Guide to Hoi An Ancient Town

Vietnam has eased its travel restrictions from March 16, 2022. All travelers are exempt from quarantine to visit Vietnam now as long as you're fully vaccinated.

Hoi An Ancient Town, located in central Vietnam, is one of Vietnam's cultural gems. It has great historical significance as it used to be one of Asia's main trading seaports. When it was still functioning as a port, it attracted many traders from Japan, China, and even Europe.

As a result of the historical influx of people from different cultures, you will find that the heritage buildings in Hoi An have various different architectural styles.

For example, there are Chinese-style assembly halls built by the Chinese community, a Japanese bridge built by the Japanese, and also some French-style architecture. These historic buildings give the town a distinctive rustic atmosphere.

In addition to its many heritage buildings, the town also has a wide array of intriguing roadside cafes and shops where you can buy local handicrafts, jewelry, and traditional apparel. You can even get an ao dai, which is the Vietnamese traditional dress for women, made to measure by one of Hoi An's famous tailors.

Highlights

• Hoi An reflects a fusion of indigenous, Chinese, Japanese, and European culture.
• The town is well known as a destination for food and shopping.
• In 1999 Hoi An was listed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
• The town has plenty of pedestrian streets, so you can get around comfortably by walking or by bike.
• One of the iconic images of the town is the night river scene, lit up by colorful lanterns, a sight not to be missed.
• Hoi An is renowned for its expert tailors.

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Ancient town with rich heritage

Hoi An was formerly a trading port, from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Its strategic location by the banks of Thu Bon River made it an ideal place for sea trading. In fact, during its glory days, it was regarded as one of Asia's leading ports, until silt made the river unnavigable.

When the port was still functioning, Japanese and Chinese merchants dominated the town, trading silk, porcelain, and other goods. Europeans also arrived to trade. First to arrive were the Portuguese. The Dutch, French, and English followed. They traded their textiles and weapons for goods such as silk, ceramics, ivory, and spices.

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Architecture of Hoi An

Hoi An's architecture is unique, blending both indigenous and foreign influences. It is fortunate that Hoi An was largely spared during Vietnam's wars of the 20th century.

Now we can enjoy the sight of many historic buildings well preserved or reconstructed as they were a few centuries ago. These popular heritage sites include the Japanese Bridge, the Fujian Assembly Hall, and the Old House of Tan Ky.

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Walking tour and street food tour

Since Hoi An is a relatively small town with many pedestrian streets, you can get around comfortably on foot while enjoying the rustic and relaxed atmosphere.

You can join a walking tour with us, on which you can listen to the town's history, and see its architecture and attractions. You can alternatively join our food tour and try some street vendor snacks, or relax at a roadside café.

There are definitely some distinctive Hoi An dishes that you should try, one of them being Cao Lau: rice noodles with greens, croutons and barbequed-pork. What makes this dish special is that the water used to cook the noodles is taken from an ancient well, and is said to be very clean and good quality.

Should you decide to join the street food tour, many other special dishes await your palate!

You might like to read

• Top 8 Things to Do in Hoi An
• Top Attractions in Hoi An
• Planning a Trip to Hoi An
• Food and Drink in Hoi An

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