Inside Asian Gaming

IAG JAPAN DEC 2020 54 Biosphere Reserve in Cu Lao Cham – a collection of eight small islands offering fishing villages, abundant beaches, coral reefs and a diversity of regional seafood. Once a port of call for French, Chinese and Japanese merchants, the town’s ethnically diverse history is reflected in its uniquely quaint architecture, such as the famous Japan Covered Bridge – designed and built in the early 1700s by Japanese expats to access the nearby Chinese quarter. Hoi An is also home to the most famous of all Vietnamese lanterns, celebrated each March via the stunning Hoi An Lantern Festival. “The scenery of Hoi An ancient town at night has a mysterious attraction to visitors, where you can leisurely explore the beauty of the night when it becomes deep, sparkling and fanciful by the light of the lanterns,” says the Quang Nam Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Visitors typically enjoy taking an evening boat ride on the Hoai River, the department adds, where they can release lanterns, followed by shopping in the night market, trying their hand at traditional folk games like Bai Choi, enjoying tea and coffee in the Old Town or tasting local street delicacies – listed by TripAdvisor as one of the “Top 25 Best Culinary Destinations in the World” – such as My Quang (noodles with pork and shrimp) and Cao Lau (specialty noodles). “Hoi An is considered a living museum of architecture and urban lifestyle,” the Department proudly shares. Just 45 minutes further north is Da Nang, the largest city in Central Vietnam and fifth largest in the country with a population of more than 1.1 million people. IN FOCUS