Global travel platform GuruWalk has just announced the ranking "100 ideal cities to explore by walking in 2026". In this list, Hoi An ranks 64th, becoming one of the three representatives of Vietnam to participate.
According to GuruWalk, the ranking is built on hundreds of thousands of actual reviews of tourists who have participated in walking tours around the world. The evaluation criteria combine the number of participants and the level of satisfaction after the experience.
Hoi An being named shows the persistent attraction of this heritage city in the trend of slow tourism, green tourism and exploring destinations with experiences closer to local life.
Not as noisy as big cities, Hoi An attracts tourists with its slow pace of life, small streets, mossy tiled roofs, ancient architecture, lanterns, street food and traditional cultural activities. These are also factors that help tourists leisurely walk, observe, touch the living space and feel more clearly the cultural depth of the ancient town.
Recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage, Hoi An ancient town has long become a typical destination for Central Vietnam tourism. The pedestrian street space, roads along the Hoai River, ancient houses, hội quán, traditional markets and the life of local residents create a unique experience that is difficult to mix.
Along with Hoi An, Vietnam also has Hanoi ranked 37th and Ho Chi Minh City ranked 38th in the 2026 list. This shows that Vietnamese cities are increasingly having a clearer position on the global walking tourism map.
In the top 10 most ideal cities to explore on foot announced by GuruWalk, Rome leads, followed by Madrid, Budapest, Prague, Lisbon, Amsterdam, Porto, Barcelona, London and Berlin.
With 64th place, Hoi An is not only recognized as a beautiful destination, but also a city suitable for sustainable tourism trends, where visitors can slow down to feel each street corner, each house and each cultural story.
