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A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Hoi An is 30km south of Da Nang City and lies on the banks of the Thu Bon River. Occupied by early western traders, Hoi An was one of the major trading centers of Southeast Asia in the 16th century.  More than five centuries ago the Vietnamese nation of Dai Viet expanded its territory southwards, encroaching on the Indianized Kingdom of Champa, which covered much of what is now central Vietnam. Hoi An, located on the Hoai River, emerged when Japanese and Chinese traders built a commercial district there in the 16th century.  Hoi An still has a distinct Chinese atmosphere with low, tile-roofed houses and narrow streets; the original structure of some of these streets still remains almost intact. All the houses were made of rare wood, decorated with lacquered boards and panels engraved with Chinese characters. Pillars were also carved with ornamental designs.  Tourists can visit the relics of the Sa Huynh and Cham cultures. They can also enjoy the beautiful scenery of the romantic Hoi An River, Cua Dai Beach, and Cham Island.   Over the last few years, Hoi An has become a very popular tourist destination in Vietnam.  As long being a cultural crossroad, diverse cultural influences remain visible today. Visitors will find Hoi An's Old Quarter lined with two-storey Chinese shops, their elaborately carved wooden facades and moss-covered tile roofs having withstood the ravages of more than 300 years of weather and warfare. These proud old buildings, which back onto the river, remind visitors of another era, when Hoi An's market was filled with wares from as far away as India and Europe. Colorful guildhalls, founded by ethnic Chinese from Guangdong and Fujian provinces, stand quietly, a testament to the town's trading roots.  In ancient times, Vietnamese people made lamps out of shallow bowls filled with oil. Later, foreign traders introduced lanterns, ranging from round and hexagonal designs from China to diamond and star shaped ones from Japan.  When developing plans to preserve their town's ancient character, Hoi An residents decided to revive the practice of using colored lanterns. Starting in the fall of 1998, one night each month is declared a "lantern festival". On the 15th day of each lunar month, residents on Tran Phu, Nguyen Thai Hoc, Le Loi and Bach Dang streets switch off their lights and hang cloth and paper lanterns on their porches and windows. Television sets, radios, street lights and neon lights are turned off.  Strolling through the lantern-lit streets is like walking into a fairytale. It is all the more picturesque since motor vehicles are banned from Hoi An's Old Quarter. On Trai Phu Street, stop at the beautifully preserved Faifo Restaurant to sample some traditional Chinese-style pastries. Or walk on to the Treated Cafe, where bamboo baskets, commonly used to wash rice, have been transformed into unique lanterns. These basket lamps are but one example of people's creativity as they experiment with new shapes and materials, including lights made from hollow bamboo tubes.  Other attractions are the Japanese Bridge, built in 1593 by the town’s Japanese community and links Tran Phu and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai streets, Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall, the place where merchants from Fujian province (Phuoc Kien in Vietnamese) in China used to gather, Quan Cong Temple is dedicated to Quan Cong, a Chinese general, Cua Dai Beach located 5km of Hoi An town.  Also around Hoi An are the Tra Kieu Citadel, a 15th century Champa fortress in Duy Xuyen district, the Chien Dan Tower, built in the 11th century in honor of the Champa’s Hindu deities located in Tan Ky town, 55km west of Hoi An, the Suoi Tien Springs, a noted beauty spot in Que Son district, with 13 waterfalls nestled among mountains and forests.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site

My Son Sanctuary, a holy Champa city, built in the fourth century.  It was the sight of the important Cham intellectual and religious centre, and also served as a burial place for Cham monarchs. The monuments here are set in a verdant valley surrounded bu hills and shadowed by the massive Cat’s Tooth Mountain (Hon Quap). Clear brooks (perfect for a swim) run between the structures and past nearby coffee plantations. Most of the temple in My Son were dedicated to Cham kings associated with divinities.  Activities and Map

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