In the evenings, I found the town of Hoi An very romantic with an unarguable charm of its own. The fact that all the buildings have wooden fronts makes this an extremely pretty town to look at. It has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
There are countless tourist shops in every street and you'll be harangued constantly, but that doesn't take anything away from the pleasure of wandering around, enjoying the beauty of the historic town centre and the riverbank.
I liked the famous Japanese Bridge: it's so romantic, and the engaged couples who take their photos in front of it are just adorable! The five-visit pass meant that I could go into temples and houses, which are small yet traditional, and the Vietnamese people are extremely welcoming. I was curious to go and see a folk music concert and I wasn't disappointed.
The hostel where I was staying lent us some bikes and we went to explore the area around Hoi An, following the river as far as Cua Dai Beach. The narrow streets, the houses, and the cultures that we crossed through made it all worthwhile and enabled us to get off the beaten track and away from the tourist trail! Small tables are placed on Cua Dai Beach in the evenings, lit with candles, and it's a great place to enjoy a drink and a light refreshment.
Though it receives large numbers of visitors and is very popular with tourists, the ancient town of Hội An is still a truly wonderful place and represents one of the best memories I have of Vietnam. The historic centre of the city is made up of old, architecturally traditional houses separated by little streets which lead to the banks of the Thu Bồn River. The city is inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage and is therefore visited by large numbers of tourists. Nevertheless, it still retains a great deal of charm.
In the evening, small stalls selling all kinds of local dishes get set out on the promenade along the river. In the little streets they light paper lanterns to illuminate the way for pedestrians (for whom the old town is exclusively reserved), thus creating a magical atmosphere. For me, this is one of the essential places to visit when in Vietnam.
After I had visited the major cities, my stay in Hoi An did me a power of good: I had the impression of going back in time as I walked around this charming, restful town, which is ideal for a family holiday!