Hoi An: old houses, vegetables, and rice

Hoi An is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and well-deserving of the designation. A historic seaport and trading center (think 250-300 years), it declined into obscurity as the river and harbor became shallower, as silt and time made the town less accessible.

Now about 3 km from the coast, Hoi An has a nice historic center, with extraordinary buildings (maybe overly filled with silk shops, galleries, etc.), but that's what supports tourism.

We were there five years ago and loved the area, and bicycling into the countryside.

There are still rice and vegetable fields just out of the town center.

We enjoyed our time there again -- a wonderful place, and it seems to be developing as a tourist destination in a very attractive way.