The old town of Hoi An is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since it's an exceptionally well-preserved example of a Southeast Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century
To visit historic sights in the old town you have to buy a ticket for about $7 which allows you to visit 5 of the 22 tourist stops including old houses, museum, temples and assembly halls
This Japanese covered bridge is the symbol of Hoi An; first built in the 1590s, the bridge linked the Japanese and Chinese that lived in Hoi An
The Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, founded in 1690, served the largest Chinese ethnic group in Hoi An which came from Fujian; they could meet up and socialize here while living or visiting Hoi An
Built in 1653, the Quan Cong Temple was built to honor a Chinese general who symbolized loyalty and integrity; it was amazing to see how inundated the city has been in its many floods
This is the central market where locals come to buy everything; the shops in town were clean and organized but the items for sale were typically the same ones I'd seen throughout Vietnam
Hoi An has a Disney-like feel to it and would be more enjoyable if motorcycles were banned and crowds reduced; the Japanese Bridge is the only must see attraction in town
One afternoon I took a short taxi to An Bang Beach; lots of hotels are being built here but the beach wasn't nearly as nice as those in the US
The old town is quite a small area which is peaceful early in the morning but quickly becomes clogged with tourists, bicycles and motorcycles
There are dozens of tailor shops in town, so most members of my tour had suits or dresses custom-made for them; it's amazing that they can be made in just one day
In the old house of Quan Thang, built in the late 17th century, you can see the detailed woodwork and ventilation system typical of Hoi An merchant houses
The Vietnamese style is for a family to have a small storefront at their house while they live in the back (or upstairs if they are prosperous); there are no big box retailers here
I much preferred the atmosphere of Hoi An at night compared to the day; the colorful lanterns and absence of motorcycles made the old town much more enjoyable
The city rose to prominence as a powerful and exclusive trade conduit between Europe, China, India, and Japan, especially for the ceramic industry
The Minh Huong Ancestor Worship House, built in the late 19th century; ancestors are believed to continuously protect and assist their children so they are worshiped and remembered
The pollution here makes for some colorful sunsets; I had a very challenging time finding any decent processed food to eat here since there are no proper grocery stores
This featured blog entry was written by VagabondCowboy from the blog The frugal travels of a vagabond.
Read comments or Subscribe
