I would never return to Hoi An over poor tourism experience, sidewalk encroachments

After dinner at the hotel, our group took a taxi to Hoi An for an evening walk. The sight of foreign tourists in droves was encouraging, a positive sign for the tourism industry.

However, street vendors seemed to be everywhere.

On Nguyen Phuc Chu Street, vendors lined one side, while bars occupied the sidewalks with tables and chairs, making it a struggle to find walking space.

An Hoi Bridge, which spans the iconic Hoai River, was so crowded with vendors that many tourists couldn't even find a spot for taking photos.

Street vendors stand along the area near An Hoi Bridge in Hoi An, November 2024. Photo by Hoang Vu

As we walked, some motorcyclists honked loudly from behind, forcing us to step aside.

Besides a few loud bars and pubs, there didn't seem to be any interesting nightliffe entertainment activities worth experiencing. Some stores and shops closed by 9 p.m.

In the end, I found Hoi An quite underwhelming and would not return.

According to the annual World's Best Awards announced in July by American travel magazine Travel & Leisure, Hoi An ranked fourth among the 25 most beautiful cities in the world for 2024.

However, there remain many tourism-related issues in the city that should be addressed to improve its image in the eyes of international visitors.

Would you return to visit Hoi An?

*Readers' opinions are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress's viewpoints.