The bustling Hoi An market takes a little getting used to: it's distinctly more hectic than the downtown area and teems with local vendors and shoppers as much as it does with tourists. Abundant Asian herbs, souvenirs like lacquered coconut shell bowls, Vietnamese coffee-makers and traditional cone hats are some of the wares on sale. Of particular interest are the indoor food stands serving up scrumptious snacks at some of the lowest prices in town.

Coloured lanterns are a symbol of Hoi An. Here locals believe they bring happiness, luck, and wealth. Why not join a lantern-making class and craft your own? Select from a variety of silks and work with an instructor to create your own bamboo-framed lantern. The class also includes a delightful Vietnamese tea tasting, making it a memorable and enriching activity.

The Chinese who settled in Hoi An identified themselves according to their province of origin. Each community built its own assembly hall, known as 'hoi quan' in Vietnamese, for social gatherings, meetings and celebrations. The Fujian Assembly Hall is, perhaps, the best-known one; the Cantonese Assembly Hall stands out for its beauty and contains a tranquil inner courtyard, while the 19th-century Hainan Assembly Hall functions, in part, as a memorial to the 108 merchants from Hainan who met a tragic fate being mistaken for pirates – the entire story is narrated via wall posters.

Although Hoi An is perfectly walkable, cycling is an easy way of getting around, if your itinerary extends beyond the Old Town (including An Bang Beach). The Hoi An Old Town is closed off to all motorised traffic (including motorbikes) on most days, between 8.30 and 11.00 and then again 15.00 to 21.30, which means streets can be comfortably navigated by cyclists and pedestrians. Many hotels and guest houses offer bike rental services (or even complimentary bicycle use in some cases), but multiple bike rental shops operate throughout town as well. Prices are normally very reasonable and can be as low as 1 USD per day (depending on the bike). Single-gear bikes will suffice for cycling through town, but mountain bikes are recommended for those who wish to venture into the countryside. While locals will often be seen riding without helmets on, we recommend asking for one at your bike hire provider to ensure safety.