In search of cocktails down dark alleyways

A 45-minute drive from Danang, Vietnam, Hoi An boasts an Ancient Town filled with nooks and crannies to explore

- Chantal Sajan

DANANG - About 2,000 years ago, the lands of South-east Asia such as Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam were called "Suvarnabhumi", or "Land of Gold" in Sanskrit. Ancient Indian traders spread Hinduism and Buddhism, fanning out from Thailand in the north to the Indonesian islands in the south — called "Suvarnadvipa", meaning "Isles of Gold" — from around the 1st century CE.

As an architectural history lover, I am fascinated by my trip to Danang and Hoi An in December 2024, which is hosted by global hospitality brand IHG Hotels & Resorts.

While Danang is a modern metropolis, it also boasts a number of beaches with powdery sand and crashing waves.

Just 45 minutes away by car — via a scenic route through open fields and craft shops — is Hoi An Ancient Town, which boasts one of the best-preserved port cities in the world.

Here, early Indic influences can be seen in the form of golden-yellow paintwork on more than 1,100 buildings now inscribed as a Unesco World Heritage Site.

The reverence for the auspicious colour harks back to the country's early development about 2,000 years ago, when gold was mined around the region by Indian merchants working with local chieftains.

Danang has come a long way since. These idyllic scenes are a far cry from the 1950s to 1970s, when it was the main entry point for American troops during the Vietnam War. The war, which started in 1955, ended after 19 years.

Today, Vietnam is ready to welcome the world to help it rebuild, such as through tourism.

In 2024, Danang reported a 34.7 per cent increase in foreign tourist arrivals in the first seven months of the year, compared with the same period in 2023, according to the Da Nang Statistical Office. The coastal city saw a surge of 2.5 million visitors during those months, with the arrival figure rapidly approaching pre-pandemic levels.