Last year, planning got serious. And this month, I returned from an epic, 2 ½ week trip to Vietnam, with side trips to Tokyo and Cambodia. Among our stops: Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An and Hue.

Hoi An Memories Land also emphasizes the preservation of local traditions. Visitors can witness traditional crafts and art forms being practiced, from lantern-making to traditional Vietnamese weaving.

In central Vietnam, a few miles from the ocean and on the banks of the Thu Bon River, lies the ancient trading hub of Hoi An, where 15th-19th century traders from China, Japan, the Netherlands and ...