Discover Hoi An Ancient Town: A Lifetime Must-Visit Destination Revealed by National Geographic 🏮

If I were to say what initially attracted me to Vietnam, it would definitely be the ancient town of Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the 50 places to visit in a lifetime according to National Geographic. The bright colors, weathered French colonial buildings, and at night, the lanterns that light up the river and the ancient town, create a strong collision of Eastern and Western aesthetics.

🚗 Hoi An is about 20 kilometers from Da Nang Airport, and you can take a Grab from the airport, which takes around 50 minutes.
📷 The busiest and most scenic areas of Hoi An are concentrated along a few streets by the river. My photography route is as follows:
↘️ Life4cuts photo booth: Not far from the entrance of the ancient town, you can start here.

All the places in the ancient town with hanging lanterns require queuing for photos, but this place is usually empty. P11
↘️ Sunday in Hoi An boutique: Next to the Japanese Covered Bridge (under renovation), the lanterns at the entrance and the cherry blossoms cascading from the roof make for great photos.

P9
↘️ Streets of the ancient town: Choose a section of the street with distinctive features. To capture an empty street, you need to get up early. P4
↘️ Moments Hoi An cafe: My favorite cafe, spacious and not crowded. The terrace on the second floor is a hidden spot, surprisingly no one has taken photos there.

Shooting from the second-floor window is also nice. P6, 8
↘️ 92STATION cafe: I originally planned to visit the popular Faifo Cafe, but it was too crowded. I unexpectedly found this place nearby, and its terrace is great. P1
↘️ Bà Mu Temple: There are many temples in the ancient town, and you can choose to visit selectively.

This lotus pond is also very popular on Instagram. P10
↘️ Across the river: Opposite the SAKURA RESTAURANT. P4
↘️ Cơm Nhà Bờm-Vietnamese Restaurant: A bit further from the main street, you can dine in front of a lantern setup, creating a full atmosphere. P7
🏮 There are many shops on Lantern Street specifically for taking photos, and it only costs a few dollars.

🪷 In the evening, you can take a lantern boat ride on the Thu Bon River and release floating lanterns.
🥥 Coconut Boat: 4 kilometers from the ancient town. If your hotel arranges tickets, they will pick you up. You can also go there and choose a place on the spot, just search for “coco boat.”
🏨 Hotel: If time allows, it’s recommended to stay overnight in Hoi An, or you can make a day trip from Da Nang.

I stayed at Thanh Binh Riverside Hoi An, right by the Thu Bon River, 5 minutes from the ancient town, with large rooms, a lawn, and a pool, offering good value. P17