time in Hoi An then a lantern should be your first pick.

Not only is it lightweight and easy to carry (they fold up) but Hoi An is widely known for its handmade silk lanterns. They can be bought at a number of shops on both sides of the riverbanks. The prices are as attractive as the variety of vibrantly colored lanterns. And they look so pretty lit up at night creating a very romantic atmosphere!

The Japanese Covered Bridge is an emblem of Hoi An attracting many visitors both local and from abroad. The construction of the bridge started in the 1590's by the Japanese community as a means to connect them to the then-Chinese quarter. To this day, it kept its authentically traditional Japanese architecture rendering it very photogenic.

If I haven't yet sold you on the idea that Hoi An should definitely be on your list of places to see, then let me inform you that a mere 4 km away there's a beach. A very nice beach, in fact. It's a great place to mingle with the locals, grab a bite to eat at the many pop-up restaurants lining the beach or simply sip on a coconut drink. Or why not all three!

Remember the name: Ao Bang Beach - hop on your scooter and go!