"The classic Vietnamese town" Hoi An by Ramonq

I arrived early in the morning in Hoi An on a sleeper bus and whilst reclined on the couch half asleep, I had a glimpse of the early rays of sunshine bathing the lush verdant rice fields, through the glass window as the bus slowly approached this fabled old town. It was the sight of those elegant tall palm trees that fenced around clusters of typical Vietnamese homes, that make Hoi An the quintessential Vietnam of folklore, in my opinion  It's no wonder why many tourists come here to experience the true essence of this country. 

Along Hoi An River

Hoi An is proud of its multicultural heritage. At the height of its wealth and power during the 16th century, the town was the largest port in the whole of Southeast Asia which attracted traders and seafarers from across the continent. The Chinese settled here in big numbers, so much so, that many of the buildings in the old town have strong Chinese influences. It reminded me of Pingyao in Shanxi province of China, the "Wall Street of the medieval Middle Kingdom". 

The Japanese also settled here to trade and they set up their trading posts from across a canal. They built a beautiful bridge across it in the 16th century which remains standing even now and has become Hoi An's most iconic landmark. This short bridge is remarkable because it is also a spiritual temple! It also looks fascinating at night when the red lanterns light up the interior of the bridge. 

The French also made a lasting impression on the town. Look around and you'll see a lot of shops with wooden slatted French-style windows. They're a later addition to Hoi An's streetscape when France colonized Vietnam as part of the French Indo-China for a century until the 1950's. 

The presence of all these preserved heritage structures have prompted UNESCO to declare this town as a World Heritage site therefore allowing mankind to appreciate the lasting legacy of Hoi An. 

Tourists the world over have descended to town in large numbers. They have come to enjoy the sights and tastes of Vietnam. Cooking lessons on local cuisine are popular with the tourists here, while the more active ones rent bicycles to explore the outlying parts of the city. Tourism is now one of the town's main source of income for its citizens. You'll discover many cheeky little old ladies donning their photogenic conical straw hats willing to pose for your camera, at a price!

Hoi An is also known in Vietnam for its clothing industry. Its tailors are fomous for their industriousness and craftsmanship. Have your suits or business attire tailored here if you have some time to wait for completion.

If you really want to appreciate traditional Vietnamese culture in a slower pace, Hoi An the best place to do it. 

• Pros:Heritage sites
• Cons:Too touristy
• In a nutshell:Experience old Vietnam