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.