Japanese Covered Bridge Hoi An is a UNESCO Heritage Site. It is a major icon of Hoi An ancient town. The bridge has a secret story behind it; it was used as a holy guard for many years.
Until now, the Japanese Bridge in Hoi An is still considered one of the most beautiful architectural landmarks in Vietnam. By visiting this special place, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Hoi An. Moreover, you can also discover the historical structure connecting two parts of the town.
In this post, we will give you insights about everything you need to know for your visit. This includes the history, secret story, culture, and guidance on what to do at Hoi An Japanese Bridge.
Location of Japanese Bridge Hoi An
The Japanese Bridge in Hoi An is located in the heart of the ancient town. Local people built it over a small tributary of the Thu Bon River. On the western bank of the Old Quarter, it connects Nguyen Thi Minh Khai and Tran Phu Street. Chua Cau is situated right at the entrance to the Old Quarter.
History of Hoi An Bridge
The Japanese Covered Bridge Hoi An was built more than 400 years ago, during the late 16th century, by Japanese traders living in the ancient town. This bridge was to facilitate their trading activities with other regional countries such as China, Thailand, or Cambodia. For almost two centuries (1630–1840), the bridge played a key role for merchants from all over Asia who came to trade goods here at that time.
The Japanese Bridge in Hoi An is a symbol for Hoianese people. It represents their gratitude to the Japanese who helped them build this bridge. It was a major link between the Japanese and Chinese communities at that time.
In 1986, the Hoi An Bridge was renovated, with the arch that had previously been flattened to make way for cars being restored. Today, the bridge serves as a symbol of Hoi An and retains its attractiveness.
Culture and spirit values of Japanese Bridge in Hoi An
Chua Cau is not only a bridge to connect the east and west of Hoi An, but it also serves as a spiritual guard. In Vietnamese culture, Hoi An Bridge is considered a holy place with high cultural values where many people come to worship every day.
There are many fascinating tales about the bridge’s profound origins. One of them is that the bridge is regarded as the Japanese legendary magic sword, protecting people from the brutal Namazu monster. According to ancient stories, this beast is scary, huge, and deadly. It has its head in India, the body in Vietnam, and the tail in Japan.
The Japanese Bridge Hoi An – symbolizing the sword – succeeded in winning over the terrifying monster. This also means it helps Hoianese people prevent natural disasters such as storms, earthquakes, tsunamis due to the beast’s twisting and turning.
The Japanese Bridge is visited by many pilgrims who come to pray for health, success, and happiness. Many couples also visit this bridge as a sacred place of love where they can find the essence of true romanticism.
Some more interesting information
The Japanese Covered Bridge Hoi An is a 100-meter long and 12-meter wide bridge that was built with red bricks. It has two stories of wooden flooring decorated with many fine carvings, paintings on the walls as well as small windows
The bridge was built with a roof so that it can be used as a shelter from both rain and sun. At both ends of the Japanese Bridge Hoi An, there are two sculptures. They are a dog and a monkey which represent the guardians of the bridge. It is because the construction of the bridge was initiated in the Dog year and was finished in the Monkey year. These two animals are also symbols of sacredness in Japanese culture.
Inside the Japanese Bridge Hoi An lies a temple of Tran Vo Bac De – the Northern God. He is considered the God of Weather and controls all kinds of weather changes and natural calamities, so the sailors worship Him.
What to see and do at Japanese Covered Bridge Hoi An
During the day, sunlight shines through to create beautiful reflections on the water. At night, you can see lanterns floating on Thu Bon River. On special occasions like the full moon of each month, Hoianese people come to Chua Cau and pray with the belief that they will gain luck. There are also traditional performances by local artists who wear beautiful costumes representing Hoi An culture.
Due to its age, the Hoi An bridge needs protection and preservation. In order to keep this heritage site in a good shape, visitors are recommended to:
- Bring along small gifts such as flowers or incense sticks (if possible) to give your respects before entering this attraction. This may bring good fortune to visitors;
- Walk slowly and carefully inside the bridge/temple, taking off shoes if necessary;
- Do not climb onto the roof without permission from locals because it is used for praying;
- Do not touch anything inside the bridge;
- Keep silent while visiting;
- You can take pictures of the bridge. However, please avoid using flash because this may disturb worshippers.
Hoi An Japanese Covered Bridge during tourism era
In recent years, the Japanese Bridge Hoi An has been recognized as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is because of its outstanding universal value and unique architecture. This event has brought Hoi An ancient town a huge number of both domestic and international visitors each year.
Moreover, the ancient bridge also requires maintenance and better protection. The Japanese Covered Bridge Hoi An has about 7 times of restoration, construction, and conservation. These times took place in 1763, 1815, 1875, 1917, 1962, 1986, and 1996. The repairs consist of adjustments to the roof, the floor, the pillars or wall sculptures, and the bridge’s posts.
In 2013, the Japanese government donated 26 billion VND (approximately $12 million) to Hoi An city for restoration. Recently, the bridge had signs of severe deterioration such as the supporting poles and beams having cracked and rotted.
Hence, the People’s Committee of Quang Nam province has approved a $1 million project to restore the bridge to ensure its continued existence. They also granted permission to Hoi An city to protect the bridge. The local people are eager and willing to preserve this bridge. So that it will be a part of Hoi An culture heritage till the future generation.
You may find this interesting video about Hoi An Japanese Covered Bridge: here
Tips and cost for your visit
The Japanese bridge is a unique part of the ancient town, which should not be missed by tourists. To get there you can rent a bicycle or motorbike to explore this town at your own pace. However, exploring the town on foot is the most preferable.
The ticket to Japanese Covered Bridge Hoi An is included in the entrance ticket that you have to purchase on your arrival at the ancient town. This will cost $6 per person and give you access to five sightseeing places in town.
It takes around 40 minutes to see the Japanese Bridge Hoi An. There are some points for you to stop and enjoy the tour guide’s explanations. They are the temple, the sculptures of the monkey and dog, the roof, etc.
The ancient features at the Japanese Bridge Hoi An’s temple
Besides the things we have recommended above, on your visit you should be mindful of an important thing. Remember to wear suitable clothes while visiting the temple inside the bridge and temples in Hoi An in general. Modest clothing is recommended and as long as your shoulders and knees are covered, you should be fine.
One thing that most of the visitors may not know is the image of Japanese Bridge Hoi An is featured on the VND 20,000.
A signature photo with the VND 20,000
There are many other things to do in Hoi An, you can have some ideas with this blog: What to do in Hoi An: Best things You Shouldn’t Skip and Local Tips
Conclusion
No trip to the ancient town would be completed without visiting this significant and iconic Japanese Bridge. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site – Hoi An ancient town and was recognized as a National Level Historic Site of Vietnam.
With this blog post, we hope you enjoy your visit to the Japanese Bridge Hoi An, gain some insights into the place’s history and culture, and have unforgettable memories there.