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Hoi An Ancient Town

Viet Nam

Background

World Heritage since
1999
Type of site
Cultural
Trading port
15th–19th c.

Hoi An Ancient Town is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. UNESCO says its buildings and street plan reflect the influences, indigenous and foreign, that combined to produce a unique heritage.

The old town holds 1,360 monuments, among them 1,068 preserved houses and the Japanese Bridge. Once the port of the Cham kingdom and known as Faifo, it drew Chinese and Japanese settlers in the 17th century and became one of the busiest ports in South-East Asia, then stagnated in the 19th century as Da Nang took the trade, which is why it survived. Wikivoyage says the town is at its best at night, when the riverfront is lit by silk lanterns, and that one ticket covers five historic sites.

More on the UNESCO listing More on Wikipedia

  1. 2nd c.The Champa kingdom makes it a trading port
  2. Late 15th c.Vietnamese settlers arrive
  3. Early 1600sThe Japanese community builds the covered bridge
  4. 17th c.Chinese and Japanese quarters make it one of South-East Asia's busiest ports
  5. 19th c.Trade moves to Da Nang and the town is left as it was
  6. 1999Inscribed as World Heritage

Find Your Way Around

The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them

  1. 1
    Japanese Covered Bridge
    The symbol of the town, built in the early 1600s; the GoGo guide is here at 07:30.
  2. 2
    Fujian Assembly Hall
    The grandest of the Chinese assembly halls.
  3. 3
    Tan Ky Old House
    A merchant house on the ticket.
  4. 4
    Quan Cong Temple
    Founded in the 15th century on Tran Phu Street.
  5. 5
    The Lantern River
    Candle lanterns on the Thu Bon and the night market.
  6. 6
    Tailors and Cooks
    Clothes made in a day and cooking classes in every other kitchen.

Know Before You Go

From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides

One Ticket, Five Sites
Wikivoyage: entry to the old town is free; a coupon ticket admits to any five historic sites, sold at the entry points such as Hai Ba Trung Street.
Go Early
The GoGo guide: start at 07:30, before the heat; motorbikes are banned from the centre from 08:00 to 11:00 and 13:30 to 16:30.
From Da Nang Airport
About 45 minutes by taxi; agree a fixed price rather than the meter, or take the shuttle bus.
November Floods
The town regularly floods in November, up to four blocks from the river; book higher ground.

The Old Town, Dawn to Lanterns

From the GoGo Hoi An guide · Open the Hoi An Guide ›

  1. 07:30
    Japanese Covered Bridge30 min
    The town's symbol before the crowds.
  2. 08:15
    Fujian Assembly Hall45 min
    The Chinese congregation hall.
  3. 09:15
    Tan Ky Old House45 min
    A merchant's house.
  4. 14:00
    Visit a Tailor for a Fitting90 min
    Clothes made to measure in a day.
  5. 18:30
    Candle Lanterns on the Thu Bon River90 min
    Lanterns on the water and the night market.
  6. 19:30
    Cao Lau Noodles1 hr
    Hoi An's own noodles.

Best Time to Visit

Best months: Jan–Apr. Rainy season Aug–Dec.

Typical highs

Best monthsRain: wettest Oct (557 mm), driest Feb (21 mm)

Climate: NASA POWER

Pair It With

Other World Heritage sites nearby, by distance

WORTH A NIGHTDAY TRIPSAME DAYDistance not to scale · tap a site
Do These Together
My Son Sanctuary is 27 km away and the Hué monuments 95 km, both World Heritage sites and day trips in the GoGo guide.
Sources
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, listing 948 · Wikipedia: Hội An Old Town · Wikivoyage: Hoi An (CC BY-SA 4.0) · GoGo Hoi An guide · UNESCO listing