According to an announcement in early September, the platform evaluated ancient towns based on four criteria: walkability, age, entrance fee, and Instagram popularity.
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Early morning sunlight in Hoi An ancient town. Photo: Hoi An Photographer/Unsplash |
Early morning sunlight in Hoi An ancient town. Photo: Hoi An Photographer/Unsplash
Hoi An leads the Asian region thanks to its well-preserved 16th-century architecture, a mere two euro (approximately 2.36 USD) entrance fee, and pedestrian-friendly spaces. Hoi An is described as "one of the best-preserved ancient towns in Southeast Asia," distinguished by streets glowing with colorful lanterns.
Situated downstream of the Thu Bon River in the coastal plain, nearly 30 km south of Da Nang city center, Hoi An was once known by various names such as Lam Ap, Faifo, and Hoai Pho.
The ancient town still preserves nearly 1,360 architectural relics in near-original condition, including streets, houses, assembly halls, communal houses, pagodas, wells, and tombs. These reflect both the traditional Vietnamese artistic style and the symbolic cultural exchange between East and West.
Hoi An ancient town was officially inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List on 4/12/1999, in Marrakech (Morocco).
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A street in Hoi An ancient town next to the Hoai River. Photo: Do Anh Vu |
A street in Hoi An ancient town next to the Hoai River. Photo: Do Anh Vu
The next four positions in the Asian regional ranking include Bhaktapur (Nepal), Kyoto (Japan), Luang Prabang (Laos), and Galle (Sri Lanka).
In Europe, Krakow (Poland) takes the lead with its UNESCO-recognized historic center dating back to the 7th century. The following positions belong to Naples (Italy), Regensburg (Germany), Riga (Latvia), and San Marino. Avignon (France), also known as the "City of Popes", ranks 6th thanks to its 14th-16th century Gothic architecture and peaceful destinations like the Urbain V gardens and the Carmelite monastery.
In North Africa and the Middle East, Sousse (Tunisia) leads with its pristine white Medina extending into the Mediterranean Sea. Following are the royal cities of Fes and Marrakech (Morocco), the capital Doha (Qatar), and Cairo (Egypt). This is also the region with the most ancient historic centers in the world.
In the Americas, Saint Augustine (Florida, USA) is honored for its Spanish architectural mark from 1565. In Latin America, Cartagena (Colombia) holds the top spot thanks to its 16th-century fortress system and colorful old town, followed by Oaxaca (Mexico), Salvador de Bahia (Brazil), Panama, and Buenos Aires (Argentina).
Tourlane is a leading online travel platform in France, specializing in designing itineraries that connect travelers with local experts to choose destinations, hotels, and services tailored to individual needs.
Tuan Anh
