Hoi An Ancient Town

Location: Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province, 30km south of Da Nang City along the Thu Bon River.

Characteristics: Hoi An Ancient Town is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a traditional trading port in Southeast Asia between the 16th and 17th centuries. It is also an outstanding material manifestation of the fusion of cultures over time, considered as a living museum of architecture and urban lifestyle.

Hoi An used to be known on the international market with many different names such as Lam Ap, Faifo, Hoai Pho and Hoi An.

 

Outstanding Universal Values

After many centuries, Hoi An is still respectful of its traditions, folk festivals, beliefs and of its sophisticated culinary art. Set in a quiet environment, Hoi An is surrounded by peaceful villages that have crafts such as carpentry, bronze making, ceramic... This little port town is in an incredible state of preservation.

 

Relatively Intact Ancient Architecture

It offers some of the most densely-concentrated sights in Viet Nam with more than a thousand architectural relic sites like its old streets bordered with ancient houses and assembly halls, its pagodas, temples, ancient wells and tombs…

 

 

The architecture of Hoi An is characterised by a harmonious blend of Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese influences. The ancient architecture shown most clearly in the Ancient Town that located in Minh An Ward. It covers about 2 square kilometres and almost of all famous relics in Hoi An are gathered here. The streets are very short and narrow, having a winding, crossing as the chessboard style. The topography of the ancient town tilted gradually from north to south. The buildings in the old town are built mostly with traditional materials such as: brick, wood and no more than two floors. The traces of time is able to find not only on the architectural design of each building but also everywhere like: on the yin-yang roof tiles covered with moss and plants; the old gray mold walls; the pictures carved on a strange animal, or describing a old story… Having inherited a multi-cultural architecture so varied and sophisticated, Hoi An must have attracted numerous and talented workers in carpentry, ceramics, and woodcarving from China, Japan and other regions of Viet Nam.

 

 Unique and Diversified Culture 

For centuries, Hoi An had developed into a melting pot of various nationalities who came to the area, bringing along their own cultures. Accordingly, Hoi An features the co-existence of indigenous customs and habits and those imported by foreign settlers.

 

There are animist cults, of the Genie-Whale and worship of deities of natural phenomena (such as rain, wind, thunder), but also the worship of Holy Protectors like Thien Hau, Quan Cong, Bao Sinh Dai De, Avalokitesvara, especially among the Chinese community. They hold regular festivals or cultural and religious activities on the occasion of Tet Nguyen Tieu (the 16th day of the 1st lunar month), Thanh Minh (3rd lunar month), Doan Ngo (the 5th day of the 5th lunar month), Trung Thu (the 15th day of the 8th lunar month), Trung Cuu (the 9th day of the 9th lunar month), and Ha Nguyen (the 15th day of the 10th lunar month).

 

The social and cultural diversity adds up to the uniqueness of Hoi An’s inhabitants. Rich in traditions and early exposed to the outside world, the Hoi An people feature a unique cultural identity, which has been well preserved from generation to generation. Lives of people who stay here incline to be interior with subtle quiet. In the mind of the natives of Hoi An, this town constitutes a large ancient home that shelters a big family of many descendants including hospitable dwellers, friendly hosts and hostesses, kind-hearted women, obedient children and so on. They together form a harmonious community who has lived peacefully side by side through successive generations.

 

Coming to Hoi An, visitors will immediately feel the hospitality and friendship the locals extend to them. One thing that has withstood the test of time, one thing that the Hoi An people today can be proud of and therefore, make every efforts to preserve is their popular ho (chants) and age-old cultural festivals. Among them, the "Nights of Hoi An" is held on the 1st and 14th nights of every lunar month. Visitors can immerse themselves in a festive atmosphere imbued with the traditional identities of Hoi An.

 

Inspirational Cuisine

Abundant and delicious cuisine is also Hoi An’s attractiveness. Must-taste specialties in the ancient town include mi quang (Quang Nam-styled noodles), cao lau (a traditional food considered by Quang Nam people as a special symbol of Hoi An), com ga (chicken rice), hoanh thanh (hot shrimp dumplings), banh beo (rice cake with shrimp powder)…

 

With its outstanding values, at the end of 1999, Hoi An Ancient Town has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site.

 

Must-see Attractions

Exploring this UNESCO World Heritage Site, visitors can contemplate 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.

 

They can also visit streets in the ancient town, enjoy artistic activities, folk games, night market.

 

In addition, for those who love sea, sun and sand, Hoi An offers two lovely beaches of Cua Dai and An Bang, which located five kilometres away from the town centre.

ALBUM
WHERE TO STAY
Hoi An Hotel

Add: 10 Tran Hung Dao St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3861 445

Boutique Hoi An Resort

Add: Group 6, Tan Thinh Block, Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 393 9111

Mercure Hoi An Hotel

Add: 321 Cua Dai St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3923 777

Anantara Hoi An Resort

Add: 1 Pham Hong Thai St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3914 555   

Indochine Hotel

Add: 87 Cua Dai St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3923 601

Thuy Duong 3 Hotel

Add: 92-94 Ba Trieu St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3916 565

Van Loi Hotel

Add: 54 Nguyen Tri Phuong St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3936 205/ 3936 225

Belle Maison Haddana Hoi An Resort &spa

Add: 538 Cua Dai St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3914 444

Muong Thanh Hoi An Hotel

Add: Au Co St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3666 999

Hoi An Silk Marina & Spa Hotel

Add: 14 Hung vuong St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3963 399

Lasiesta Resort & Spa Hôi An

Add: 132 Hung Vuong St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3915 915

Lasenta Boutique Hoi An Hotel

Add: 57 Ly Thuong Kiet St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3927 798

Allegro Hoi An Hotel

Add: 86 Tran Hung Dao St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3529 999

Hoian Central Boutique Hotel & Spa

Add: 91 Hung Vuong St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3959 999

Vinpearl Hoi An Resort & Villa

Add: Cua Dai St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3753 333

Sunrise Hoi An Premium Resort

Add: Cua Dai Beach, Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3937 777

Aurora Riverside Hotel

Add: 242 Cua Dai St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3924 111

Palm Garden Resort

Add: Lac Long Quan St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3927 927

Vinh Hung Emerald Resort

Add: 127 Ngo Quyen St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3934 999

Golden Sand Resort & Spa Hoi An Resort

Add: Thanh Nien St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3927 555

WHERE TO EAT
Heaven Garden Restaurant

Add: 235 Cua Dai St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3858 826

Blue Dragon Restaurant

Add: 46 Bach Dang St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3910 742

Hai Café Restaurant

Add: 111 Tran Phu St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3863 210

Bo Bo Restaurant

Add: 18 Le Loi St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3861 939

Rice Drum Restaurant

Add: 75 Nguyen Thai Hoc St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3862 999

Inflame Club

Add: 53 Nguyen Phuc Chu St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3929 333

Seedlings Restaurant

Add: 41 Nguyen Phuc Chu St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3921 565

Morning Glory Restaurant

Add: 106 Nguyen Thai Hoc St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 2241 555

Mango Mango Restaurant & Lounge Bar

Add: 45 Nguyen Phuc Chu St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3911 863

Ngoc Tuyet Restaurant

Add: 43 Tran Hung Dao St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3936 146

The Cargo Club

Add: 107-109 Nguyen Thai Hoc St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3911 227

Mango Rooms Restaurant & Café

Add: 111 Nguyen Thai Hoc St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3910 839

Banana Leaf Restaurant

Add: 84 Bach Dang St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3861 346

Huong Que Restaurant

Add: 21 Bach Dang St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3623 777

Fullmoon Towns Restaurant

Add: 101 Cua Dai St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3923 922

Ancient Faifo Restaurant

Add: 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3917 444

Brother's Café Hoian - Bar & Restaurant

Add: 27-29 Phan Boi Chau St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3914 150

Bao Han Restaurant

Add: 17 Cua Dai St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3501 440

Zera Seamile Restaurant

Add: Lac Long Quan St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3911 911

Van Loc Restaurant

Add: 27 Tran Phu St., Hoi An City

Tel: (84-235) 3861 212