Hoi An's compact old town encourages exploration on foot or by bicycle. Beyond its lantern-lit streets, travelers often spend time in tailor shops crafting custom garments, join cooking classes that begin with market visits, or cycle through rice paddies to coastal villages. The town's layered trading history is reflected in its architecture and cuisine, shaped by Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese influences.

The list also comprises other destinations namely Ubud, Bali (Indonesia), Kyoto (Japan), Galle (Sri Lanka), Luang Prabang (Laos), Chiang Mai (Thailand) and Kerala (India).

The ancient town was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, praised for its remarkably well-preserved Southeast Asian trading port dating from the 15th to 19th centuries.

Over the years, Hoi An has repeatedly been ranked among the world's best destinations by leading travel publications such as Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler, often appearing on lists of top cities globally and in Asia. In 2026, the ancient town was also listed among the most beautiful places in the world by travel magazine Time Out in a guide published in March.

The town has also received accolades for sustainable tourism and cultural preservation, reinforcing its reputation as a model destination that successfully balances heritage conservation with modern tourism development.

Earlier,  Nha Trang beach city in Viet Nam’s south-central province of Khanh Hoa was listed among top nine Asian destinations for 'slow travel' by the digital travel platform Agoda.