∴ Da Nang is one of the biggest cities in Vietnam with about one million residents, yet it feels smaller and tamer than Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. While it is a big city with everything big cities have to offer, it comes with a friendly and laid-back beach town vibe that keeps the pace slow. The Han River divides the beach from the city center, offering a natural boundary that is bordered by bars, parks, and promenades.

From its wide, well-paved streets to its wide, blue skies, Da Nang is remarkably clean. There is very little air pollution and litter. Framed by mountains, national parks, and ocean, Da Nang feels submerged in nature.

Ride a motorbike up the mountain to reach the “Lady Buddha” statue on top, whose gleaming white majesty is visible all the way from the beach. Views from the peak are breathtaking: the city skyscrapers erupt far away in the distance, past rippling jungle foliage and opalescent ocean as far as the eye can see.

∴ Hoi An gives a special impression thanks to a lot of things: the peace of the ancient town, the rustic beauty of craft villages, the wilderness of beaches and the delicious dishes with memorable flavors.

Hoi An Old Town offers a breathtaking mix of ornate Chinese temples, a Japanese-style bridge, wooden shop buildings, French-colonial houses and old canals. Most of the old shops have been carefully converted into modern businesses for tourists, including countless tailors, souvenir shops, art galleries, restaurants and cafes. The best way to explore this city is on foot, both during the day and in the evening, when the lanterns illuminate the old town.