Hoi An Ancient Town Vietnam

Hoi An Ancient Town Introduction

Hoi An ancient town is also called Hoi An Old Town was an important international trading port in Vietnam in the 16th century. Nowadays, it is one of the most famous and a must-visit destination on the tourist map of the world. This destination is also a rare place where you can find a unique blend of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese architectures.

Unlike the hustle and bustle Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An Old Town seems to escape from the quick development of the country and still keeps its ancient beauty from its roads to its architectural works. Hoi An ancient town Vietnam is just about 30km to the South of Da Nang city. It is such a great place to really get up close and personal with real Vietnam, the friendly people, and the past as well. 

History of Hoi An Ancient Town

Hoi An has been through a long up and down of history but still keeps as in the very first features of its being born. Its two main historical landmarks are the occupying of the Chinese and Japanese, and the Western (Dutch and Spanish) during the 15th to the 17th centuries.

Hoi An was also an important place on the World silk road so, during the period of the Chinese settled down to trade here, the town was called Hoi Pho. Originally Hoi Pho was a divided town with the famous “Japanese Bridge”. It used to be a Japanese merchant settlement (16th-17th century). Then it was known to the French and Spanish as Faifo, a major international trading port city.

What makes Hoi An Old Town Unique?

Whoever traveling and visiting Vietnam could not deny that Hoi An ancient town is so attractive in terms of friendly people, nice climate, beautiful architecture, diverse religion, festivals, and so on.

Hoi An Ancient Town weather

Being well-known as a must check-in destination in central Vietnam, Hoi An has only two main seasons with warm weather averaging 29oC dominating for most of the year. The rainy season lasts from September through to January, and the sunny season is the rest of the year. The average temperatures are between 25°C and 30°C with the hottest months being June and July.

Hoi An Old Town Architecture

The special thing in Hoi An ancient town is a series of old-architectured lanes and houses with nearly 100% pristinely from old houses with mossgrown walls, deeply plain roofs, to the ancient furniture.

Hoi An is lucky to be a cultural crossroads of the Cham culture, the Chinese, Japanese as well as the western culture because of its function as the international trading port and the place on the world Silkroad in the 16th century.

These diverse cultural influences remain visible these days. The colorful assembly halls, established by ethnic Chinese merchants from Guangdong and Fujian provinces, stand quietly, a prove to the culture mixture here.

Most premium oriental and western styles in architecture are found here, making Hoi An ancient town become unique, absorbing all tourists who fascinate for classic beauty! Even you are not a fan of classic styled, you still would like to see how a lively ancient world can pristinely survive in this new modern and high-tech era!

Things to do in Hoi An Ancient Town

The Japanese Covered Bridge

For a long time, the Japanese covered bridge was not only a tourist symbol of the Hoi An ancient town but also crystallized the soul of the locals. the Japanese Bridge as a piece connecting the past with the present and the future, the bridge spanning 400 years of history has entered the subconscious of every child who was born and raised in the nostalgic land of Hoi An. Today, the bridge is still there, majestic but quiet as a witness to the history of a golden period but still bright and attracts a lot of tourists. For more information, please read the Japanese Bridge Hoi An

Fujian (Phuc Kien) Assembly Hall

Located on Tran Phu Street, Hoi An and built in the 16th century, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall is not only a long-standing historical relic but also a typical architectural work of Hoi An ancient town. Built for the purpose of worshiping Thien Hau Thanh Mau with the guardian gods, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall was also the clubhouse of fellow Fujian merchants, who came to Hoi An earliest at that time. Nowadays, though many times of restoration and repair with the contribution of the Chinese people, the Assembly Hall of Fujian has become more spacious and splendid and contributes to beautify the face of the ancient town of Hoi An architecture. Learn more about Phuc Kien Assembly Hall

Tan Ky Old House

Old House of Tan Ky is located at 101 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hoi An ancient town, Quang Nam province. The house was built nearly 200 years ago in 1741, which means that at the end of the 18th century there is a typical architecture of the townhouse in Hoi An, the house is home to 7 generations of Le family descendants. In the second generation, the old men took the name Tan Ky to do business and trade in agricultural products. The house name was also born from that. Read more about Tan Ky Old House

Hoi An Central Market

Different from the tranquility of the Hoi An old town; Hoi An central market is nestled on the romantic Hoai River, also a very different highlight of Hoi An ancient town recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage. Bustling, colorful, attractive, and delicate … is what attracts people and visitors to Hoi An Central Market as known as “culinary paradise”. Read more about Hoi An central market here

Making some Hoi An Lanterns

Hoi An ancient town is an attractive tourist destination, which not only has enchanting beauty but also known for its cultural features, with lanterns that have been around since ancient times. Hoi An lanterns are sparkling and miraculously fanciful, the soul of this millennium trading port. Book Hoi An Walking Tour half-day with us not only you can explore the ancient town but also we can learn how to make Hoi An lanterns and keep what you made to be a souvenir.

Join Hoi An Cooking Class

Vietnamese cuisine is famous for friends from five continents is both delicious and full of nutrients. So what better way to bring home some recipes of Vietnamese dishes, right? This is not all, as this tour also brings you to the tranquil and peaceful countryside of Hoi An, teaches you how to paddle a basket boat, and shows you how to fish with fishing rods and nets. In other words, you will live your day like a real local.

Explore Bay Mau Coconut Forest

Hoi An tourism has never been hot with many historical places, not to mention Bay Mau Coconut Forest, a place that you will definitely enjoy when discovering the beautiful landscape and also ride a basket boat to go fishing crabs with the locals to try the feeling of lightheadedness when floating on the river. Read more about Bay Mau Water Coconut forest

Ride a bike to Tra Que Vegetable Village

Hoi An in recent years has always been the most attractive destination for all visitors. In addition to An Bang beach, Cua Dai beach, Hoi An ancient town …, this place is also famous for Tra Que vegetable village. If you want to experience the local life of a farmer, if you want your children to live close to the village, let’s ride a bike to explore Tra Que Herb village Hoi An right away.

Explore My Son Sanctuary

My Son Sanctuary appeared with an architectural complex including many Champa temples and extremely unique architecture. Forgotten for a long time up to centuries, it was not discovered until 1885 and in 1999 it was selected by UNESCO as a world heritage site as the only proof of Asia civilization has disappeared. If you are a person who likes to explore and learn about ancient cultures, this is a place worth exploring. Learn more about My Son Holy Land here

Do Hoi An Street Food Tour

Hoi An not only captivates people’s hearts with ancient beautiful old towns, with the fanciful shimmering lights of the lanterns at sunset but also is a gathering place for typical dishes that visitors cannot ignore when visiting. Book the Hoi An Street food tour with us, you have to save your stomach to sample all the best Hoi An specialties and learn more about local culture, as well as local life.

Enjoy the sunshine at famous Hoi An Beaches

When talking about Hoi An, most people will immediately think of Hoi An ancient town, the Japanese bridge, Hoai River with its ancient and simple beauty, captivating so many visitors but forgetting that Hoi An has the most beautiful beaches in the world. Among them, we could never mention about Cua Dai beach and An Bang Beach Hoi An.

What to eat in Hoi An?

Hoi An Chicken Rice

Hoi An is not only famous for the ancient town with beautiful old wooden houses, Chinese and Japanese assembly halls, friendly people but also it is known as the street food paradise. Traveling to Hoi An, It will be a big mistake if you don’t try the best street food in the ancient town- the former international trading port of Vietnam from the 16th century. One of the best specialties here is the Hoi An chicken rice.

Hoi An Bread Sandwich (Banh Mi)

Hoi An bread (Banh Mi Hoi An) is considered as “the world’s most delicious bread”, it is a street food that most visitors want to enjoy when traveling to Vietnam. Banh Mi is both rustic and simple, and it helps express the richness of Vietnamese cuisine. Read more about The 10 best Street Food in Hoi An

Hoi An Quang Noodles

Quang noodle is a typical dish of Hoi An. Traveling to Hoi An, if you have not enjoyed a bowl of Quang noodles in Hoi An, it is considered that you have not come to this place. Don’t miss the special taste of the delicious Quang noodle bowls in Hoi An! Read more…..

Ba Le Well BBQ

Ba Le well BBQ is down a little alley near the famous ancient well, this local place is well-known for one dish: barbecued pork, served up satay-style, which you then combine with fresh greens and herbs to create your own fresh spring roll. It is a global reputation that means it always gets very busy.

White Rose Dumplings

White rose dumplings is one of the Hoi An specialties. You will have a chance to make these special dumplings by yourself and you will enjoy what you just made as your lunch or dinner. The little white roses made from translucent white dough wich filled with spiced minced shrimps or pork and bunched up to look like a little white rose. Then we will steam them and eat with fish sauce.

Above are the most useful information about Hoi An ancient town Vietnam that might be helpful to the first-time travelers. Best Hue City Tour always listens to you and can customize the tours/ transfers following your request.