Hoi An is a beautifully preserved ancient trading port in central Vietnam, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, whose old town is a magical maze of yellow-washed shop houses, wooden merchant buildings, Chinese assembly halls, and Japanese covered bridges. The town is renowned for its tailor shops — custom clothing can be made overnight — and its extraordinary food scene, with cao lau noodles, white rose dumplings, and banh mi among the local specialities. Lantern-lit evenings on the Thu Bon River make Hoi An one of Southeast Asia's most romantic destinations.