7 reasons to visit Hoi An, one of Vietnam’s most beautiful towns

By Kate Springer, CNN
6 minute read
Updated 1:28 PM EDT, Mon June 17, 2019
<strong>Hoi An's Japanese Bridge: </strong>Hoi An served as a busy Asian trading port between the 16th and 19th centuries. This cultural milieu remains visible in everything from the mustard-colored shophouses to dining traditions. On the western end of Old Town, narrow pedestrian streets give way to an 18th-century Japanese covered bridge.
Hoi An's Japanese Bridge: Hoi An served as a busy Asian trading port between the 16th and 19th centuries. This cultural milieu remains visible in everything from the mustard-colored shophouses to dining traditions. On the western end of Old Town, narrow pedestrian streets give way to an 18th-century Japanese covered bridge.
Christian Berg
<strong>Basket boats: </strong>Often considered to be an ancient version of the medieval coracle, the Vietnamese trung was actually a trick to circumvent a French tax on boats: "That's not a boat," they'd say, "it's a basket!" Today, the boats can still be seen in the waters around Hoi An and nearby Da Nang.
Basket boats: Often considered to be an ancient version of the medieval coracle, the Vietnamese trung was actually a trick to circumvent a French tax on boats: "That's not a boat," they'd say, "it's a basket!" Today, the boats can still be seen in the waters around Hoi An and nearby Da Nang.
Joel Santos
<strong>Vespa Adventures: </strong>Whether you prefer to pedal around on a bicycle or zip off on a Vespa, Hoi An's wide open country roads are ideal for exploring on two wheels. For countryside tours, <a href="https://vespaadventures.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Vespa Adventures</a> is your best option.
Vespa Adventures: Whether you prefer to pedal around on a bicycle or zip off on a Vespa, Hoi An's wide open country roads are ideal for exploring on two wheels. For countryside tours, Vespa Adventures is your best option.
Courtesy Vespa Adventures
<strong>Hoi An hotels: </strong>The Four Seasons The Nam Hai is one of the area's most luxurious hotels and offers easy access to both Hoi An and Da Nang.
Hoi An hotels: The Four Seasons The Nam Hai is one of the area's most luxurious hotels and offers easy access to both Hoi An and Da Nang.
Four Seasons
<strong>An Bang Beach: </strong>Hoi An is more of a river town than a beach getaway, but sunseekers can easily reach the coastline. About a 10-minute drive northeast, travelers will find themselves overlooking the East Sea, with sweeps of sand running for miles in both directions.
An Bang Beach: Hoi An is more of a river town than a beach getaway, but sunseekers can easily reach the coastline. About a 10-minute drive northeast, travelers will find themselves overlooking the East Sea, with sweeps of sand running for miles in both directions.
DALE DE LA REY/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Day tripping: </strong>A pair of giant hands lift the ribbon-like Golden Bridge up in the air above Vietnam's Truong Son Mountains. The mind-bending structure, which towers above Thien Thai garden, looks like it's been there for centuries but just opened last year.
Day tripping: A pair of giant hands lift the ribbon-like Golden Bridge up in the air above Vietnam's Truong Son Mountains. The mind-bending structure, which towers above Thien Thai garden, looks like it's been there for centuries but just opened last year.
LINH PHAM/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Foodie paradise: </strong>Hoi An is filled with amazing cuisine, from street eats to gourmet dining. In fact, Hoi An is considered the banh mi capital of the world.
Foodie paradise: Hoi An is filled with amazing cuisine, from street eats to gourmet dining. In fact, Hoi An is considered the banh mi capital of the world.
Kate Springer/CNN
<strong>Yaly Couture: </strong>Hoi An is filled with unique shopping experiences. This includes Yaly Couture, which specializes in bespoke, luxurious apparel.
Yaly Couture: Hoi An is filled with unique shopping experiences. This includes Yaly Couture, which specializes in bespoke, luxurious apparel.
CHU DUNG/Yaly Couture
Experiencing the best of Hoi An, Vietnam
CNN  — 

Set on the banks of the Thu Bon River in central Vietnam, Hoi An is easily one of the most beautiful towns in Southeast Asia.

The action revolves around the atmospheric Old Town – a colonial-era trade port that was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 1999 – where dreamy canals, French-colonial merchant houses, Japanese bridges, Chinese shophouses and low-key restaurants vie for your attention.