Hoi An, the central Vietnamese coastal town is where old world grace and charm and contemporary, cosmopolitan culture merge in perfect harmony. A historic port city, Hoi An boasts of an amazing cultural diversity. The influence of Dutch, French, Chinese and Japanese cultures can be seen everywhere in the old town which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unbelievable but yet true, Hoi An is free from the 21st century mega problems of traffic and noise. This fact alone makes Hoi An a perfect retreat to relax. An excellent choice of a Hoi An hotel is the Anantara Hoi An Resort, a luxury boutique hotel scenically located on the Thu Bon River Bank.
Hoi An has no airport or train station. Nearby Da Nang has an airport linked to Ho -Chi- Minh – City and other Vietnamese cities. From here, taxis can be got for travel to Hoi An while bus transportation is plentiful too. The city has plentiful affordable accommodation, budget as well as high end shopping .
The many sights including the Old Town can best be enjoyed on foot.
The cultural diversity is very much reflected in the architecture of Hoi An. From Chinese and Japanese shop houses to French Colonial Buildings, Hoi An’s multi cultural heritage can clearly be seen.
The covered Japanese Bridge is a thing of beauty and symbolic of the city that is Hoi An. The bridge of understated Japanese design built somewhere around the 1590s to connect the Chinese Quarter across the stream. It has a small pagoda at one end. The Tan Ky house built by a Vietnamese family two centuries ago with both Japanese and Chinese influenced architecture and delicate works of art is well worth a visit. The assembly hall of the Fujian Chinese congregation is another place well worth visiting as is the World Heritage site of the My Son Sanctuary – a great repository of the ancient Champa civilization of Southern Vietnam.
The Museums of Hoi An are well worth visiting. The Museum of Trade Ceramics exhibits include ones from Persia, China Thailand and India. The Museum of History and Culture traces the history of Hoi Ann from its earliest inhabitants to French Colonial Times while the Hoi Ann Folklore Museum showcases the traditional crafts etc.,
The beautiful countryside is a joy to walk or bicycle in while a few kilometers away pristine beaches like Cua Dai offer sun bathing and every possible form of water sports.
The cuisine of Hoi An is delectable and Cao Lau, a dark pork broth is Hoi An’s signature dish.
Night Life is somewhat laid back but there are plenty of bars and night spots to hang out and even dance.
Hoi An is indeed a tourist’s paradise.
Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google
