Hoi An

One of the oldest cities in Asia, Hoi An is a town in central Vietnam which was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999. Located south of Danang, Hoi An translates to 'a peaceful meeting place'. It is culturally and historically one of Vietnam's most important towns and also one of the richest. It is important to note that Hoi An does not have an airport or train station and can only be reached by road.

Being a trading port, the food of Hoi An is delightfully interesting and multi-cultural. The regional cuisine is served traditionally but also can be found to be served under the influence of Eastern Asia and other parts of South-Eastern Asia. A popular tourist activity here is cooking classes where tourists are taught about the local ingredients and can try their hand in preparing some traditional dishes.

Owing to being a former riverside port town, the Japanese and Chinese influence over the town's architecture stands tall till today. The Japanese merchant houses, the temples built by the Chinese and even the warehouses hold the memory of the confluence of traders from various communities across Asia.