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Telephone code : 0510

The ancient town of Hoi An, 30 km south of Danang, lies on the banks of the Thu Bon River. Occupied by early western traders, Hoi An was one of the major trading centers of Southeast Asia in the 16th century.

Hoi An has a distinct Chinese atmosphere with low, tile-roofed houses and narrow streets; the original structure of some of these streets still remains almost intact. All the houses were made of rare wood, decorated with lacquered boards and panels engraved with Chinese characters. Pillars were also carved with ornamental designs.

Tourists can visit the relics of the Sa Huynh and Cham cultures. They can also enjoy the beautiful scenery of the romantic Hoi An River, Cua Dai Beach, and Cham Island.

Over the last few years, Hoi An has become a very popular tourist destination in Vietnam.

LIGHT BRIGHT

 In a wood-fronted shops a woman in traditional dress sits at a desk, bathed in the light of a lantern made from a simple bamboo fish-trap. Outside, two old men are absorbed in a candlelit game of Chinese checkers. These scenes, straight out of the 19th century, still take place in Hoi An, a sleepy riverside town in the central province of Quang Nam.

Hoi An has long been a cultural crossroad. More than five centuries ago the Vietnamese nation of Dai Viet expanded its territory southwards, encroaching on the Indianized Kingdom of Champa, which covered much of what is now central Vietnam. Hoi An, located on the Hoai River, emerged when Japanese and Chinese traders built a commercial district there in the 16th century.

These diverse cultural influences remain visible today. Visitors will find Hoi An's Old Quarter lined with two-storey Chinese shops, their elaborately carved wooden facades and moss-covered tile roofs having withstood the ravages of more than 300 years of weather and warfare. These proud old buildings, which back onto the river, remind visitors of another era, when Hoi An's market was filled with wares from as far a field as India and Europe. Colorful guildhalls, founded by ethnic Chinese from Guangdong and Fujian provinces, stand quietly, a testament to the town's trading roots.

While Hoi An's old-fashioned charm is always visible, on the 15th of every lunar month modernity takes another step back. On these evenings the town turns off its street lamps and fluorescent lights, leaving the Old Quarter bathed in the warm glow of colored silk, glass and paper lanterns. In ancient times, Vietnamese people made lamps out of shallow bowls filled with oil. Later, foreign traders introduced lanterns, ranging from round and hexagonal designs from China to diamond and star shaped ones from Japan.

 

LET THERE BE LIGHT

 When developing plans to preserve their town's ancient character, Hoi An residents decided to revive the practice of using color lanterns. Starting in the fall of 1998, one night each month is declared a "lantern festival". On the 15th day of each lunar month, residents on Tran Phu, Nguyen Thai Hoc, Le Loi and Bach Dang streets switch off their lights and hang cloth and paper lanterns on their porches and windows. Television sets, radios, street lights and neon lights are turned off.

In the ensuing quiet the streets of Hoi An are at their most romantic, the darkness broken only by jewel toned lanterns in all manner of shapes and sizes.

Strolling through the lantern-lit streets is like walking into a fairytale. It is all the more picturesque since motor vehicles are banned from Hoi An's Old Quarter. On Tran Phu Street, stop at the beautifully preserved Faifo Restaurant to sample some traditional Chinese-style pastries. Or walk on to the Treated Caf6, where bamboo baskets, commonly used to wash rice, have been transformed into unique lanterns. These basket lamps are but one example of people's creativity as they experiment with new shapes and materials, including lights made from hollow bamboo tubes.

A WARM GLOW

The 15th day of the lunar month is a Buddhist day of worship. Residents place offerings of food and incense on their ancestral altars and visit one of Hoi An's many pagodas. The scent of incense and the sounds of people singing add to the town's enchanted atmosphere. On these evenings, visitors will get a rare glimpse into another era. These nights are a welcome reminder of life's unexpected beauty.

Highlights

Japanese Bridge: Built in 1593 by the town’s Japanese community. The bridge links Tran Phu and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai streets.

Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall: At 46 Tran Phu, the place where merchants from Fujian province (Phuoc Kien in Vietnamese) in China used to gather.

Quan Cong Temple: At 24 Tran Phu in the north side of the Hoi An market , this temple is dedicated to Quan Cong, a Chinese general.

Cua Dai Beach: Great beach 5km of Hoi An town . Sit in a deckchair and dine on seafood.

Getting There

Bus: The usual way of getting to Hoi An is to take a bus from Da Nang bus station (at 33 Dien Bien Phu). Hoi An bus station is 1km west of the town center, at 74 Huynh Thuc Khang; open 5am-5pm.

From Hoi An, an easy way to get there is to take a Hoi An Tourist Service mini bus from 6 Tran Hung Dao; Tel: 861-373. You can also rent a car to get there from Da Nang , about 55km away, or contact our office in Hoi An.

Around Hoi An

Tra Kieu Citadel: A 15th century Champa fortress in Duy Xuyen district.

Chien Dan Tower: Built in the 11th century in honor of the Champa’s Hindu deities . In Tan Ky town, 55km west of Hoi An.

Suoi Tien Springs: A noted beauty spot in Que Son district, with 13 waterfalls nestled among mountains and forests.

My Son Sanctuary : The holy Champa city, built in the fourth century , was recognized as a world heritage site in 1999. It was the sight of the important Cham intellectual and religious center, and also served as a burial place for Cham monarchs. The monuments here are set in a verdant valley surrounded bu hills and shadowed by the massive Cat’s Tooth Mountain (Hon Quap). Clear brooks (perfect for a dip) run between the structures and past nearby coffee plantations. Most of the temple in My Son were dedicated to Cham kings associated with divinities.

 

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