Hoi An is a small town in Central Vietnam on the coast of South China Sea. Located at the estuary of the Thu Bon river, Hoi An was a busy international commercial port in the 16th and 17th centuries. Herein Chinese from various provinces, Japanese, Dutch and Indians had settled down during the same period. Today Hoi An stands as an example of ancient architecture and is declared as a World Heritage by UNESCO for being one of the best preserved ancient Southeast Asian trading ports.
Hoi An is one of the most popular of the Vietnam tourist attractions. It lures the tourists in Vietnam, with its ancient charm of temples, shrines, Chinese style tile-roofed wooden houses and a unique blend of Japanese and Chinese architecture. A vacation in Hoi An would be an ideal one for those looking for a break from the busy city life with peace and tranquility around.
Some of the popular tourist attractions in Hoi An are:
Old Houses
Phung Hung Old House built believed to be built in 1798 is the most visited among all others. This three storied house has a mix of Chinese and Japanese structural designs and used to be a shop house of merchants. The other similar Old Houses in Hoi An are the 200 year old Tan Ky Old House, the well preserved Quan Thang Old House and the Diep Dong Nguyen Old House.
Temples and Shrines
These are the most visited places for sightseeing in Hoi An. The prominent among them are the Tran Family Worship House built in 1802 by the Tran family, the ethnic Chinese shrine called Truong Family Chapel, Japanese Tombs, Quang Trieu Assembly Hall and Phuc Kien Assembly Hall.
Beaches, Islands and Lagoons
These are the most popular Hoi An tourist attractions. Among the beaches the Cua Dai Beach famous for sunbath and fresh seafood is widely visited. Cham islands , a cluster of 7 island and Hai Van Pass with hills, valleys and lagoons are no less popular.
My Son Holy Land
Located 60 kilometers from Hoi An this UNESCO declared World Heritage Site houses 17 temples and towers of 13th and 14th centuries belonging to the Champa people.
Museums, Churches and Pagodas
Some of the prominent museums are Hoi An Museum of History and Culture, Museum of Sa Huynh Culture and Hoi An Museum of Trade and Ceramics. Some pagodas and churches are also worth a visit in Hoi An like Cao Dai Pagoda, Chuc Thanh Pagoda and the Hoi An Church.
Shopping
Hoi An offers a good selection of Vietnam art, handicraft and clothes. The cloth market is filled with small tailor stalls that are cheaper than shops elsewhere.
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