Hoian, or Hoi An Vietnam, also known as Hoi An Ancient Town, is famous for its Lantern festival in Vietnam and was a UNESCO World Heritage Site from 1999 onwards. Hoi An is located on the north bank of the Thu Bon River, near the mouth, in Vietnam’s central Quang Nam Province.
Hoi An Ancient Town is a well-preserved example of a small-scale trading port that operated from the 15th to the 19th century. Hoian dealt extensively with Southeast and East Asian countries. In addition, there is the rest of the world. Its fall in the late nineteenth century guaranteed that it would keep a significant amount of its conventional urban tissue.
Hoi An Vietnam
Hoi An, Vietnam, is a melting pot of local and international cultures. It had mostly Chinese and Japanese influences, with later European influences. All of those combined to generate this one-of-a-kind survival. A well-preserved complex of 1,107 timber-framed structures with brick or wooden walls may be seen in Hoi An.
Architectural monuments, as well as commercial and private vernacular architecture, are included. The noteworthy places are an open market, a ferry quay, and structures such as pagodas and family cult houses.
The Hoi dwellings are tiled, with traditional designs carved into the timber components. Along narrow pedestrian streets, they are organized into tight, unbroken rows, side by side.
Hoi An Ancient Town
There’s also an 18th-century Japanese wooden bridge with a pagoda. The original street pattern, which evolved as Hoi An grew into a port, has been preserved.
It is made up of a grid of streets with one axis parallel to the river and the other axis situated at right angles to it. The fronts of the buildings usually face the streets for simple client access, while the backs face the river for easy loading and unloading of goods from boats.
The original and undamaged wooden structures and street design depict a traditional townscape of the 17th and 18th centuries, the survival of which is unusual in the region. The town is still occupied and serves as a trading port and a hub of commerce today.
The town’s living heritage displays the varied communities of the town’s indigenous residents. It has been kept and passed on to locals as well as outsiders. Hoi An Ancient Town is a fantastic example of a Far Eastern harbor that has been well conserved.
Things to Do in Hoi An
Hoi An does not have an airport or a train station. There is no other way to get there than by car. You can hire a taxi from Da Nang, a nearby city with an airport that has daily flights from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and other major Vietnamese cities.
Da Nang also has a train station and a plethora of bus services. Tourists will be able to choose from a wide range of hotels in both Cua Dai Beach and Hoi An City, depending on their budget and style.
Vietnam Lanterns
The best things to do in Hoi An are largely concentrated in the popular neighborhoods of Riverside and Ancient Town, which are easy to get around on foot or by cyclo. Due to its location near the Thu Bon River, Hoi An was a major Vietnamese trading port for silk, porcelain, pepper, cinnamon, and medicinal plants between the 15th and 19th centuries. As a result, the city’s architecture is a combination of Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese, and French.
Hoi An is full of beautifully renovated houses, businesses, and temples, providing unique sightseeing opportunities not found in other Vietnamese cities. From centuries-old Buddhist pagodas and temples to gorgeous beaches and charming museums, there is something for everyone. Continue reading to see my list of the most popular attractions in Hoi An.
Hoian
Hoian, is a place to exquisite Chinese temples, a Japanese-designed bridge, wooden shop-houses, French colonial houses, and old canals. Most of the historic shops have been meticulously turned into modern companies oriented towards tourists, including innumerable tailors, souvenir shops, art galleries, restaurants, and cafés. Foreign tourists must pay VND 120,000, while locals must pay VND 80,000. Each ticket is good for 10 days and includes admission to Hoi An Ancient Town, six sites of interest, and street entertainment (folk dancing, singing, and traditional games).
- Location: Hoi An Town, Quang Nam Province
Hoi An Riverside
Due to its location on the banks of the Thu Bon River, Hoi An Riverside was a popular destination for foreign traders between the 16th and 18th centuries. Fresh seafood, beers, drinks, coffee, and pastries, as well as local and international fare, are all available at the waterfront area’s vibrant taverns, bistros, and restaurants. At the docks, you can hire a local boat for a day of fishing or sailing along the quiet river. Hundreds of colorful hand-crafted lanterns brighten the wooden bridges, verandas, and windows of shophouses during the annual festivities.
- Location: Hoi An Town, Quang Nam Province
Japanese Covered Bridge
The Japanese Covered Bridge, which dates from the 18th century, is one of Hoi An Ancient Town’s most popular attractions. Locals think it was erected by Japanese residents of Hoi An as a method to cross the lake to the Chinese neighborhood. It measures 18 meters in length. The bridge was dedicated in 1719 by Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu, who carved three Chinese symbols above the entry. Intricate sculptures of two dogs and two monkeys mark the birth years of prominent Japanese Emperors on the Japanese Covered Bridge.
- Location: West end of Tran Phu Street, Hoi An Ancient Town
An Bang Beach
There are several beaches in Hoi An, but locals will tell you that An Bang Beach is one of the nicest. This beach is less crowded than many of the area’s more well-known stretches of sand, and it features immaculate white sand that backs up to the water.
If you visit for the day, there are a number of wonderful coastal restaurants where you can sample some delectable seafood. If you want to spend a little more time at the beach, you can rent a coastal property here.
My Son Ruins
If you wish to venture out of Hoi An for the day, go to the My Son Ruins, which are a collection of Hindu temples dating from the 4th to the 13th centuries. The temples are located west of Hoi An, and it is possible to visit them on a day trip from the city.
My Son is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has been saved and rebuilt after centuries of abandonment. The park covers 140 hectares, and visitors can learn about how Hinduism was an important component of Vietnamese culture in the past.
Hoi An Museum
The major museum in Hoi An is the place to go if you want to learn more about the city’s history. Here you’ll find a diverse collection of artifacts that tell the heritage of the region, including antiquities from the Cham and colonial periods.
There are several galleries here that feature drawings, pottery, paintings, and pictures, as well as distinctive objects such as enormous bronze temple bells.
Vietnam lantern festival
Lantern festival in Vietnam takes place every month to commemorate the full moon. On the 14th day of each lunar month, when the moon is at its fullest and brightest, it is held.
The Buddhist calendar considers the full moon to be one of the most sacred periods. Buddha is supposed to have been born on a full moon and to have reached enlightenment on a full moon. Henceforth, Buddhists have regarded the full moon as an auspicious period of transformation for ages.
People all around Asia still use the full moon to meditate, perform rituals, reflect on life, and honor their ancestors. This is done in a variety of ways, including making offerings at family shrines, burning incense, and lighting candles. These customs have evolved into the famed Hoi An Lantern Festival in subsequent years.
