beers

The UNESCO-listed town comes alive with lanterns and tinsel in December – with 30p beers and T-shirt weather.

If you’re fed up with the prospect of yet another freezing cold Christmas market, clutching an £8 mug of mulled wine to keep warm, there’s an alternative option.

For a truly unique festive experience, this market deserves a spot on your bucket list.

With beers at just £0.30, hot chocolates for £1.50 and hundreds of twinkling lanterns lighting up the evening sky.

This enchanting market destination is Hoi An – a UNESCO-listed port town along Vietnam’s central coastline. Throughout December, this historic port transforms with glowing lanterns, fairy lights and tinsel adorning shop windows.

Whilst it might not deliver a conventional Christmas experience – it provides a breathtaking alternative at a fraction of the cost.

There are numerous stalls to explore offering everything from keepsakes to local confectionery and handcrafted goods. Vietnam is renowned for being budget-friendly and Hoi An maintains this reputation, reports the Express.

A glass of locally-brewed beer costs between £0.30 and £0.70 – even at the tourist-popular riverside locations.

Asia travel experts TransIndus describe December as one of the finest periods to experience Hoi An.

A spokesperson said: “Daytimes are usually in the low- to mid-20s, so it’s T-shirt weather for exploring the old streets, and in the evenings you might just want a light jacket if there’s a breeze coming off the river.”

It falls at the tail end of the wet season, meaning occasional downpours or overcast days are possible – but once the rain clears, the atmosphere becomes genuinely enchanting.

They said: “When the rain clears and the pavements start to dry, the reflections from the lanterns in the puddles are beautiful.

“You get steam rising off the street-food stalls, scooters back out within minutes, and the whole old town has this slightly surreal, cinematic feel.”

December in Hoi An blends Western festive imagery with Vietnamese lantern celebrations. Visitors might spot a nativity display or youngsters wearing Santa hats, before witnessing a silk-draped, illuminated riverboat gliding peacefully across the water.

It’s an ideal destination to break away from traditional Christmas habits and immerse yourself in a completely different culture.

Christmas markets are not exactly known for being a budget day out. However, research has pinpointed the cheapest Christmas market in Europe, and it’s in a little-known city not many tourists visit

A day at a Christmas market in the UK can be a pricey undertaking. With reports coming out of traders charging £9.50 for hot chocolate and £8 for bratwurst at Manchester Christmas market, it’s no surprise that people are looking to the continent for more affordable alternatives.

Card terminal provider SumUp has put together a list of Europe’s cheapest Christmas markets, and taking the number one slot is a little-known city in Poland which doesn’t tend to be on most tourist’s radar.

Poznan, the fifth-largest city in Poland, is often overlooked by visitors who flock to Warsaw or Krakow, but its beautiful Renaissance-era old town is the perfect backdrop for a Christmas market, and in the winter it has serious cosy, festive vibes.

Best of all, flights to Poznan take just over two hours from London, and just a few minutes more from regional airports, so you can choose to fly from Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, or Edinburgh. Flights in December cost as little as £30 each way from London Stansted on Ryanair, and budget airlines such as Wizz Air also cover this route.

According to the data, a one-night stay in Poznan will set you back as little as £30.40, while enjoying a beer at the Christmas market will cost as little as £2.50.

The market, known locally as Betlejem Poznańskie, takes place in Stary Rynek – the Old Town Square, famous for its ornate Renaissance and Baroque-era buildings. It’s particularly beautiful when lit with thousands of Christmas lights, with cosy wooden stalls selling Christmas gifts dotted along the square. There’s also a twinkling Ferris wheel and ice rink to add to the festive atmosphere.

It runs from November 15 to January 6, and in addition to the market stalls and rides, there’s a program of entertainment, including carolers, Christmas shows, silent discos, and opportunities to meet Santa.

From December 12 to 14, the city hosts its annual ice festival, featuring numerous ice sculptures throughout the square. There are also ice carving events, and even workshops where kids can give it a try themselves.

While visiting the city, take a trip to the 10th-century Poznan Cathedral, one of the oldest churches in Poland. This grand cathedral has a unique underground crypt you can visit, which is the resting place of many of the country’s earliest leaders. An unusual attraction in Poznan is the Croissant Museum, which offers interactive shows and exhibitions about the history and process of making St Marin Croissants. Filled with nuts and fruit, these Polish pastries are different to the French delicacies. And don’t worry, there’s a tasting at the end.

It’s also worth visiting the Muzeum Narodowe w Poznaniu, a national museum which includes works from European and Polish artists including Monet and Delaroche.

Poznan has many unique and boutique hotels to choose from. Perhaps the most unusual is Blow Up Hall 5050, a mixture of an art project, stylish hotel, and sci-fi movie. This design hotel has an impressive array of art on display, and If you wander into the public spaces, your face may end up in one of its video installations. The rooms have no numbers or keys, you use an interactive screen to get into your room. But if you enjoy an unconventional hotel experience, it’s a place you might enjoy.

For a more traditional experience, stay at the Hotel Palazzo Rosso Old Town, which is just a few minutes’ walk from the market. This boutique hotel is situated in a historic tenement building and features an on-site cafe and bar, an Italian restaurant, and comfortable rooms with rustic, exposed brickwork that adds to the cosy feel.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at [email protected]

TUI is launching holidays to a beach city that was once the capital.

Zadar, in Croatia, was the former capital of Dalmatia, and is now a popular seaside city break.

And TUI has added Zadar to its city break programme, which will mean Brits can book hotel and flight packages with the tour operator.

The packages will include flights with easyJet and Ryanair, flying from nine airports.

This includes London Gatwick and Manchester as well as Birmingham and Edinburgh.

Trips on offer can range from three nights to 14 nights.

JET SET

TUI to launch more hotels in affordable exotic countries with no jet lag & £1 beers

HANNIBAL LECTURE

I visited 20C African capital that looks like Santorini with TUI flights

While Split and Dubrovnik are some of Croatia‘s busiest cities, Zadar is also worth a visit.

Not only does it often have highs of 28C in summer, but it is cheap too – beers can be found for around £2.30.

There is also the famous Sea Organ, which plays music powers by waves as well as light shows at night.

TUI has excursions such as waking tours or trips to the nearby National Parks.

TUI’s Commercial Director Chris Logan said: “We’re excited to introduce Zadar to our growing city break programme.

“It’s a destination that truly has it all, with a stunning coastline, rich history, and authentic Croatian culture around two and a half hours from the UK.

“Whether you’re exploring the Old Town, relaxing on nearby beaches or enjoying a sunset boat tour, Zadar is the perfect choice for customers looking for an alternative spot on the Adriatic Coastline.”

Some of the holidays on offer include five night and return flights from £520.

The Sun’s Alex Goss recently visited Zadar.

He said; “For our final meal, we headed to restaurant Kornat in Zadar, one of the best in the town that offers seafront Croatian dining at its finest, with black tie service and an impeccable local wine list.

“We had seabass roll stuffed with shrimp cream, tuna steak with a spinach and wasabi sauce and beef carpaccio with homemade dough cones stuffed with cottage cheese from the island of Pag.

Just make sure you’re not too hungover to tackle Zadar’s mind-bending Museum of Illusion the next day.”

Zadar is also a great spot for island hopping across Croatia.

CRITTERS & JITTERS

Vogue & Spencer insist marriage is strong – why do pals think otherwise?

BLAZE HORROR

Hundreds feared dead in Hong Kong inferno as three arrested for manslaughter

There is Silba, home to just 150 people were cars are banned.

It takes three hours by ferry to reach Silba from Zadar, with tickets costing £4.

IF the life of Spain is calling you and you’re tempted to ditch the UK, then there is one city that has been named one of the best for expats.

it might be tempting to try out the larger cities of Barcelona and Madrid.

But an alternative city that often comes out on top for happy expats is Valencia.

Not only does it have 300 days of sunshine, but it has been raved about by other expats.

According to couple Alastair and Alison, who moved to Spain themselves and give their advice online, it is one of the best ones.

They said: “Valencia City is significantly cheaper than Madrid and Barcelona in terms of rent and daily expenses.”

OU-NO

I’m an expat living in Greece & I always cringe when I see Brits doing these 6 things

SPAIN PAIN

Expats reveal big mistakes that make Brits stand out on holiday in Spain

Not only is there a big English speaking community, but they also said it is “big enough to have urban amenities but small enough to be manageable”.

Another 2024 Expat City Ranking also ranked Valencia as the no.1 Spanish city for expats, praising it for its good quality of life.

And a Reddit forum of expats talking about where they moved – Valencia was often praised.

One wrote: “I’d recommend Valencia, I’ve lived in 8 different countries and it has the best quality of life. Security, beautiful park and beach.

“Sunny all year around, mild winter and long summer. Not as hot as the rest of Southern Spain thanks for the sea close by. It’s also a very multicultural city.”

Another said: “I can’t recommend Valencia enough. If you are retiring Valencia is great.”

According to figures from Numbeo, when it comes to renting, an average one bedroom flat can range from €840 to €1100 (£741-£970) depending on location.

For living costs, things like a monthly gym membership are on average €36 (£32) while bills can be around €127 (£112).

Bottles of beer can be around €3 (£2.50).

Last year, Valencia was named the best city in Europe by Conde Nast Traveler.

However, we spoke to some Brits who left the UK for Spain on some of the big no-nos when it comes to trying to blend in.

Johnny, who left the UK with his wife Sarah in 2003, told Sun Online Travel: “Brits tend to underdress in Spain.

“Spanish people dress quite smartly, while Brits can sometimes show too much flesh.”

She also added the Brits need to expect things to move a bit slower, such as supermarkets.

She explained: “You might be in a short queue at the supermarket, but the person who is being served is more interested in having a conversation with the cashier than packing their shopping away and paying.”

SEE CLEARLY

Mechanic reveals ‘secret’ button that will defrost your windows even quicker

waltzing off

La Voix’s statement in full as injured star is forced to pull out of Strictly

One Brit who helps others move abroad reveals some of the amazing deals for moving to Spain.

And here’s another Brit who ditched the UK for Spain revealed where tourists are more accepted.