Hoi An's Bridge pagoda at night. (Photo: VNAT)

“If you want to mix shopping, sightseeing and sunbathing, think Rio and Copacabana Beach, Sydney and Bondi Beach, or Hoi An, Vietnam, and An Bang Beach,” said SCMP.

Criss-crossed by canals, Hoi An is a photogenic city on Vietnam’s central coast, according to SCMP. An architectural medley of wooden Chinese shophouses, French colonial buildings, ornate temples and the Japanese Covered Bridge helped the Old Town gain UNESCO World Heritage status in 1999, it said.

“Formerly one of the busiest trading ports in Southeast Asia, today Hoi An bustles with tourists who sightsee and have clothing tailored for a fraction of the price they would pay at home. At night, lanterns illuminate the Old Town, creating a fairy-tale feel.”

Rather than staying in the centre of the city, many travellers opt for a beachside base, SCNP said, adding An Bang’s white sands and sparkling blue waters have featured in CNN’s list of 100 Best Beaches in the World and are only 3km from the Old Town.