Cycling through the rice paddies in the surroundings of Hoi An is a popular day trip from town. Organised tours may include visits to rice farms and guides that walk you through the entire process of rice cultivation; tours are organised by multiple local providers and can be arranged privately or as part of a group. If you choose to go it alone, follow Cua Dai in the direction of Cua Dai Beach, and you will eventually end up in the rice fields traversed by bike paths. You're likely to encounter rice farmers and water buffalo who plough rice paddies along the way. Continue along Hai Ba Trung Street to reach An Bang Beach.

The White Tower is the most iconic symbol of the city. The tower was constructed by the Ottomans sometime in the early 15th century and once guarded the eastern end of the city's sea walls. In the 19th century, this tower was used as a notorious prison. Nowadays, it is a welcoming museum of art and local history. The museum offers a rapid lesson in the history of the city. Ideally, you'll take in this well-dosed overview before continuing to the more specialised museums and archaeological sites. For best results, grab the free audio guide at the entrance. The last floor of the tower gives you a wonderful view of the city.

The remains of temples erected in the fourth and third millennium B.C. are a unique sighting. Stone idols, animal representations carved in relief, stone tablets, altars and screens decorated with spirals and other patterns enhance the attraction of these magnificent sanctuaries. Some of the places worth a visit are Hagar Qim in Qrendi, Tarxien Temples in Tarxien and Ggantija in Gozo.

The bustling Hoi An market takes a little getting used to: it's distinctly more hectic than the downtown area and teems with local vendors and shoppers as much as it does with tourists. Abundant Asian herbs, souvenirs like lacquered coconut shell bowls, Vietnamese coffee-makers and traditional cone hats are some of the wares on sale. Of particular interest are the indoor food stands serving up scrumptious snacks at some of the lowest prices in town.