Vietnam’s Hoi An named the world’s best city of 2019

Vietnam’s ancient city of Hoi An in the central Quang Nam province was named the world’s best city of 2019 by the New York-based Travel + Leisure magazine.

Vietnam’s Hoi An named the world’s best city of 2019 (Photo: travelandleisure.com)
Vietnam’s Hoi An named the world’s best city of 2019 (Photo: travelandleisure.com)

In an article entitled ‘Hoi An Is the Best City in the World — and the Street Food Is Only the Beginning’, the Vietnamese city was described as a charming city with ancient roots, distinct architecture, a contagious energy, and arguably one of the best street food scenes on the planet.

“Hoi An is home to friendly people who are eager to share the best that their city has to offer,” it read, adding that the highlight of Hoi An is definitely its vibrant food scene, where there are a lot of restaurants that might just do one thing, but they do it perfectly.

Travel + Leisure also suggests its reader to check out a cooking class to learn the ins and outs of Vietnamese cooking and join a sunrise fish market tour, during which visitors will hop on a boat and sail out to watch the night ships return with their catch to deliver to the fisherman's wives waiting at a wholesale fish market.

Famous for its textiles, Hoi An is also a great place to get custom-made suits or dresses — even just shopping for souvenirs along the main touristy areas can uncover delightful finds.

Hoi An is the perfect place to combine culture with relaxation, because after a day of shopping and eating, it’s incredibly easy to relax on a stunning sandy beach. Grab a chair at one of the many resorts or bring your own towel for a relaxation session with your toes in the sand and finish your day with sunset cocktails

Other cities that followed Hoi An in Travel Leisure’s list included San Miguel de Allende (Mexico), Chiang Mai (Thailand), Mexico City and Oaxaca (Mexico).