Unfortunately, rampant development and popular realities have humbled the achievements of Hoi An in the early 1990s. Many researchers have concluded that when defining and appreciating the reality of Hoi An, it is important to look out the real scene. Simulation, inapplicability, and noise in the operation of tourism areas, especially the heritage town area, are the reality. In addition, Hoi An is not free from a wide variety of challenges which are typical of a city facing difficult problems. The relentless commercial onslaught upon the town, though insidious in form, has been the greatest single threat. The viability of the town appears to be weak. Closed shops and homes, decay, neglect, and decay are signs of a deteriorating quality of life and the potential threat to the long-established character and authenticity of the place. Hoi An is no exception to the broader social, economic, and cultural issues that Vietnam faces, including issues of overpopulation, war-waste, development pressure, and the tension between local and regional and global interests.
Since the early 1990s, Vietnam, and in particular Hoi An, has become a major attraction for the fast-growing tourism market. Recent merits of Hoi An are explosions in publications and sites that have praised not only its good preservation status but also the unseen mystic atmosphere and the timeless charm of a small trading port in the central coast of Vietnam. There are abundant charms in Hoi An, namely: 1) it is one of the best-preserved towns, which really dates back to the pre-Vietnam War times; 2) its narrow streets are lined with attractive original buildings shaded by mature trees; and 3) the riverside setting adds to the town a special unique quality thanks to the introduction of active boats, flowing up and down the river and of the open-air altar set along the riverside. All features mentioned here turn Hoi An into a delightful place to visit and a populous and vigorous town in Central Vietnam.
Geographical Location and Historical Significance
Many of the region’s inhabitants come from Sa Huynh. Geo-environment and geography are factors that lead to the formation of the “quiet” characteristic of the Hoi An people – the hospitable, gentle personality because they avoided the transformation of natural disasters and had to live on the sea. In this region, the region’s living conditions are not stable. They are mostly focused on the religion in the community and the members of the community-adhering behavior. This is the favorite destination of domestic and foreign tourists as it is recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site (December 1999) from the province level directly managed by the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. According to UNESCO, the city has a complex of old houses and unique ancient architecture, a smooth appearance of peace and harmony. Nowadays, the town’s relics and landscapes show their position in the tourism industry.
The photogenic coastal town of Hoi An is located in the central province of Quang Nam in Vietnam. It is approximately an hour’s drive south of Da Nang international airport. This town was a bustling trading port during the 16th to 18th centuries and was already the meeting point of the East and West. It was a commercial center of the region and became one of the major trading ports in Southeast Asia as a result of the Silk Road and Sea Route. The town was named Hoi An, a literal translation of “peaceful meeting place”, and the Cham people who were greeted there called the river “Lam Kinh”. At that time, Hoi An and its surrounding neighborhoods were a fictional or written complex network of nations, cultures, religions, and beliefs. Up to now, Hoi An retains more than 1,000 architectural relics, many of them constituting the ancient town.
Ancient Town of Hoi An
Hoi An has charming street scenes but in the south, they are often obscured by shade and poles tied with thick, subdued electrical spaghetti. Bicycle rickshaws and traditional Vietnamese boats can also be found on the town side waterfront. From the ancient town, take part in a rewarding river tour to discover the remnants of the glory of Hoi An and the essence of the ancient city.
However, inside the town, there may still be a few places that still post seasonal hours. The layout of the ancient town is easy to navigate and is small. Traffic is prohibited on the walking street, so there are no vehicles along the small side street of Hoi An. It is enjoyable and relaxing to stroll around the small streets in the ancient town where you can enjoy sightseeing, explore shops selling ceramic crafts, taste local street foods, and see Chowhouns gathering around Hoi An central market, just north of the ancient town and its connected street.
Inside the town, you can pay an entrance fee to visit the cultural and historical values at the destination such as a folk-song stage, a temple with ancient ceramics, and a bridge with an ancient Am rock. In this ancient town in the evening, people can see the symbolic image of the town, which is the lantern light on. The number of banks and ATMs are available, as well as money changers. Most shops, restaurants, and hotels would take credit cards, while if you require to pay in cash, they would still accept other foreign currencies. Freely defy typical store hours, do almost anything you want when you want, anywhere you want.
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the centuries-old buildings and narrow streets of this small town have long earned Hoi An the reputation of being one of the most beautiful sights in Vietnam. The town is also known for its uniquely charming traditional atmosphere and multiple historic buildings.
Architecture and Design
The streets of Hoi An have retained an original brick pavement system of two distinct forms of brickwork. The town is an example of Sino-Vietnamese commercial properties. Here can be seen the concentration of ten houses, of which two are major merchant works, 7 having either pitched or flat roofs and adopting motif designs from a variety of cultures. A single merchant’s house is individually of importance. The large size is a significant feature and is realized through the history of the merchant class nurturing the Chinese sea trade with My Chau. The multifunctional space for domestic, commercial, and industrial uses expresses the status and power of the merchants. With its distinctive and sophisticated roof and a strong feeling for the exotic, the merchant house is also important from an architectural and artistic point of view.
The architectural form represented in Hoi An is of interest in its typological fidelity to the domestic architecture inherent in a traditional monk nunnery complex of the sixteenth century. Central to this significance is the degree to which the original fabric of the buildings has remained intact over the intervening period of time. The open set of buildings is an excellent example of a traditional pavilion temple, built between the mid-seventeenth century and the present day, providing insight into the beginnings of Sino-Vietnamese pilgrimages and spiritual beliefs.
The architecture of Hoi An, built mostly by indigenous Vietnamese rather than colonial powers, is of wooden structures reflecting the traditional architectural design. This style has been preserved and remains visible along the street frontages. One of the oldest and best-preserved ancient towns in the world, the former port city has managed to maintain consistency throughout urban planning from the fifteenth to the nineteenth century.
Culinary Delights of Hoi An
The culinary ability of Hoi An people is exemplified in a famous dish, Cao Lau. The dish appears in all Hoi An’s cookery books and is considered one of the most memorable local flavors. The unique Vietnamese noodle dish, Cao Lau is characterized by chewy noodles, flavorful broth, and pork and greens on top. The pork is thin yet flavorful and covered in a film of fat which creates a delightful layer of flavor. The noodles are also quite unique in texture and flavor, reportedly because the secret recipe requires that they be made with water from one of the ancient Cham wells in Hoi An. Additionally, the green vegetables and bean sprouts add a fresh crunch to the dish, and the broth is deliciously thick. Cao Lau is served only in a few locations around the city. You can also find samples of Hoi An cuisine such as White Rose dumplings and Mi Quang noodles in popular Hoi An tours, providing you with a smattering of local delicacies to savor while you shop.
Food lovers agree that Hoi An is a real paradise for them. There is a long list of traditional dishes that you must try while staying in this little town. The first suggestion is “Cao Lau”. This dish receives countless compliments from all diners. Indeed, the firm and soft noodles in “Cao lau” is a difficult result to achieve. And “Pho” fans will also feel satisfied with the beef soup of “Quang” style and “Wonton”. Other dishes that may arouse your curiosity include “Banh Vac” (white rose), “Banh Khoai” (small sizzling crepe), “Banh Dap”, “Banh Beo”, “Banh Canh”, “My Quang”, “Com ga” (chicken rice) and “Bo Ne”. Don’t forget to end your meal beautifully by enjoying a piece of the traditional Hoi An sweetmeat. It is the love for Hoi An sweetmeat that has become an irreplaceable habit in the journey of many tourists when exploring this land.
Local Specialties and Street Food
The list of Hoi An local specialties continues with three crab noodle soup. Living crabs are steamed to a bright red and quickly stir-fried in a hot wok, still in their shells. They are cooked with three different flavors – salt; sweet; and chili, mixed sauces (usually soy sauces, oyster sauces and a bit of fish sauce) and a spoonful of sugar. After the crabs are removed, a hotpot of crabs is skimmed quickly and immediately added to a rich broth chockful of smoked fish, fermented rice, and crispy shallots, topped with different types of noodles, and served with a few more chunks of rich crab meat plus a variety of herbs, such as coriander, mint, and spring onions. Fish, washed and marinated with turmeric, ginger, lemongrass, and fish sauce, is deep-fried and then stir-fried with garlic, a daikon-and-carrot salad, and hand-crushed peanuts. This fish with turmeric and dill – Chả cá thì là – is known as the pride of Vietnamese cuisine and is a Hoi An must-try. When tourists ask “What should I eat while in Hoi An?”, the reply is always quang noodles, pork skin cracklings, sesame rice crackers, and green tomato rice, for instance.
Hoi An is deservedly celebrated for its street food. From banh mi, a sandwich showcasing French influence and prepared in a variety of ways (with pork meatballs; with barbecued pork; deep-fried with a fried egg on top; and with assorted meats and head cheese) in makeshift streetside shops, to the local delicacy served in many Da Nang restaurants, white rose, made of steamed shrimp wrapped in translucent white dough, and generally flavored with secret sauces of famous family recipes, to sizzling savory pancakes popular with the Hoi An locals, preparation of which involves spooning batter into a frying pan of hot oil, covering with a lid and boiling until semi-cooked, and then adding assorted cooked meat; seafood; or tofu, folding over and serving with a dipping sauce of coconut milk, peanuts, a bit of hoisin, and a variety of different herbs, fried shallots, green onions, and chili.
Activities and Attractions in Hoi An
Visit the Colorful Lanterns – thousands of them for a whole month! The Full Moon festival on the 14th day of each lunar month has been a long-time Hoi An tradition. The quaint old town is lit up by a multicolored array of lanterns, and traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Hoi An-style paper lanterns are floated on the river or placed on the front of homes. Nowadays, Hoi An’s annual Lantern Festival has also been extended to last for a whole month, and thousands of lanterns brighten the streets, attracting tourists from far and wide. Do not miss to join in too!
The Old Town of Hoi An is definitely on everyone’s itinerary for a visit to Vietnam. This well-preserved town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Located in the Quang Nam province, Hoi An was a major trading center in Southeast Asia from the 16th to the 19th century, where Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, and Indian traders used to live and work. This beautiful little town with its narrow streets, richly detailed architecture, and well-preserved historical atmosphere of a Southeast Asian trading port will attract anyone who visits. With the melting pot of cultures, Hoi An offers a unique blend of Eastern and Western traditions.
Historical Sites and Temples
Hoi An is rich in history, culture, and traditions, as well as miracles of architecture that promote it to be the first listed World Heritage City. Hoi An was an important trade port in Southeast Asia during the 16th and 17th centuries, where Japanese, Chinese, and Vietnamese people came together to create diversity. As an important factor creating the identity of Hoi An, the streets adapt to the land. Accordingly, in Hoi An, there are ancient houses, a pagoda, and a temple distributed along the streets of Phan Chu Trinh and Tran Phu, and the others of which are some monuments in the Old Town such as Culture-History Relic Museum, Cantonese Assembly Hall, Japanese Bridge, Thanh Ha Pottery Village, Hoi An Market, and Silk Village. Their confirmation as world cultural heritage puts great responsibility for the sustainable development of Hoi An, connecting the community and tourists into the preservation process, enhancing people’s cultural lives, and fostering continued traditions.
Ever dreamed of being able to traverse time? The cultural heritage and timeless charm of Hoi An created a city in which visitors not only are the observers of this history but also have an opportunity to directly participate in daily activities and life. Just a few steps from any spot in the central area, tourists can find the historical sites, handicraft shops, antique galleries, and family chapels. While the town’s ancient houses were built centuries ago, they remain occupied and well-preserved. In addition, the Old Town of Hoi An is undergoing the restoration and conservation of its buildings thanks to the cooperation of the city government and UNESCO. As a result, walking around the town is like experiencing the colors of the history and cultures of the builders here.
Practical Tips for Traveling to Hoi An
Second, try to get out of the old quarter and walk along the riverside. There are nice cafes and restaurants located here. Sitting on the muddy side of the Thu Bon River and tasting a cappuccino while watching the morning life is unforgettable. The street markets, thriving with the vibrant morning seller activities, make worthwhile photo opportunities. This place gets more crowded at sunset. Hoi An can also be explored by tours, bikes, motorcycles, cyclo, or taxis. Please be aware that motorbikes and cars are prohibited in the main streets during certain hours. At that time, the old quarters are transformed into a large pedestrian zone. Make sure to ask your guide to take you at that time, when walking is enjoyable.
If you’re interested in seeing Hoi An by yourself, here are several useful tips to maximize your experience. First, try to arrive as early as possible, at around 6 a.m., to avoid the high number of tourists. Early morning is also the best time to take photographs or join a cooking class. The market holding place is between Tran Phu Road and Nguyen Hoang Business Street. Open daily, from early in the morning, it is always crowded. However, most of the fighting is finished by 7 a.m. You are recommended to visit around 7-8 a.m., when stalls are opening, and everything inside the market is very fresh, from vegetables and flowers to seafood. They choose it to sell.