Explore the World. Part 5. Hoi An, Vietnam

Traveling means a whole lot to me, if you are one of my continuing readers you most certainly already have that figured out. So where are we going today? Hmm, I know you are expecting us to continue covering Europe but instead, we will fly to another equally fascinating continent, Asia. Where in Asia? Relax, I am getting there. Ever been to Vietnam? Well, in its Quang Nam Province there is a city by the name Hoi An which is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and is our destination for today.

Whether centuries or years back, each place has a history and this is Hon An’s:

Initially known as Fai-Fo (Faifoo) the town is strategically positioned along what used to be the spice trade route, therefore, becoming the commercial center for the Champa Empire in the 14th Century. The Empire was founded by early inhabitants of the Hoi An region, the Cham. These were Malayo-Polynesian tribes who spoke Austronesian languages.

Two centuries later, Nguyen Hoang, a Nguyen Lord established Hoi An into a trading port and by the 18th Century, it was ranked by Asian merchants as the best trading destination in South East Asia with some even arguing all of Asia.

So how do I get to Hoi An?

Considering Hoi An is just a small city with a population of a little over 100,000, it is not directly accessible by flight or train. The closest airport and train station are in Da Nang which receives several local flights via Vietnam Airlines and trains from the larger cities of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue etc.

However, note that Da Nang Airport services very few international flights so to avoid any inconveniences enter Vietnam through any of the International Airports in the cities I mentioned then connect locally. Once you are in Da Nang take either a private car, a taxi, a bus or if you are feeling a little adventurous travel on a bike to Hoi An.

Now that I have landed, what do I do?

How about you check into your hotel, freshen up, and relax to get rid of the jetlag. Oh, you meant what to do around Hoi An didn’t you? Don’t worry I have answers for that as well and they include:

Exploring the Old Town

Remember when I told you Hoi An is on the World Heritage List? It is all thanks to this historically preserved town which has hundreds of buildings designed in architecture from centuries ago still standing! However, only less than 30 of these buildings are open to the public.

Before entering the ancient town, you will require a ticket which will additionally permit entrance to 5 other historic sites within. Notable stops to make as you walk or cycle around the Old Town are:

Chua Cau Bridge, commonly known as the Japanese Covered Bridge

Constructed in the 17th Century and renovated in 1986, this highly and beautifully decorated bridge on the waterfront is said to be Hoi An’s symbol. Depending on the side you will approach the bridge from, you will notice distinct statues of a pair of monkeys on one end and a pair of dogs on the other. This was actually a nice place to pose and take photos.

Museums

Hoi An, as you will come to see has several art and history museums of which most are managed by the city’s Center for Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation. These museums include The Museum of History and Culture (17thCentury), The Museum of Trade Ceramics (1995), The Museum of Sa Huynh Culture(1994), The Hoi An Folklore Museum (2005), The Precious Heritage Museum, Cotic among others.

Their unique architecture is bound to draw you to them as it did me. Inside you will find they showcase various items ranging from original antiques from the earliest inhabitants of Hoi An that is the Cham and Sa Huynh; artifacts from Asian countries confirming Hoi An was indeed a major trading port hundreds of years ago; portraits and artifacts by photographer Rehann from his 5 year Vietnam exploration etc. If history fascinates you, the museums will not disappoint!

Old houses and Meeting Halls

The old houses such as Quang Thang House, Phung Hung House, and Tan Ky House were built centuries ago in both Japanese and Chinese architectures. You will get a tour inside and around each house so as to see the impressive historic decorations, carvings, antiques, and furnishings. Oh! You get to shop too at the gift shops within the houses.

Equally, there are many historic meeting halls along the streets of Hoi An including Cantonese Assembly Hall, Fukian Assembly Hall, Assembly Hall of Fujian Chinese (currently a temple) et cetera. I noticed the assemblies have more ancient Chinese decorations on their architecture compared to the old houses.

If I must say, Hoi An is in itself is a museum. I don’t think there is a street I walked through where I did not stand to take pictures and marvel at so much beauty. What I'm simply saying is, the above places are just a speck of all you can see in this incredible city.

What else can I do in Hoi An?

Think of any fun activity you want to do and you surely can do it in Hoi An. Let us sample some of them:

· Kayaking, row row row your boat gently down the stream’ literally

· Attend a cooking class where you will be introduced to good food from a diverse pool of nations including Vietnam, Japan, China, Portugal etc. Yum!

· Take a walk in the night and be dazzled by how beautiful the lantern lights and street lights make Hoi An’s streets breathtaking!

· Bask under the sun on the sands of the An Bang beach. The beach is out of town and you will have to cycle 4-5 km to get there. The locals will be happy to give you directions.

· Have a quality outfit tailored or shoes made for you from scratch by the talented Hoi An’s tailors and shoemakers who are impressively cheap.

· Or you could shop for ready-made clothes, shoes, handcrafted artifacts as souvenirs from the many local stalls, stores, street vendors and markets. Don’t just pay, bargain!

· Sample, no, actually fully indulge in the many delicacies Hoi An’s restaurants, hotels, resorts and food vendors have to offer from Cao Iau noodles, Wonton dumplings, shrimp et cetera

This is Hoi An as seen and experienced by me, but trust me there are a lot of places and things I did not get the time to explore. However, since I am an addict for history I was content with my trip. What else can I say other than, take me back!

• Image rights belong to me