Ancient Town Hoi An made its way to Top 4 Best City in the World

Posted On: 22/07/2024

According to the prestigious travel magazine Travel+Leisure, Hoi An is honored to rank 4th in the list of the 25 Best Cities in the world and 3rd in the list of the 25 Best Cities in Asia in the World’s Best Awards 2024.

“Back on the list and it’s no surprise why”

This is not the first time that this famous American travel magazine has awarded Hoi An a special position in the list of its World’s Best Awards. Since 2017, Travel+Leisure has consistently ranked this UNESCO Heritage site among the most beautiful destinations in the world and Asia.

Hoi An ranked 4th among Top 25 Best Cities of the world
Hoi An ranked 4th among Top 25 Best Cities of the world

In 2024, more than 186,000 Travel+Leisure readers completed this World’s Best Awards survey. Cities were evaluated based on criteria including tourist attractions/landmarks, culture, cuisine, friendliness, shopping, and value. For each criterion, respondents could choose excellent, very good, average, below average, or poor ratings. The final score is the average of all responses. 

Hoi An is back on the list this year at No. 4 among the 25 Best Cities worldwide and 3rd among the 25 Best Cities in Asia with an overall score of 90.67. According to Travel+Leisure experts, it comes as no surprise, considering Hoi An’s “distinct architecture, a contagious energy, and arguably one of the best street food scenes on the planet”.

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Mesmerizing architecture

Ancient Town Hoi An is a haven for history buffs and admirers of ancient architecture with its impressive style. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site, one of the most iconic features of this ancient town is the deep yellow-painted houses around almost every corner.

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It also boasts incredibly distinctive fusion architecture, seamlessly combining Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese design elements. This unique architectural style is featured in historic buildings like townhouses, assembly halls, and temples that have stood for centuries. Visiting Hoi An, one must not forget the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge built in the 17th century, which is considered a symbol of the town. 

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Quiet and serene, Hoi An captivates many with its tranquil and romantic beauty. The evening is a perfect time for tourists to explore the charm of the ancient town. Under shimmering and enchanting lights, this place suddenly becomes alluring, leaving countless visitors reluctant to leave. 

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Following are some of the most Instagrammable spot with impressive architecture in Hoian:

  • Japanese Covered Bridge
  • An Hoi Island — Looking back at Old Town Hoi An
  • Faifo Rooftop Coffee
  • Tan Ky Ancient House
  • Quan Cong Temple

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An ideal destination for food lovers

Hoi An is an ideal destination for food enthusiasts, with banh mi and cao lau being highly the most popular dishes. Not only can you enjoy delicious and extremely diverse cuisine, it also comes at a reasonable price. According to Post Office UK, this ancient city is the Best Value Destination around the world in 2024, where customers' money becomes more valuable in relation to cheaper and more affordable cost levels.

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"The food in Hoi An was the best in Vietnam. Amazing vegetarian and vegan options and Hoi An–exclusive dishes such as white rose."

Travel+Leisure’s reader


Some must-try food experiences for your food tour in Hoi An include:

  • The Infamous Banh mi at Banh Mi Phuong (2B Phan Chu Trinh Street, Cam Chau, Hoi An)
  • “Hoi An in a bowl” - Cao lau at Cao lau Thanh (26, Thai Phien, Hoi An)
  • Hoi An special chicken rice at Com ga Ba Buoi (22, Phan Chau Trinh, Hoi An)
  • White rose dumpling at White Rose Restaurant - a family restaurant specializing in these dishes (533 Hai Ba Trung, Cam Pho, Hoi An)
  • Endless other savoury dishes like quang noodle, grilled pork spring rolls, Vietnamese pancake, mango cake, corn sweet soup, etc. 

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Shimmering lantern festival

On the 14th and 15th days of every lunar month, the Lantern Festival takes place along the Hoai River, turning Hoi An into a mystical scene with hundreds of colorful lanterns. Visitors can personally release small beautiful lanterns, creating a sparkling and romantic evening view.

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Once the festival starts, at around 6pm, all the lights will be turned off, allowing lanterns to take the spotlight. Then, you can fully enjoy the festival by:

  • Experiencing a magical boat ride on Thu Bon River illuminated by countless lanterns
  • Enjoying unique culinary experiences at riverside restaurants

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>> See more at: Everything You Need To Know Abour Hoi An Memories Show

  • Immerse yourself in vibrant cultural performances such as lion dances and folk music
  • Participating in the tradition of releasing your own paper lantern on Thu Bon River, expressing wishes and hopes.

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The tailoring capital of the world

Hoi An is renowned globally as the premier destination for tailoring, home to more than 500 tailor shops. Each year, a significant portion of the town's five million visitors leave with tailor-made clothing items.

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Tailoring in Hoi An is celebrated worldwide for its craftsmanship and attention to detail. The town hosts skilled artisans who can create custom garments to precise specifications, often within 24 to 48 hours. It is ranked by the USA’s Times Magazine as a place with the cheapest and quickest tailoring services in the world.

Our top tailor shop recommendations are:

  • Nhat Silk (36 Tran Hung Dao, Minh An Ward, Hoi An)
  • Diem Diem Tailor (55 Tran Hung Dao, Minh An Ward, Hoi An)
  • Yaly Couture (358 Nguyen Duy Hieu, Cam Chau, Hoi An)
  • A Dong Silk (62 Tran Hung Dao, Minh An Ward, Hoi An)
  • Lana Tailor (90 Le Loi, Minh An Ward, Hoi An)

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With its ancient beauty, charming narrow streets, and rich cultural heritage, Hoi An attracts millions of tourists every year. Visitors can enjoy unique cuisine, explore historical sites, and immerse themselves in peaceful and romantic surroundings.

All these factors have helped Hoi An become not only a cost-effective destination but also an ideal place for those seeking to experience the blend of past and present, culture and nature. Following are some recommended itineraries for you to explore this site to the fullest:

Asia Mystika Travel is a Vietnamese local travel agency dedicated to bringing first-hand experience of lovely scenery, and distinctive indigenous cultures to every customer. With professional local tour guides and prestiged airline partners (4 domestic airlines and over 300 international airlines), we offer unique local experience at an extremely reasonable price. All tours are 100% customizable, no shopping and no extra fee.

Contact us for a personalized travel itinerary according to your preferences:

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