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planning a trip to Vietnam and are having difficulties
deciding where to go and what to do, what you cannot miss
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Tailormade Vietnam Holidays would like to recommend some
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Hoi An
ancient town
Where in the world could remain
such a cristine ancient beauty after nearly 300 circles of the four
seasons? It is
Hoi An – the famous Old Town in Mid Southern Vietnam…
Located on the banks of the poetic Thu Bon River, in central Quang
Nam province, 30 kilometers south of
Da Nang, Hoi An ancient town is
an Eastern oriental classic captivation. With the strategic location
on the banks of the great river, with one seaside border (East), it
used to be one of the major trading centers in Southeast Asia during
the 16th century due to the early western trader occupying period.
Hoi An has been through a few centuries of history, but still
remains as in the very first days of its being born. Its two main
historical landmarks are the occupying of the Japanese & Chinese,
and the Western (Dutch and Spanish) during the 16th and 17th
centuries. During the period of the China trade, the town was called
Hai Pho (Sea Town) in Vietnamese. Originally Hai Pho was a divided
town, because across the "Japanese Bridge", it used to be the
Japanese settlement (16th-17th century). Then it was known to the
French and Spanish as Faifo, a major international port city. Thanks
to these days, the foreign comprehensively possitive and special
pastimes and culture had made deep influences on the today's Hoi An.
Coming here, tourists can see a series of old-architectured lanes
and houses with nearly 100% cristinely left from their initial
buildings with mossgrown walls, deeply plain roofs, old furniture in
their cristine past arrangment etc. Hoi An is fortunate to be a
cultural crossroads of the Cham culture in the very first southward
expansion of Dai Viet (the Vietnamese nation more than 5 centuries
ago encroaching on the Indianized Kingdom of Champa, which covered
much of what is now central Vietnam), the Asian (Japanese, Chinese,
Indian), and the Western ones during their trading here in the 16th
century. These diverse cultural influences remain visible today.
Colourful 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 14th of
every lunar month modernity takes another step back. Most premium
oriental and western style of architecture meet together here,
making a unique ancient Hoi An, absorbing all tourists who are eager
for classic beauty! Even you are not classic styled, you still want
to see by yourself how a lively ancient world can cristinely survive
in this new modern and high-tech era!
Tourists should not miss some of the great festivals of Hoi An,
among which is Full Moon Festival, held on the 14th of every lunar
month, one night before the full moon, when the Old Town becomes
even more festive than usual, active and marvellously decorated with
colorful lights and lamps along every lane. Another one is the
Mid-Autumn Festival - held on the 14th of the August lunar month.
Last but not least, the "lantern festival", the most enchanting and
special one of Hoi An, which is typically demonstrated with all
colorful hanging cloth and paper lanterns on the 15th of every lunar
month switched on altogether while all electrical equipment is off,
leaving the Old Quarter bathed in the warm glow of colored silk,
glass and paper lanterns.. A sparkling, romantic and mysterious view
is opened, stimulating anybody’s curiosity and eye feed!
The 14th day of the lunar month is a Buddhist day of worship. Hoi An
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. Visitors will get a rare glimpse into another era – the
very far away period of our ancestors, and discovering it
themselves.
Hoi An’s delicacies are plentiful and particularly tasty and cheap.
Let’s take an example, one of the most popular one - Cao Lau, a dish
of rice noodles somehow closer in texture to pasta. What is its
secret? It is the water used to make it, being collected from a
special well in the city. The noodles are topped with slices of
roast pork, dough fritters, and lots of fresh herbs and veggies. I
think you should try one of these, or else you will soon regret!
Let’s see, you are sitting on stools, eating a bowl of Cao Lau with
wooden chopsticks, and sipping the ice cold "White Coffee with
vinamilk"! Oh, this is really an interesting adventure!
Where to go and What to see?
Since Hoi An is an old Town, its places of interest are of full
historically classical meaning and image. Hoi An symbol, the most
popular remnant is the
Japanese Covered Bridge (Chua Cau or Lai Vien
Kieu), on the west end of Tran Phu Street. The bridge was
constructed in the early 1600's by the Japanese community. Tourists
should spend time on visiting
Quan Cong Temple,
Museum of Culture…
Many ancient style - oriented architects come here to have a direct
look into the ancient houses of the town, among which are
Phung Hung
House, just west of the Japanese Bridge, Quan Thang House, or
Tan Ky
House. The design of the houses show how local architecture
incorporated Japanese and Chinese influences.
Cantonese Assembly
Hall (Quang Dong), has a calm courtyard with ornate statuary. You
could take a peek at the half-hidden back yard and its kitschy
pastel dragon statues.
Hokien (Fujian) Meeting Hall (Phuc Kien) and
Chinese All-Community Meeting Hall (Trieu Chau), are also spanning
the block. If you are Buddhist, there are a lot of pagodas to visit.
Ong Pagoda, Quan Am Phat Tu Minh Huong Pagoda, etc. are premium
places to get in.
Today, Hoi An is also known as a shopping paradise that attracts
tourists towards its wonderful souvenirs, handicrafts, antique
pieces, silk materials and art paintings, and so on.
A Hoi An with colorful lanterned nights, a Hoi An with cristinely
old plain houses and special mysterious cultural elements, and a
Hoi An with the Etiquette & culturally hospitable and friendly people
are warmly welcoming you! Are you ready to take a culture discovery
journey?
RELATED INFORMATION
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Tours to Hoi An
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Hoi An
Travel guide
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