Once known as Faifo, Hoi An was one of the orient’s major trading ports in the 16th and 17th centuries. After the Thu Bon River linking Hoi An to the sea silted up ocean going ships were no longer able to sail into town and trade moved 30km up the coast to Tourane, known nowadays as Danang.
Alongside the development of the old town of Hoi An, traditional craft villages started to bloom. The commercial harbour at Hoi An reached it zenith at the beginning of the seventeenth century thanks largely to the quality of goods from the Quang region. Over the centuries, at this port, various types of goods such as swallows’nets, sea-food, village handicrafts, sculputure and pottery have been bought by traders and export to the four corners of the globe.
Despite the passing of 200 years and the ravages of weather and war, the centre of Hoi An remains much the same as it was in its heyday. The great pleasure of any visit to Hoi An is strolling along the beautiful streets to see the wooden-fronted houses that once belonged to the town’s prosperous merchants, the Japanese-covered Bridge and the wonderful market, specially walking around old town at night under the flickering lights of the many beautiful lanterns. Hoi An is one of the best places in Vietnam to shop for souvenirs at bargain prices including silk, handicrafts, antiques and paintings.
Five kilometres from the centre of town is Cua Dai Beach, popular with both locals and visitors alike, for its sandy beach, warm sea and seafood stalls. Hoi An is known throughout Vietnam for its excellent seafood and it also boasts its own unique dishes such as Cao Lau, a delicious combination of noodles, pork, bean sprouts, mint and croutons.
My Son, located 50km from Hoi An, was an imperial city during the Cham dynasty, between the 4th and 12th centuries. The My Son Scantuary is a large complex of religious relics that comprise of more than 70 acrchitetural works, temples and towers are interconnected with intricate red brick designs. The main component of the Cham architectural design is the tower, built to reflect the divinity of the King. The Cham Museum, built in 1915 in a classical French colonial building in Danang, has the finest collection of Cham sculpture from the period between 5th and 15th centuries.
Located 12 km west of Danang, is the Marble Mountains, also referred to as Ngu Hanh Son or Mountains of the Five Elements, consist of five sacred marble and limestone hills. Many shrines and temples have been constructed over the centuries both on the hillsides and in the spectacular natural caves concealed within the hills. The rest at the amazing is Non Nuoc Beach with its miles of golden sand beaches and home to a luxurious beach resort complex.
Hoi An Highlights
The 200 year-old merchants’ houses, Japanese-covered Bridge and Chinese assembly halls to discover Hoi An’s historical past
Visit the market in the centre of town to experience the sights and sounds of an authentic traditional market and stroll along the beautiful streets at night under the flickering lights of the many beautiful lanterns.
Hoi An’s Tran Phu Street for its silk shops, ceramics and art galleries
My Son for the ruins of the capital of the ancient Champa Kingdom
Non Nuoc for sandy beaches and warm blue seas
Charming little vegetable village Tra Que
Enchanting Thanh Nam fishing village to learn how to cash fish in this traditional fishing area
Thanh Ha pottery village and Kim Bong carpentry village