Visits to the old quarter of Hoi An will be free on December 4 to celebrate the 17 anniversary of the ancient town being recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site.

Many activities will be held in celebration of Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day on November 23 and also on December 4, including photo, painting and pottery exhibitions, foot races, and music shows.

From the beginning of December along the streets of the old quarter will be a photo exhibition from French photographer Réhahn Croquevielle, with themes including life in the old quarter, Hoi An - the golden city, Hoi An in the morning, and the people of Hoi An. There will also be an exhibition of paintings by Truong Bach Tuong on the beauty inside and outside of the city.

Ticket prices to the old quarter for domestic tourists are VND80,000 ($3.5) and VND120,000 ($5.3) for international tourists. Each is valid for 24 hours, which allow tourist to enter the old quarter and select three of 21 tourism destinations to visit. Entry is free to tourists under 16 year of age.

Tour groups of 15 people or more receive one ticket free. Those with over seven people have a free tour guide.

The best time to visit Hoi An is from February to April, when the rain is less and the weather is pleasant. The rainy season is from October to November and it is quite humid. However, on the 14th and 15th days of the lunar calendar is the most beautiful time in Hoi An, as lanterns decorate its street and river at night.

The most recommended tourist destinations in the old quarter are the Japanese Covered Bridge, or Chua Cau Pagoda, which was built in the early 17th century, the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, which was built in 1690 to worship the goddess of the sea and protect those traveling out to sea, a culture - history museum, and a craft center producing mats, pottery and lacquer ware.

Not far from the old quarter are some beautiful natural destinations, such as Cua Dai Beach (5 km away) with white sands, clear blue water and cheap seafood. An Bang Beach (3 km away) is ranked among the Top 25 beaches in Asia, there is sightseeing on the Thu Bon River, and also Kim Bong carpentry village (10 minutes away by boat), and the Thanh Ha Pottery Village (30 minutes by boat).

This year the city targets welcoming 2.2 million tourists, a 9.47 per cent increase. Guests staying overnight are to reach 911,000, a 4.05 per cent increase.

Last year it welcomed about 2 million tourists, up 22.43 per cent against 2014. There were more than 876,000 tourists staying overnight, up 9.98 per cent, including 710,000 international tourists, up 11.27 per cent, and about 166,000 domestic tourists, up 4.79 per cent.

VN Economic Times