Hoi An is a perfectly preserved Southeast Asian trading port that flourished from the 15th to the 19th century, and walking its narrow streets feels like stepping into a living museum. Chinese merchant houses, Japanese covered bridges, French colonial buildings, and Vietnamese tube houses line the atmospheric Thu Bon River, their mustard-yellow walls draped with bougainvillea and silk lanterns in every color of the rainbow. By night, the entire Old Town transforms into a magical wonderland as hundreds of handmade silk lanterns are lit along the riverfront and floating candle offerings drift downstream. Hoi An is also Vietnam’s culinary capital and tailor-made clothing hub, where skilled artisans can create custom suits, dresses, and leather goods in as little as 24 hours at remarkably affordable prices.

Pro tip: Visit during the monthly full moon lantern festival when the Old Town turns off its electric lights entirely and the streets glow by candlelight and lantern light alone — it is an unforgettable experience that comes at no extra cost.