Hoi An Ancient Town: Amazing Activities in the Unique UNESCO Site
Hoi An ancient town is a unique and beautiful UNESCO World Heritage site that attracts many tourists every year. It is located in Quang Nam Province. Hoi An has existed for hundreds of years, making it the oldest in Vietnam.
History of UNESCO Hoi An ancient town
This town was one of the first settlements in Vietnam
Ancient people built this town on an island by the Thu Bon River, making it a necessary stop during trading seasons. Boats would sail up from China to trade items with merchants that lived there.
It was one of the largest and most important shipping and trading harbors in South East Asia during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Hoi An Old Town during Vietnam war
During the years of Chinese occupation, Hoi An ancient city was known as “Hai Pho” (a town near the sea in Vietnamese). It was then renamed into “Faifo” during the Indochina time when the French began their colonization in Vietnam. When they settled in Hoi An old town, they built a school, churches, an orphanage and the famous Saint Joseph’s Cathedral.
World War II saw another change in UNESCO Hoi An ancient town when Japan occupied Vietnam from 1941 to 1945. During the Japanese’s occupation, they took many of Hoi An’s artefacts back with them. However, after much protest from locals, they were returned to their original location.
Hoi An ancient town’s unique culture
As a trading port and a colonial in the past, Hoi An ancient city has many different cultures that have impacted its architecture. These include Chinese, Japanese, French and even Portuguese! As these foreigners passed through this area, they left part of their culture in Hoi An architecture. It makes it distinct from other areas of Vietnam at that time.
UNESCO Hoi An ancient town has been built and destroyed several times over the centuries. It is only to be rebuilt again in the same way as before. When exploring the town canter, you will find several temples that are well preserved with Chinese and Japanese cultural impacts.
We highly recommend that you not only visit these temples but also learn about their meanings. You can even see some Western aspects in Hoi An architecture thanks to the French and Portuguese.
Hoi An ancient city has preserved its cultural values portrayed by architectural buildings. Furthermore, it also maintains a vibrant culture with rich intangible heritage.
Hoi An heritage, from day-to-day activities to customs, traditions, and religious rituals, has been kept and encouraged. As a result, locals are proud of their living museum of architecture and culture – Hoi An ancient town.
Local people behavior
Hoi An ancient town is the combination of good architecture, natural beauty, and Hoianese’s hospitality. People in Hoi An, an ancient town, live a simple life. Hoianese are generally very kind, considerate, and eager to share whatever they have. They are also very hospitable and love to welcome people from all around the world to visit UNESCO Hoi An.
There is no better way to get information than listening from the people who live there and know it best – so be sure to take advantage of these guides!
Favorite sites in Hoi An old town
Hoi An is Hoianese’s pride. This place has many interesting sites to visit, such as the ancient town itself, Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky House, Cantonese Assembly Hall (Quang Dong), Chua Ong Temple. All of these Hoi An heritage sites are must-go destinations for tourists when they come to Hoi An.
Explore UNESCO Hoi An ancient town
Hoi An ancient town is the place where Hoi An architecture, culture and natural beauty are integrated into one. Many of the historic buildings are built in a traditional Chinese style, and the roads are narrow and winding.
There are incredible folk music performances held several times each day at the Hoi An Handicraft Workshop. Tourists can visit embroidery shops on the streets to admire Hoianese embroidery. It has been inherited from generation to generation for many years.
At night, the scenery of Hoi An old town is much more colorful and attractive so remember not to miss that. Also, Hoi An visitors should try delicious local dishes there such as Cao Lau, banh mi Hoi An, Hoi An chicken rice, Hoanh Thanh, Banh bot loc (prawn dumpling), etc.
Japanese Covered Bridge – a unique Hoi An heritage
The Japanese Bridge (Chua Cau) in Hoi An old town was built back in 1593 by Hoi An people to welcome merchants from Japan. This bridge has distinctive features that many consider as a symbol of the town. When visiting this bridge, you may find a small temple on the north side of it, right in the middle over the stream.
Tourists who come here will feel like they go back in time because this place still keeps old things. They can be wood carvings on doors, some parts where electric wires pass through have not been changed since 100 years ago. Moreover, Hoi An people put small boats on the roof to prove Hoianese’s traditional belief “The more you have, the happier you are”.
Tan Ky Old House – a reflection of traditional Hoi An architecture
Tan Ky House is one of the finest examples of traditional architecture in Hoi An ancient city. A local Vietnamese merchant family built it in the 17th century.
This house has many interesting things such as wooden carved panels made by talented carvers, Chinese ceramic tiles, and brick walls with corals embedded inside.
They are evidence of Hoi An ancient town being a trading port due to its close proximity to the China Sea.
Tourists will feel like they enter another world when walking through narrow stone corridors. Then in the cozy rooms where the family members lived, colorful silk clothes hung up on the wall together with old furniture decorated this place.
Additionally, visitors can also see Hoianese’s daily life by visiting the Hoianese kitchen and the old rice store next to this house.
Cantonese Assembly Hall (Quang Trieu) – a special place in Hoi An ancient city
The Cantonese Assembly Hall, also known as Quang Trieu, is one of the most visited sites in Hoi An old town. Located near Chua Cau, the assembly hall was built by Chinese settlers during the 19th century.
The Cantonese Assembly Hall was a meeting place for worship and discussion among Chinese tourists and residents.
You can admire both the structure and the decoration of the place, particularly a magnificent dragon made from pottery. The Cantonese Assembly Hall is one of the most magnificent structures in UNESCO Hoi An ancient town.
If you only plan to see one assembly hall during your visit here, put this on top of the list!
Chua Ong Temple – a Hoi An heritage of worship
This temple is an important place of worship in Hoi An ancient city and the place to preserve 17th-century beauty. The construction of Chua Ong Temple was started in 1665 by Hoi An’s Buddhist community.
The pagoda is made up of four massive sections in architecture. You can find a statue of General Quan Van Truong in the main hall. You can notice its precise lines and excellent craftsmanship.
Chua Ong temple is a must-see while you are in Hoi An old town. For millennia, Chua Ong has watched many momentous changes in the historic city. It has been from a flourishing commercial era to a quiet modern era. Hence, the pagoda plays an essential part in Hoi An locals’ spiritual life.
Hoi An Old Town today
Hoi An Ancient Town was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1999. However, the Vietnamese government started exploiting tourism activities in around 2009-2010. Thanks to Hoi An Tourism Company starting to organize tourism activities, Hoi An is more and more attractive with visitors. Some activities are cooking courses and Hoi An walking tours.
Today, Hoi An old town has always ranked as the no.1 position in the list of attractive tourist destinations in Vietnam. In 2019, the city received nearly four million foreign tourists, making it Asia’s top cultural city destination.
Also, Hoi An architecture style is still the same as before because locals keep their culture from generation to generation no matter how many years pass by. It makes you feel like time stopped here centuries ago!
Hoi An ancient town introducing video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOqgClgvuaM
Tips and costs on your travel
When is the best time to visit Hoi An old town?
Many tourists prefer to visit Hoi An in the afternoon. On arrival at Hoi An, you can sit back and watch the sunset. In the evening, you can enjoy the lanterns and lights.
How much is the entrance fee?
Yes, you must pay an admission fee (this is to preserve the area) on your Hoi An old town visit. For foreign visitors, the price is 120,000 VND and it is 80,000 VND for domestic visitors. You can buy your tickets very easily upon your arrival and the ticket is valid for 24 hours.
What to do in Hoi An?
There are plenty of activities in Hoi An for tourists to get a deeper understanding of Hoi an’s lifestyle and culture:
- Walking Tour: Immerse in Hoi An architecture, lifestyle, and culture by taking a walking tour of the ancient town.
- Hoi An meeting locals experience: Discover Hoi An with a local guide who will take you on a journey through time, sharing real-life experiences.
- Hoi An Cooking Class: Learn how to cook some of Hoi An’s most famous dishes!
- Taking a boat trip on the Hoai river day or night time to enjoy the beauty of Hoi An Ancient Town must be a good experience for the tourists.
- The Hoi An Night Market is on Nguyen Hoang Street. It opens from 19:00 to 23:00, and sells street foods, souvenirs, and apparel at low costs.
- There are many bars and cafés with live music on walking streets in Nguyen Phu Chu Street or the Thu Bon River’s shores. Some of them are Mango Mango, The Shamrock Irish Pub Hoi An, King Tiger Tiger Bar, etc.
You can have some more idea with the blog: What to do in Hoi An: Best things You Shouldn’t Skip and Local Tips
Conclusion
Hoi An Ancient Town is a charming destination that has been attracting many visitors from all over the world. Its unique culture, architecture design, and people’s warm welcome always captivate travelers. We hope this blog gives you useful guidance and recommendations for your future visit to Hoi An!