Hội An topped the 2020 Go list

Photo: Fodor’s
 
Hội An topped the 2020 Go list
 
“Every year in our Fodor’s Go List, and this is our ninth year of doing this, we look forward to what’s next to come. The next it destination, the next big event, or simply the places we want to travel to next. And, while we definitely do that in our 2020 Go List, this year, on the cusp of a new decade, we’re also looking backward.”
 
So much of travel is the metaphorical act of walking through history, and by looking backward, we move forward. A number of our chosen destinations have had their share of hardships in the recent past, whether it be from natural disaster, the cruelty of individuals, the uprising over dictatorship, or a cavalcade of bad and erroneous press. But these places, along with all the others on this year’s list, have not only shown extraordinary resilience thanks to the people who have always called them home, but are stalwart in their perseverance of what’s to come next. And, ultimately, they are our inspirations for our tomorrows.
 
Hội An, Vietnam’s most beautiful city grows more alluring year after year, topped the 2020 Go list.
 
Fodor’s author - Kate Springer asked “Why Hội An’s wonderful?”. To answer this question, she wrote: “The world is finally catching on to Hội An. Colonial-era architecture, market-fresh food, pristine coastline - the historic port town on the central coast of Vietnam has got it all. An Instagrammer’s paradise, Hội An offers no shortage of postcard-worthy scenes, from a sea of rainbow-hued silk lanterns that light up the streets every evening to countless 18th-century merchant houses, ancient assembly halls, al fresco restaurants and bars, and sun-kissed beaches nearby.”
 
A wander through the little lanes of Old Town, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, is all it takes to fall in love with Hội An. In these pedestrian-friendly streets, foliage falls like water from the rooftops, while friendly vendors hawk bespoke leather bags, beautifully tailored silk suits, freshly pressed juices, and locally roasted coffee. Adding to the allure, many of the historic merchant houses have been transformed into contemporary bars, boutiques, and restaurants. Check out favorites like lifestyle shops Sunday in Hội An or Ô Collective for boho fashion and homeware, and cool off with a tipple at Q Bar or the ever-popular White Marble Wine Bar. To get a taste of Hội An’s famous food scene, pull up a seat at institutions like Little Faifo (where you’ll be spoiled with ultra-fresh dishes piled high with market herbs), Bánh Mì Phượng (proclaimed the “world’s best” bánh mì by the late Anthony Bourdain), or Green Mango for an opulent French spin on Vietnamese cuisine. Adding to the variety, recently opened Cô Mai - opened by acclaimed French chef Didier Corlou - guides diners through a Vietnamese tasting menu inside a 200-year-old wooden house, while new-to-town Tadioto serves up ramen, sushi, and Japanese whiskey in a speakeasy-like setting.
 
Cycling is one of the best ways to explore the area. Pedal through the leafy streets of Old Town at your own pace or zip into the wide-open countryside on a motorbike. Local tours like Vespa Adventures will guide you around rural Cẩm Nam Island, where you’ll encounter glistening rice paddies, farms, and water buffalo galore. More of an ocean explorer? To the east, sunseekers can stretch out along An Bàng Beach or dive around the coral-fringed Chàm Islands, just off the coast.
 
In this list, in Asia, after Hội An is Jaisalmer (Rajasthan, India), Luang Prabang (Laos), Macau (China), Raja Ampat (Indonesia), Tokyo (Japan) and Uzbekistan.