Hoi An Ancient Town, a World Cultural Heritage Site  

The ancient town of Hoi An,30 km south of Danang, lies on the banks of the Thu Bon River. Occupied by early western traders, Hoi An was one of the major trading centres of Southern Asia in the sixteenth century. Hoi An has a distinct Chinese atmosphere with low, tiled houses and narrow streets; the original structure of some of these streets still remains pretty much intact. All the houses were made of wood and decorated with lacquered boards and panels engraved with Chinese characters. The town is famous for its tailors and this is the best place in Vietnam to get your clothes and shoes made. You can visit the relics of the Sa Huynh and Cham cultures and also the beautiful scenery of the romantic Hoi An river, Cua Dai Beach and Cham Island. December in 1999, Hoi An Ancient Town was officially listed as a World Heritage Site.

My Son Sanctuary
My Son, located 69 km south west of Danang, was an imperial city during the Cham dynasty, between the fourth and twelfth centuries. My Son Sanctuary is a large complex of religious relics that comprises of more than 70 architectural works. They include temples and towers that interconnect with complex red brick designs. The main component of the Cham architectural design is the tower, built to reflect the divinity of the king

What to do?
Highlights of Hoi An are leisure walking tours along old streets bordered with ancient houses, assembly halls, its pagodas, temples, ancient wells and tombs. It also can be a day on cycling, motor biking or boating to nearby villages and Cua Dai Beach. Other activities light up your day include taking a Vietnamese cooking class, enjoy a wide selection of restaurants, cafes and bars, wander around the tailor's shops and order a new set of wardrobe or joining a day tour to My Son Holly Land.
When to go?
The best time to visit Hoi An is between February and April, when rainfall is low and temperatures are comfortable. During summer, the temperatures can get hot; during the rainy season, particularly during October and November, it can rain constantly and there is a high probability of flood and typhoons. It is lucky if you can travel to Hoi An on the 14th day of the lunar year each month when Hoi An celebrate the Full Moon Festivals and becomes the stage for traditional songs, dancing, games and food, with lanterns lining all of the streets.
Travel Tips:
Hoi An is a shoppers heaven where you can find tailor shops everywhere on the streets. In fact, the tailors are almost similar and most of them should be fine. However, many tourists do not have good experience and end up paying for clothing that they will not wear. Please keep in mind that most recommendations that you get from hotels and restaurants are based on relationships rather than on the quality of the tailor. And the highest success rates come from playing it safe - copying clothes that you really like or customizing clothes found as a sample in the shop windows. With a new design or more expensive items, try with more reputable (and often expensive) tailors.

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