Prepare to be charmed by the quaint, historic town of Hoi An where the atmosphere and friendly locals make the small, peaceful town a must for every traveller to Vietnam. Originally known as Faifo, Hoi An was an important trading port in the 16th and the 17th century. While most shipping businesses moved to Danang, the Old Town still retains its antique charm and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town is home to nine different types of historical sites including private dwellings, family chapels, community halls, communal houses, temples, pagodas, bridges, wells, tombs, etc. with an average age of 200 years. Winding lanes, pagodas bridges, Chinese-style shop houses (where the street entrance has a shop front displaying all the merchant’s wares and the back portion where his family apprentices live) and coloured lanterns all combine to make Hoi An a romantic, beautiful place to be in.