Hoi An

If you only have time to visit a few places in Vietnam, write down Hội An as one of them. This old town quarter, not far from modern Da Nang city, is a joy to explore, packed to the brim with well-preserved merchant houses that hark back to Hoi An’s trading center heyday of the 15th century, when the town was a major meeting point for Japanese and Chinese merchants who flocked here for the local silks. The first time you walk out by the river in the Ancient Town is a special moment. It’s exactly as captivating as the pictures show, and it gets even more beautiful at night because of all the lanterns.
This town is also home to hundreds of professional tailors, so spend a couple of days and have a nice dress or suit made just for you.