Places to stay

Top spot in Hoi An would be in the ancient city however the prices are higher there although there are some bargains to be had.

Budget travellers staying on their own could try the Hop Yen Hostel for a cheap bed.

I always check tripadvisor for rooms to gauge their recent ratings. This time I hit upon the Dai Long Hotel just at the edge of the ancient city. I can wholeheartedly recommend this place for service, location, cleanliness and value for money. Visa extensions and bus tickets are well priced and no fleecing!

There are some other hotels that towards the beach at Cua Dai that could be fun as well. Check out the Hoi An Riverside, some friends of mine stayed there and enjoyed it very much.

This is a popular destination for travellers of all budgets in vietnam so it would be prudent to book ahead for the place you want. Bookings can be made through Hostelworld and can be booked using the link below.

Top tips and things to do

Being the tailoring capital of Vietnam says it all! Get a suit made, a copy of a designer dress, a new pair of shoes. Really they will do anything here. Once caveat is to make sure that you get a good recommendation for a tailor and not just the one offered by your guesthouse or hotel

Try some of the local dishes, these are really tasty. Things like cau lau or white rose, wontons and grilled fish with herbs in banana leaf. There are plenty of nice restaurants dotted around, some of the cheaper ones on the front were excellent. Try the Restautant du Port for a four course tasting and you cannot go far wrong.

Fancy cooking? Well the big deal here is the Red Bridge cooking school, this comes very highly rated and should be booked in advance.

Buy a ticket and stroll around the old town popping into temples and meeting halls, reviving yourslf occasionaly with a cold beverage.

Fancy the beach? There is of course Cua Dai beach, many vendors and plenty of other tourists. I can vouch for An Bang beach a little farther up and empty of beggars and sellers, locals turn out late afternoon to frolick in the waves and fish in the Coracles scattered along the beach.

A good little bar there is Phatties, with cheap cold beers, tv, a pool table, green grass, loungers and good food from next door. It should be a destination.

Don't forget some scuba diving at Cam Island, only opened since 2007.

Getting there and away

The bus routes from both the north and south are really convenient as they drop off in the budget district, perfect for sorting out somewhere to stay.

If you are coming by train then the nearest station is Da Nang, from there taxis and, for the brave, Honda Om ply their trade south towards Hoi An. Up to three or four in a taxi can share bringing the cost down considerably.

There is an airport in Da Nang as well and Vietnam Airlines can have some very competitive internal flights so don't forget to check them out.