Where in the world could remain such a cristine ancient beauty after nearly 300 circles of the four seasons? It is Hoi An. Hoi An is an old town down the Thu Bon River, on the coastal plain of Quang Nam Province, about 30 km south of Da Nang City. Hoi An used to be known on the international market with many different names such as Lam Ap, Faifo, Hoai Pho and Hoi An.
The town reflects a fusion of indigenous and foreign cultures (principally Chinese and Japanese with later European influences) that combined to produce this unique survival.
The town comprises a well-preserved complex of 1,107 timber frame buildings, with brick or wooden walls, which include architectural monuments, commercial and domestic vernacular structures, notably an open market and a ferry quay, and religious buildings such as pagodas and family cult houses. The houses are tiled and the wooden components are carved with traditional motifs. They are arranged side-by-side in tight, unbroken rows along narrow pedestrian streets. There is also the fine wooden Japanese bridge, with a pagoda on it, dating from the 18th century. The original street plan, which developed as the town became a port, remains. It comprises a grid of streets with one axis parallel to the river and the other axis of streets and alleys set at right angles to it. Typically, the buildings front the streets for convenient customer access while the backs of the buildings open to the river allowing easy loading and off-loading of goods from boats.
The surviving wooden structures and street plan are original and intact and together present a traditional townscape of the 17th and 18th centuries, the survival of which is unique in the region. The town continues to this day to be occupied and function as a trading port and centre of commerce. The living heritage reflecting the diverse communities of the indigenous inhabitants of the town, as well as foreigners, has also been preserved and continues to be passed on. Hoi An Ancient Town remains an exceptionally well-preserved example of a Far Eastern port.
On August 22,1998, Hoi An was awarded the title of “Hero of the People’s Armed Forces”. More than a year later on December 4, 1999, United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization has enter Hoi An’s name to the World Heritage and Cultural List on August 24, 2000, Hoi An was again awarded the title “Hero of Socialist Labor” in the renovation period.
Tips
Ticket price: VND120,000/person
Visitors can enjoy:
1/ All streets in the Ancient Town, artistic activities, folk games, night market.
2/ Sightseeing places:
* Japanese Covered Bridge, Cam Pho Communal House, Minh Huong Communal House, House of Tuy Tien Duong, Quan Cong Temple.
* Museums: History and Culture, Trade Ceramics, Sa Huynh Culture, Folk Culture.
* Old houses: Quan Thang, Duc An, Phung Hung, Tran Family’s Chapel, Tan Ky.
* Assembly Halls: Trieu Chau, Quang Dong, Phuc Kien.
* Handicraft workshop and traditional arts performance, XQ Hoi An.
* Ancient tombs of Japanese traders: Mr Gu Sokukun, Mr Tani Yajirobei, Mr Banjiro.
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