Let's face it – Hoi An,
with its beautifully restored houses, shops and public buildings, is one huge
attraction in itself but there are certain sights that should be highlighted
and underscored for the visitor.
Declared a World Heritage
Site by UNESCO, Hoi An was once the major Vietnamese trading centre for silk,
porcelain, pepper, cinnamon and medicinal plants.
When the Thu Bon river eventually
filled with silt, trading moved further north to Danang.
Once a major Southeast
Asian trading post in the 16th and 17th centuries, the seaside town Hoi An is
basically a living museum featuring a unique mixture of East and West in the
form of its old-town architecture.
Among the heritage
architecture stand Chinese temples, a Japanese-designed bridge, pagodas, wooden
shop-houses, French- colonial houses and old canals. Though large-scale trading
had long moved elsewhere Hoi An has been successful in preserving and restoring
its charming roots and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in December
1999.
Hoi An Riverside is the best place to be at night as
the area is lit by quaint and old-fashioned lanterns, making it an atmospheric
and beautiful spot. For those who love sea, sun and sand, Hoi An offers two
lovely beaches five kilometres away from the town centre – a sort of holiday
within a holiday.
Hoi An is known for its
great food, fun shopping, skilled tailors, friendly people and cosy atmosphere
– all key characteristics that draw people to this picturesque town.
TRY A TOUR HERE!
TRY A TOUR HERE!
The Old Town
Many buildings in the Old Town
were constructed over a century ago and feature strong Chinese influences
stemming from merchants from Guangzhou , Fujian , Chiu Chow and Hainan .
Some of the wooden signboards bearing the company names are carved and gilded
in Chinese characters, reflecting the strong presence of the Chinese in Hoi An
ever since its prosperous times.
Tradition
is still very much alive in the Old
Town . Even though many of
the old shops have been converted to modern businesses aimed at tourists
including countless tailors, souvenir shops, art galleries, restaurants and
cafés, all have been converted with care to preserve the past.
Happily,
all Hoi An’s major attractions or landmarks are located within walking distance
of each other including the Japanese covered bridge, the Chinese assembly
halls, Guan Yin Temple, the museum of history and culture and the Tran family
home and chapel.