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Hoi An Old Town by Colin W-

10 Fascinating Facts About Hoi An Old Town

Hoi An is an old town located in central Vietnam. With a rich history and culture, this town is a popular tourist destination. Hoi An, which translates to the peaceful meeting place, is a city in Vietnam recognized as a historic trading port with a mix of indigenous and foreign influences, dating back to the 15th Century established in the 1600s.

Hoi An ancient town is on the Thu Bon River, 20km south of Da Nang. Hoi was once a major trading hub for Southeast Asia. Today, the city is a popular tourist destination, known for its well-preserved architecture and beautiful lantern festival. Here are ten fascinating facts about Hoi An Old Town.

1.Hoi An Claims to be the Third Oldest Chinatown in the World

Hoi An Old Town during night time by Hcxtd –

Hoi An lays claim to being the third oldest Chinatown in the World. Hoi An, which translates to the peaceful meeting place, is a city in Vietnam recognized as a historic trading port with a mix of indigenous and foreign influences, dating back to the 15th Century. Many people from different parts of the world came here, mostly majoring in the leather and silk trade.

2.Hoi An Became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999

Hoi An is an exceptionally well-preserved ancient town. With all the preserved architecture and culture, in 1999 it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Several reasons why Hoi An became a world heritage site include its indigenous and foreign cultures of the Chinese, Japanese and European.

Additionally, Hoi An has well-preserved 1,107 timber frame buildings with wooden walls. These wooden structures are among the most outstanding features in Hoi An.

3.The Name Hoi An was Given by Chinese Settlers in the 4th Century

Hoi An Old Town by (WT-shared) Shoestring at wts wikivoyage –

The Name Hoi An was given by Chinese settlers in the 4th Century. The Chinese settlers who first arrived in Nam Hoi, pronounced Hoi An, named it so because they thought the river was so clear that it looked like water.

The Name Hoi An was later changed to Dat Do, meaning Big Water, by Vietnamese Settlers in the 16th Century. Viet settlers fled China following the Chinese Opium Wars. In their new home in Nam Hoi, they named the town after its biggest river, Da River, and then changed its name to Hoi An.

4.There are Four Museums in the City

The city has four museums – the Museum of Culture, the Folklore Museum, the Museum of Trade Ceramics, and the Museum of Sa Huynh Culture. These are ready-to-use World Heritage Sites: Hoi An provides worksheets perfect for teaching students about the Hoi An.

The Hoi An Museum of History and Culture opens from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm all through the week, charging only $5.

5.The Price of a Tricycle Ride Around the City is About VND 100,000, Which Takes about 20 Minutes

When exploring this old town using a tricycle, it will only take 20 minutes or less and you will be charged VND 100,000 only. The advantage of using a tricycle is you have a chance to see all the town has to offer from ancient architecture, museums like the most outstanding Museum of History and Culture, Buddha like Amitabha, temples and fascinating stores.

6.The Best Time to Visit Hoi An is From January to April

Hoi An Old Town by Jean-Marie Hullot –

Every year from January to July, is the dry season, with less rainfall. The weather from January to April is cool, which is the best time to travel to Hoi An. Hoi An City has 9 PhÆ°ong and 4 Xa, and the Municipal People’s Committee is located in PhÆ°ong Cam Chau.

When visiting Hoi An, note that there is no airport in, and the nearest airport is in Da Nang, 30 km from Hoi An. Da Nang International Airport is the international airport of Da Nang and the third largest airport in Vietnam.

7.Hoi An Museum of History and Culture is Located in the Guanyin Temple

Hoi An Museum of History and Culture is located in the Guanyin Temple, displaying old photos, maps, sculptures made of different materials, porcelain and other cultural relics and materials from the Cham Dynasty and even more ancient times.

Travelers rarely find roads as they are either busy, or remain closed from 8:30 to 11:00 in the morning and 15:00 to 21:30 for cars, taxis, and motorcycles. As such tourists can hop on the 20-minute tricycle rides to the museum.

8.Hoi An Has One of the Oldest Buddhist Temples

Van Duc Pagoda dates back to the late 17th Century and is where locals honor Buddhist deities such as Amitabha Buddha, Dia Tang Bodhisattva, and Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. Hailed as one of Hoi An’s oldest Buddhist temples, the yellow-hued establishment features three worship halls, intricate animal sculptures, paintings of deities, potted plants, and plenty of trees offering ample shade.

Set within the vicinity of the 1653-built Quan Am Pagoda, one of Vietnam’s oldest, the museum provides an interesting insight into the local heritage, including traditional burial rites with authentic coffins on display, photographs of local architecture, ceramics and pottery depicting the changing faces of Hoi An, as well as several Cham artifacts such as bronze temple bells and gongs.

9.Cua Dai Beach Offers a Relaxing Seaside Escape from The Ancient Streets Of Hoi An

Cua Dai Beach offers a relaxing seaside escape from the ancient streets of Hoi An. Boasting a 3-km stretch of white sand and gentle waves, the beach is quiet most of the time, apart from weekends and public holidays when most people are on vacation or unwinding from work. Different activities take place along the shores engaging both adults and children.

10.Quan Am Pagoda is One of Vietnam’s Oldest Museums

Quan Am Pagoda by DoktorMax –

Set within the vicinity of the 1653-built Quan Am Pagoda, one of Vietnam’s oldest. Constructed in 1690, this World Heritage site was utilized by residents from Fujian in China to meet up and socialize while living or visiting Hoi An.

The museum offers an interesting insight into the local heritage, including traditional burial rites with authentic coffins on display, photographs of local architecture, ceramics and pottery depicting the changing faces of Hoi An, as well as several Cham artifacts such as bronze temple bells and gongs.

The Assembly Hall Of Fujian Chinese is also the home of Jinshang Golden Mountain Temple, which is dedicated to Thien Hau, the sea goddess and sailors’ caretaker.