A 30-minute drive from the South of Danang, Hoian is an ancient town known as a boutique yet lively township, considered as the “No.1 tourist attraction” in Vietnam according to many polls. Being a mixture of up-to-17th-century Southeast Asian trading port, with traces of ancient Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese housing styles, Hoian illustrates the glory of a former trading hub, which has now turned into a key cultural rendezvous. Amongst the growing cities and towns in Asia, Hoian is leading in sustainable tours with the locals’ decisiveness and consecutive efforts to maintain traditions and native spirit. Like other well-preserved ancient towns, Hoian is packed with romantic boutique houses, shops, cafés, flowery streets and brilliantly lit night streets. The difference is that the town has been recognized as “the first place to visit in Vietnam” and offers many options within a short time for diverse age groups, from staying lazily in town and relaxing, to coming over An Bang beach for sunbathing and swimming, or taking boats and Vespa to villages.

Recently, Hoian has become famous for small educational tours, with two great attractions at Tra Que Vegetable Village and the silkworm feeding center, where you can observe how locals use non-fertilizers for gardening or learn about the whole cycle of silk production. If sustainable tourism is inspiring the visitors by the locals’ authentic lifestyle, Hoian residents are doing an exceptional job.