A street vendor sells paintings at the Tan Thanh Flea market. The Year End Festival will be held here from December 31 to January 2. Photo courtesy Tan Thanh Beach Tourism Community

The event’s organiser, the Tan Thanh Beach Tourism Community, said the festival is a place for all local and expat vendors in Da Nang and Hoi An, as well as local people and tourists in celebration of Christmas and the New Year.

It said the event was scheduled from 9am to 9pm each day during the five-day festival with many activities for families including an International Food & Beverage Fair; parade of nations with traditional costumes and folk dances of each country; international and local bands; fun activities for kids such as egg and spoon race, sack race, treasure hunt and face painting; games for adults; a fire performance and lucky draw at the end of the festival.

A stall of cosmetic products at the Tan Thanh Flea Market. Many local and expat vendors flock to the market every weekend. Photo courtesy the Tan Thanh Beach Tourism Community

The Tan Thanh Flea Market is the first non-plastic community market every weekend in Hoi An – where buyers and sellers exchange organic products, recycled items and local crafts.

The unique festival has drawn the participation of expats in Hoi An, Da Nang and local people.

Hoi An also established three night markets in the Old Quarter and along the Hoai River bank, offering more shopping options for tourists at night.

An Bang beach, which was voted one of the top 25 beaches in Asia by travel website TripAdvisor in 2016, is a popular destination for foreign tourists.

An Bang beach is a popular destination for foreign tourists when visiting Hoi An City. Photo courtesy the Tan Thanh Beach Tourism Community

An Bang Seaside Village, a home-stay complex in An Bang beach of Hoi An, also won the ASEAN Homestays 2016 award from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).  VNS

A visit to Tan Ky old house in Hoi An

Located at 101 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street in the Old Quarter of Hoi An’s Ancient Town, the Old House of Tan Ky is an almost perfect example of a home of an 18th century merchant in the major commercial port town.  

Kim Bong carpentry village struggles to keep trade alive

At the age of 80, craftsman Huynh Ri in Kim Bong carpentry village, in Hoi An City, still creates unique wooden carvings and souvenirs at his family workshop.