A walk to the vibrant Punda quarter is a great way to begin your journey in Curaçao. Crossing the Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge already guarantees stunning views, and there is more to take in once you reach the waterfront, which is a UNESCO heritage site. Allegedly, he parade of colours is due to a former governor, who was convinced that the glaring white buildings were triggering his headaches, so he had them repainted. An iconic example is the yellow Baroque building of Penha, which today houses duty-free stores.

Although Hoi An is perfectly walkable, cycling is an easy way of getting around, if your itinerary extends beyond the Old Town (including An Bang Beach). The Hoi An Old Town is closed off to all motorised traffic (including motorbikes) on most days, between 8.30 and 11.00 and then again 15.00 to 21.30, which means streets can be comfortably navigated by cyclists and pedestrians. Many hotels and guest houses offer bike rental services (or even complimentary bicycle use in some cases), but multiple bike rental shops operate throughout town as well. Prices are normally very reasonable and can be as low as 1 USD per day (depending on the bike). Single-gear bikes will suffice for cycling through town, but mountain bikes are recommended for those who wish to venture into the countryside. While locals will often be seen riding without helmets on, we recommend asking for one at your bike hire provider to ensure safety.

The Chinese who settled in Hoi An identified themselves according to their province of origin. Each community built its own assembly hall, known as 'hoi quan' in Vietnamese, for social gatherings, meetings and celebrations. The Fujian Assembly Hall is, perhaps, the best-known one; the Cantonese Assembly Hall stands out for its beauty and contains a tranquil inner courtyard, while the 19th-century Hainan Assembly Hall functions, in part, as a memorial to the 108 merchants from Hainan who met a tragic fate being mistaken for pirates – the entire story is narrated via wall posters.