Rich in history and culture, Hoi An has remained a well-preserved model of a standard Vietnam port city of an earlier era. The town is renowned because of the tailoring capital of Vietnam, with its many skilled tailors whipping up custom-made clothing at a great value.
My Son dates back to the 4th century AD when the Champa King Bhadravornan created the primary temple on the location and appealed to following generations to honor the temple and respect the site. In the 1930s, the French restored the location only to possess it destroyed during the Vietnam War. In spite of that, the location remains a powerful monumental site of the Champa Kingdom and an icon of the first heritage, history and culture of Vietnam.
If you are fed up with your unstoppable working days and want to refresh your soul, Hoi An's charming Old Town is the best choice. Set on the Thu Bon river, Hoi An - or Faifo - has a peaceful lifestyle. It once played an important role as an international trading port in the early 17 century and was widely known as the gateway for Chinese, Japanese and European to access Vietnam.
This historical position has deeply influenced its culture, which is currently preserved and reflected in local architecture, art and food & drink.
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| Image credit: The Guardian |
The first impression when you visit Hoi An is the long street containing many old houses with ancient roofs, which are blurred in the foggy air of the early morning, or the fuzzy lights of the lantern in the late evening. You cannot leave Hoi An without visiting the Tan Ky House and the Japanese Covered Bridge - two magnificent architectures in the Old Town.
Centered around Hoi An, this is often a neighborhood to enjoy life at a slower pace than elsewhere in Vietnam.
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You can easily see the Chinese and Japanese influences in this construction. Especially, the house-owner can speak English and French quite well, so it is all the easier to visit this place.
The Japanese Covered Bridge, which was built in 1593, is a special structure that has a roof for shelter and a small temple on its northern side. There was a myth that the bridge was constructed in the year of the monkey and finished in the year of the dog, thus one entrance is guarded by monkeys, the other by dogs. It is an impressive religious architect that you should witness at least one time.
It is not only the architectures that are exquisite but also is the art. You should opt for the arts and crafts villages here to shop for handmade clothing or souvenirs. Hoi An is well-known for its fabulous fabrics and skilful tailors, which can satisfy the most fastidious customer.
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Also, it boasts a line of art galleries and handicrafts, especially on the west side of the Japanese Covered Bridge, selling a various range of fake antiques, wood carving and reproductions of famous paintings. One more thing that you can never forget is the glow of shining lanterns, which are in line on the streets.
There are mainly three local specialities here, and the most famous one is caolau. It is a mixture of doughy flat noodles, croutons, bean sprouts and greens, topped with pork slices and served in a savoury broth. The traditional taste can only be found in Hoi An.
