Hoi An
Although Hoi An tends to be one of the more touristy cities, it is a can't miss while in Asia. The city is loaded with locally made Vietnamese souvenirs, but the best thing to take home is a hand-stitched suit or silk dress. Just south of Da Nang and accessible by cheap flights from Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi, the city has a bustling downtown that is split by a river, and it is a great place to party. Peering out from your cheap villa, there is nothing but palm trees and countryside. During the day, there are nearby beaches, bicycle tours, cooking classes, and plenty of places to get authentic Vietnamese noodle dishes that can only be found in the area. It's worth the day trip to go to the My Son ruins or the gorgeous Marble Mountains or the awkward countryside town of Da Lat ("Little Paris), a former playground for French colonists that features an Eiffel Tour.
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