Hoi An Town

After a long period of absence from the tourist map, this lovely town started to draw the attention of visitors and researchers at the beginning of the 1980’s. What is so special about Hoi An is that this little port town is in an incredible state of preservation. It offers some of the most densely concentrated sights in Vietnam with its old streets bordered with ancient houses and assembly halls, its pagodas, temples, ancient wells and tombs. In total, more than a thousand places of interest.

Hoi An is located 30km south of Danang City, and 60 km northeast of Tam Ky. Hoi An used to be an international trade center by sea on the east west area in the 16th and 17th centuries.

It was the busiest trading port in Dang Trong region of Vietnam under the reign of Nguyen as merchants from Japan, China, Portugal, Spain, and Holland...often landed for exchanging, purchasing commodities. In the historical progress of establishment and development, Hoi An was known by foreign merchants as Faifo, Haisfo, Hoai pho, Ketchem, Cotam. Based on archeological relics and architecture documents, Hoi An was not only a place of converge and exchanging of many cultures such as:  Champa, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Japanese and Chinese, especially impacted most by Vietnamese and Chinese civilizations.

Up to now, the ancient town of Hoi An intactly preserves its original architectures - a harmonious blend of Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese influences – inclusive of houses, temples, pagodas, streets, ports, civil buildings, religious structures and other non-religious worshipping structures. The every day lifestyle with deep-rooted customs and cultural activities is fascinating.

Hoi An also attracts tourists thanks to its poetic and picturesque landscapes such as Thuan Tinh islet, Cua Dai beacch, together with traditional handicrafts and famous local specialties.

Hoi An was listed as a world cultural heritage site by UNESCO in December 1999. As statistics shows, in Hoi An there are 1,360 relics and landscapes. These relics are divided into eleven kinds, including 1,068 ancient houses, 19 pagodas, 43 temples, 23 communal houses, 38 family temples, 5 assembly halls, 11 old wells, one bridge, and 44 ancient tombs. In old quarter, there are more than 1,000 relic sites.

Japanese Covered Bridge

Connecting Tran Phu St. with Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St., Japanese Covered bridge was constructed in the middle of the 16th century by Japanese merchants in Hoi An. Due to natural disaster, Japanese Covered bridge was restored so many times that it gradually lost its original Japanese architecture style and was impacted by Vietnamese and Chinese design. The bridge was provided with a roof which was arched shape and skillfully carved with many fine patterns. Over the door, 3 Chinese characters “Lai Van Kieu” (it means Bridge for Passers-by From Afar) was carved prominently to name the bridge by Nguyen Phuc Chu Lord in his trip to Hoi An in 1719.

The two entrances to the bridge are guarded by a pair of monkeys on one side and a pair of dogs on the other. According to legend, these once lived an enormous monster called Cu whose head was in India, its tail in Japan and its body in Vietnam. Whenever the monster moved, terrible disaster such as floods and earthquake befell these places. Thus, apart from the purpose of transportation, building the bridge also is to speak-killing the monster to preserve safe and peaceful life.

Japanese Covered Bridge is an invaluable property and has been officially selected to be the symbol of Hoi An.

Quan Thang ancient house (77 Tran Phu St.)

Quan Thang is currently evaluated as one of the nicest ancient houses in Hoi An. It is an over 150 year old house with architecture style of Hoa Ha, China. Through years, the style as well as interior decoration of the house has been lovingly preserved. That helps us partly imagine the lifestyle of its owner generations who were the merchant class in Hoi An earlier. It is known that the whole of lively and fine architecture and sculptures were made by craftsmen of Kim Bong carpentry village.

This is a main spot in the journey of discovery the world cultural heritage in Hoi An.

Tan Ky ancient house (101 Nguyen Thai Hoc St.)

Built about 200 years ago, Tan Ky’s architecture style is piped shape - a typical style of Hoi An ancient houses. Its interior is divided into many apartments and each one has its own function. The front of the house is used for stores and the back of the house near the river was the place for import and export goods. The interior decoration item was made of unique wood skillfully carved with symbols of dragon, fruits, eight weapons, silk fillets showing well-off of its owners.

On 17th February 1990 Tan Ky house was listed as a national historical vestige.

Phung Hung ancient house (04 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St.)

Over 100 years old, Phung Hung house possessed a unique architecture. The high wooden ceiling and large corridors represent the development of architecture and exchange among Asian architectural styles in Hoi An in the earlier centuries. The house exhibits a lot of information about the lifestyle of merchants who lived in Hoi An long time ago. Although being made from unique woods, Phung Hung house was not carved at all by the owner on purpose.

On the 29th of June 1993 the house was listed as a national historical vestige.

Phuc Kien Assembly hall (46 Tran Phu St)

It is said that Phuc Kien Assembly hall was once a small temple where Thien Hau Thanh Mau statue (a goddess who protects merchants sailing in the sea) was worshiped.It was picked up on the beach of Hoi An in 1697. Due to restorations and support of the Fukien people, the Assembly hall became resplendent and spacious taking part in the embellishment of Hoi An architecture. Arranging the statues for worshiping means “human happiness” profoundly expresses the oriental philosophy.

Annually, on the 15th of January lunar year, 16th of February lunar year and 23th of March lunar year many activities are organized, attracting a lot of foreigners as well as domestic tourists.

On 17th of February 1990 Phuc Kien was listed a national historical vestige.

Trieu Chau Assembly hall (157 Nguyen Duy Hieu St.)

Trieu Chau Assembly hall was built in 1845. The General Phuc Ba, who was claimed to be able to make winds calm and waves quiet, was worshipped there.

The house possesses a special value in architecture with its skillfully carved wood house-frame and wooden decorated alter and many glazed terracotta carving works. 

Quang Dong Assembly hall (17 Tran Phu St.)

Founded in 1885 by Cantonese people, Quang Dong Assembly hall was firstly used to worship Thien Hau Thanh Mau and Khong Tu, and later in 1911 was used to worship Quan Cong and their ancestors.

The harmonious combination of wood and stone material and beautiful decorations bring the house the unique and sacred design. Annually, on the 15th of January lunar year and the 24th of June lunar year festivals are held, attracting many people.

Ngu Bang assembly hall (64 Tran Phu St.)

Ngu Bang is also called Duong Thuong or Chinese Assembly hall. It was built in 1747 by five groups of Chinese people: Fukien, Trieu Chau, Cantonese, HaiNam and Gia Ung. Here, they worship Thien Hau Thanh Mau and it is used as a meeting place to do business. Its architecture is influenced by Chinese style.

Ong pogoda (24 Tran Phu St.)

Founded in 1653, Chua Ong was restored six times in years of 1753, 1783, 1827, 1864, 1904, 1906 and restored six times. Chua Ong possesses a magnificent and impressing architecture, and is also called the Quan Cong temple. Quan Van Truong, (a symbolic image which represents loyalty and integrity according to Confucianism, is worshipped here). This place was once both a religious center of ancient Quang Nam people, and a place where people came to consult oracles and believed it to bring luck.

Quan Am pagoda (7 Nguyen Hue St.)

Being the only remaining Buddha-worshipped pagoda in Hoi An ancient town, Quan Am pagoda possesses a nice scenery and interesting architecture. Special wooden sculptures carved by skilful craftsman of Kim Bong carpentry village are intactly preserved here. Quan The Am Bo Tat and other bodhisattvas are worshipped here. On the fifteen day of the lunar month, people come here participating actively in religious activities.

Tran family temple (21 Le Loi St.)

Founded in 1802 by Tran mandarin (a large family emigrating from China to Hoi An in 1700s) built in 1802 in accordance with the traditional science of winds and waters of Chinese and Vietnamese. Located on the area of 1500m2, Tran family temple consists of many sections such as temple of ancestor worship and display of relics relating to family, house...

This is the place where descendants get together, worshipping, and solving affairs in their lineage.

Tran family temple is one of the place attracting attention and interest from visitors.

Historical- cultural museum (7 Nguyen Hue St.)

Established in 1989, the museum displays 212 artifacts and documents made from porcelain, pottery, bronze, iron, paper and wood. They represent many stages of development of Hoi An trading port from Sa Huynh civilization (the second century AD) to Cham civilization (from the 2nd to 15th century). Visiting Hoi An Historical and Cultural museum, tourists get an overview of history development and culture of the ancient town.

Pottery trade museum (80 Tran Phu St.)

Founded in 1995, the Pottery trade museum exhibits a rare collection of 430 artifacts from the 8th to the 18th century. Most of the artifacts are originally from central Asia, India, China, Japan, Thailand and Viet Nam playing an important role of Hoi An trading port in pottery trading in the earlier centuries. This museum also shows that Hoi An was once a busy international exchanging town for culture and business.

Sa Huynh cultural museum (149 Tran Phu St.)

The museum supplies a plenty of information about ancient people of Sa Huynh civilization who were the first owners of Hoi An trading port, having exchanging relationship with China, India, and South East Asia. About 216 objects which are some 2000 years old of Sa Huynh civilization are exhibited. These items are found through explorations and excavations of archaeological sites in such the places as Hau Xa, Thanh Chiem, An Bang, Xuan Lam from 1989 to 1994.

The artifacts at the museum are evaluated as the most unique collection of Sa Huynh civilization in Viet Nam.