Hoi An among 9 best city destinations with beaches: SCMP

The SCMP suggested Hoi An as a destination for visitors who want to mix shopping, sightseeing and sunbathing.

According to the SCMP, criss-crossed by canals, Hoi An is a photogenic city on Viet Nam's central coast. An architectural medley of wooden Chinese shophouses, French colonial buildings, ornate temples and the Japanese Covered Bridge helped the Old Town gain UNESCO World Heritage status in 1999.

Formerly one of the busiest trading ports in Southeast Asia, today Hoi An bustles with tourists who sightsee and have clothing tailored for a fraction of the price they would pay at home. At night, lanterns illuminate the Old Town, creating a fairy-tale feel (lantern-making workshops are a hit with visitors).

"Rather than staying in the center of the city, many travelers opt for a beachside base. An Bang's white sands and sparkling blue waters have featured in CNN's list of 100 Best Beaches in the World and are only 3 kilometers from the Old Town. Hire a bike and pedal between the two", the newspaper recommended. 

Viet Nam welcomed nearly 6.6 million foreign arrivals over the last seven months of 2023, equal to 83 percent of the target set for the whole year (8 million), announced the Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT).

In July alone, more than 1.038 million foreign visitors travelled to the Southeast Asian nation, up 6.5 percent against the previous year and marking the first month in 2023 the number of foreign arrivals to the country exceeding 1 million./.