World Heritage In Vietnam: Hoi An Ancient Town

Hoi An Ancient Town appears to have maintained its historical beauty from its roadways to its architectural works despite the hectic expansion of the country, in contrast to the vibrant Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Hoi An old town, which is located about 30 kilometers south of Da Nang, is a fantastic destination to meet the actual Vietnamese people and learn about their history.

Additionally, this is a unique location where you can see a tasteful fusion of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese architecture.

History of Hoi An Old Town

The ancient town of Hoi An has experienced several centuries of history but continues to be how it was in the very beginning. The Japanese and Chinese as well as the Western (Dutch and Spanish) occupation throughout the 16th and 17th centuries are its two key historical markers.

The town's Vietnamese name at the time of the China Trade was Hai Pho (Sea Town). Due to the former Japanese hamlet being across the "Japanese Bridge," Hai Pho used to be a split town (16th-17th century). Then, it was a significant international port city known to the French and Spanish as Faifo.

Due to these periods, the thoroughly good and distinctive foreign hobbies and culture had a significant impact on Hoi An as it is today.

How Is Hoi An Unique?

Anyone visiting Vietnam cannot dispute how alluring Hoi An ancient town is in terms of the environment, architecture, culture, holidays, and so forth.

Hoi An Ancient Town's climate

Hoi An Ancient Town, a historic town in the center of Vietnam, experiences two distinct seasons, with pleasant weather with an annual average temperature of 29 °C predominating. The rest of the year is the dry season, which runs from September through January. The hottest months are June and July, with most days averaging between 25°C and 30°C.

Architecture 

Visitors can view a collection of old-architectured alleys and homes here that have been preserved almost entirely in their original condition, complete with moss-covered walls, starkly plain roofs, antique furniture in its original, pristine arrangement, etc.

The ancient town of Hoi An is fortunate to be a cultural crossroads of the Asian (Japanese, Chinese, and Indian) and the Western ones during their trading here in the 16th century. This was during the first southward expansion of Dai Viet (the Vietnamese nation encroaching on the Indianized Kingdom of Champa, which covered much of what is now central Vietnam).

Even now, these various cultural influences are still discernible. The town's history of trade is evidenced by the colorful guildhalls that were built by ethnic Chinese from the provinces of Guangdong and Fujian.

Hoi An Ancient Town's traditional charm is always apparent, but on the 14th of every lunar month, modernism retreats even further. The best examples of both oriental and western architecture can be seen here, creating a singular historic Hoi An that draws in all visitors in search of timeless beauty! You still want to observe how a vibrant ancient civilization may sturdily endure in this new modern and high-tech era, even if you don't have a preference for traditional style!

Festivals 

The Full Moon Festival is one of the major Hoi An festivals that visitors shouldn't miss. Every lunar month, it takes place the night before the full moon on the 14th, when the Old Town is even more festive, bustling, and beautifully decked with vibrant lights and lamps down every lane. Another is the Mid-Autumn Festival, which takes place on the 14th of the lunar month of August.

Last but not least, the Old Quarter is bathed in the warm glow of colored silk, glass, and paper lanterns during the "lantern festival”, which is the most magical and unique event in Hoi An. It is typically demonstrated with all colorful hanging cloth and paper lanterns on the 15th of every lunar month switched on completely while all electrical equipment is off. Anyone's interest and eye feed are piqued as a brilliant, enchanting, and enigmatic view is revealed!

Religion

Buddhists have a day of worship on the fourteenth day of the lunar month. Residents of Hoi An Ancient Town visit one of the city's several pagodas and make food and incense offerings at their ancestral shrines. The enchanting ambiance of the village is enhanced by the aroma of incense and the sounds of people singing. Visitors will receive a unique look into a different time period - the extremely remote period of our ancestors - and learn about it for themselves.

Traffic

When driving to Hoi An Ancient Town, you won't experience the same level of congested traffic as in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, even though inhabitants still rely heavily on motorbikes for transportation. To ensure that tourists don't feel threatened when crossing the street in these areas, motorcyclists are even forbidden on select town streets at specific hours.

What To Eat in Hoi An Ancient Town?

The food in The ancient town of Hoi An is delicious, plentiful, and reasonably priced. Take the most well-known meal of rice noodles, Cao Lu, which has a consistency somewhat akin to pasta. What's the key to it?

It is the water that is collected from a particular well in the city and utilized to produce it. Slices of roast pork, dough fritters, and a generous amount of fresh herbs and vegetables are placed on top of the noodles. You should try one of these, in my opinion, or you'll quickly come to regret it!

What to See in Hoi An Ancient Town?

Hoi An is an old town, thus all of its attractions have complete historical significance and a classical aesthetic. The Japanese Covered Bridge (Chua Cau or Lai Vien Kieu), at the western end of Tran Phu Street, is Hoi An's most well-known relic and the city's icon. The Japanese community built the bridge in the early 1600s.

Visitors should take their time to explore Quan Cong Temple and the Museum of Culture. Many visitors interested in ancient style architecture come here to get a close-up view of the town's historic homes, including Tan Ky House, Quan Thang House, and Phung Hung House, all of which are located close to the Japanese Bridge.

The layout of the dwellings demonstrates how Chinese and Japanese influences were blended into local architecture. The Qiang Dong Cantonese Assembly Hall includes a serene garden with an elaborate statue. You could sneak a glimpse at the backyard's tacky pastel dragon statues that are partially hidden.

The block also includes the Hokkien (Fujian) Meeting Hall (Phuc Kien) and the Chinese All-Community Meeting Hall (Trieu Chau). There are numerous pagodas to visit if you practice Buddhism. It costs more to enter Ong Pagoda, Quan Am Phat Tu Minh Huong Pagoda, etc.

The ancient town of Hoi An is currently renowned as a shopping mecca that draws travelers with its exquisite gifts, handicrafts, antiques, silks, art paintings, and other items.

How to Get Hoi An Ancient Town

By plane

Currently, direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang are offered by domestic carriers such as Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar, and Vietjetair. Keep in mind that you should purchase your tickets 3 to 6 months in advance if you want to get affordable ones.

By train

Compared to flying, taking the train is a little less expensive. There is a railroad track that leads to Da Nang from Hanoi or Saigon (North - South route). The fee varies depending on the train and seat class from 400,000 to 1,200,000 VND. From these two cities to Da Nang, the trip time is between 14 and 20 hours.

How to get to Hoi An from Da Nang

By motorbike

In Da Nang, you can rent a motorcycle for between 120,000 and 150,000 VND per day to get to Hoi An. From My Khe beach to Cua Dai beach, travel along the coast on Vo Nguyen Giap road. When you reach Cua Dai, a crossroads awaits you; turn right to reach Hoi An's Ancient Town or left to reach An Bang Beach.

By Taxi

This is going to be the most practical and sensible option if you go in a big group. A trip from Da Nang to Hoi An will cost between 200,000 and 250,000 VND.