The ancient town in central Vietnam was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, praised for its remarkably well-preserved Southeast Asian trading port dating from the 15th to 19th centuries.

Digital travel
platform Agoda has named  Hoi An, a
UNESCO world cultural heritage site  in
Vietnam for Slow Travel Destinations in Asia, according to a report from the Government
News.

Hoi An’s compact old town encourages exploration on foot or
by bicycle. Beyond its lantern-lit streets, travelers often spend time in
tailor shops crafting custom garments, join cooking classes that begin with
market visits, or cycle through rice paddies to coastal villages. The town’s
layered trading history is reflected in its architecture and cuisine, shaped by
Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese influences.

The list also comprises other destinations namely Ubud, Bali
(Indonesia), Kyoto (Japan), Galle (Sri Lanka), Luang Prabang (Laos), Chiang Mai
(Thailand) and Kerala (India).

The ancient town was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage
Site in 1999, praised for its remarkably well-preserved Southeast Asian trading
port dating from the 15th to 19th centuries.

Over the years, Hoi An has repeatedly been ranked among the
world’s best destinations by leading travel publications such as Travel +
Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler, often appearing on lists of top cities
globally and in Asia. In 2026, the ancient town was also listed among the most
beautiful places in the world by travel magazine Time Out in a guide published
in March.

The town has also received accolades for sustainable tourism
and cultural preservation, reinforcing its reputation as a model destination
that successfully balances heritage conservation with modern tourism
development.

Earlier,  Nha Trang
beach city in Vietnam’s south-central province of Khanh Hoa was listed among
top nine Asian destinations for ‘slow travel’ by the digital travel platform
Agoda.

VGP-Pham Long