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.

If time allows to squeeze in a trip to the seaside, An Bang Beach is the best stretch of sand within easy reach from Hoi An. The beach is well-equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas and is reachable by bicycle. There are multiple cafés and restaurants peppered along the coast, as well as a few locales that offer water sports equipment rental. Another option is Cua Dai Beach, which is less busy and less convenient to swim at due to significant soil erosion, but the rapid development of nearby An Bang has helped Cua Dai become increasingly re-discovered by those looking for more privacy.

One of Nha Trang's most alluring attractions is the Po Nagar Cham Towers, an actively used site of religious significance to Cham, Chinese and Vietnamese Buddhists; only 4 towers remain standing (researchers speculate there may have originally been up to 10). Constructed between the 7th and 12th centuries, the towers have a history that goes back to as early as the 2nd century AD when the location was first used for religious purposes. The complex teems with worshippers and visitors daily – you'll likely see some dozing on the hillside, others having a family picnic, and others yet enjoying a stylised performance at the on-site outdoor stage.