Hoi An Ancient Town in Vietnam was recently ranked by the French online travel platform Tourlane as the most beautiful historical center in Asia, standing alongside world-renowned heritage sites such as Krakow (Poland), Avignon (France), and Cartagena (Colombia).
In its early September announcement, Tourlane evaluated historic old towns based on four criteria: walkability, age of establishment, visiting costs, and popularity on Instagram.
Hoi An’s “Winning Criteria”
With the advantage of a well-preserved ancient town dating back to the 16th century, an entrance ticket priced at only around €2 (US$2.36), and a pedestrian-friendly layout, Hoi An surpassed many competitors to top the Asia ranking.
The website describes Hoi An as “one of the best-preserved ancient towns in Southeast Asia,” highlighted by streets glowing with thousands of colorful lanterns. Other top-ranked destinations in Asia include Bhaktapur (Nepal), Kyoto (Japan), Luang Prabang (Laos), and Galle (Sri Lanka).
In Europe, Krakow (Poland) leads with its 7th-century historic center recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, followed by Naples (Italy), Regensburg (Germany), Riga (Latvia), and San Marino. France’s Avignon—the “City of Popes”—is ranked sixth, thanks to its 14th–16th century Gothic architecture and tranquil spaces such as the Urbain V Garden and the Carmelite Monastery.
In North Africa and the Middle East, the city of Sousse (Tunisia) stands out with its whitewashed Medina stretching toward the Mediterranean. It is followed by Fès and Marrakech (Morocco), Doha (Qatar), and Cairo (Egypt). This region is also home to some of the oldest historic centers in the world.
In the Americas, Saint Augustine (Florida, USA) is recognized as a quintessential old town with Spanish heritage dating back to 1565. In Latin America, Cartagena (Colombia) leads with its 16th-century fortress and vibrant old quarter, followed by Oaxaca (Mexico), Salvador de Bahia (Brazil), Panama City (Panama), and Buenos Aires (Argentina).
Hoi An Receives Numerous Accolades
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hoi An Ancient Town has often been recognized as one of the most charming and romantic ancient cities in the world, as well as a top destination for impressive photography.
During the two years of the pandemic, Hoi An continued to be honored by international media and prestigious awards, including being named among the Top 25 Best Travel Cities in the World (2020), the Top 15 Best Cities in Asia (2021), Asia’s Leading Cultural City Destination (2021), the Top 10 Most Hospitable Cities in the World (2022), and also one of the Most Romantic Destinations in the World (2022).
Most recently, in the World’s Best Awards 2025 organized by Travel + Leisure magazine, Hoi An (Da Nang City) was ranked 6th among the 25 Best Cities in the World and 5th among the 15 Best Cities in Asia.
Once one of the most bustling and important trading ports in Southeast Asia, Hoi An today stands out with its distinctive ancient architecture and a rich network of rivers and canals. According to statistics, the town has preserved nearly 1,100 ancient houses, many of which are hundreds of years old, almost intact.
DANANG TOURISM CENTER PROMOTION
