Ancient Town (Old Town)

Hoi An's main tourist area with pedestrian streets, lanterns, and strong police presence. Lots of cafes, high safety levels, and common to see people traveling alone. Gets crowded but manageable. Good base for first-time visitors.

The Ancient Town is the main draw - a UNESCO World Heritage site covering about 2 square kilometers of pedestrian streets with mustard-yellow buildings, Chinese temples, and tailor shops everywhere. Every evening, thousands of silk lanterns light up the streets. It's touristy, yes, but the crowds are manageable and the atmosphere works. Solo travelers are common here, sitting in riverside cafes or wandering around with cameras. The cafes all have WiFi and welcome people working on laptops. The Japanese Covered Bridge and assembly halls are the main sights during the day. Street vendors will approach you selling souvenirs, but they take no for an answer - just keep walking. Tourist police are visible, and the area feels safe walking around at night with all the lighting from the lanterns.