Visited Vigan last March (2009). The city is about two hours from Laoag - the capital of Ilocos Norte.

The Cordillera Inn along Calle Crisologo is highly recommended. They have cozy rooms and friendly staff. Plus, you'd be staying in one of the old heritage houses.

The calesa ride is 150Php for an hour. The driver can take you anywhere in town. Usually, the drivers would recommend going the Baluarte (a small zoo) but I found the place rather disappointing. Stick to the ancestral houses.

In school, Vigan was compared to other historic towns in the country - Pagsanjan, Laguna; Intramuros and Taal, Batangas. The latter two were rejected for inclusion in the Heritage List. I wonder what the specific reasons were and if it is possible to submit Pagsanjan town, too.