Joanna James
Historic Hoi An located in Vietnam's central coastline is a uniquely South Asian city with a network of canals flowing to the East Vietnam Sea. Home to a marvellous amalgamation of Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese and French architecture, here are top tourist attractions to visit in Hoi An.
A well preserved South East Asian city, Hoi An's most iconic attraction is the Old Town quarter. And one of the most popular things to do in Hoi An is to explore the 15th century town, home to several vintage buildings constructed according to traditional Chinese styles. Enjoy your sojourns along the narrow winding alleys, while classical music piped across the entire precinct, sets the perfect mood for your 'step back in time' journey. Your entrance ticket will allow you to explore all the main attractions including the Quan Cong Temple, Old Houses and Japanese Bridge while hotels such as Anantara Hoi An Resort, located just 5 minutes away, will give you easy access to the vintage precinct which you definitely will want to keep heading back to; especially in the evenings.
This bridge traditionally called Cau Chua Pagoda is an iconic landmark in Hoi An. Constructed as a link between Tran Phu Street and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, in the 17th century, the bridge connects the Japanese and Chinese quarters. Go admire the vintage relic, carefully preserved over the last 400 years and built to look like a Japanese Pagoda inlaid with elaborate carvings of animals.
Indulge the holiday shopaholic in you with a stint at the Hoi An Night Market. Located on Nguyen Hoang Street the bazaar is found just opposite the Japanese Bridge and opens at 5 pm. Boasting over 500 vendor stalls, this market place is perfect for souvenir shopping, exploring the range of curios and tasting the variety of Vietnamese street food sold there. A hot item to purchase is the colourful array of paper lanterns which glow in the dark. These, by the way, are popular souvenir mementos for happy memories of time spent in historic Hoi An.
The Fujian Assembly Hall, better known as Phuc Kien, is where traders, residents and visitors from the Fujian district of China gather. The place later turns into a shrine dedicated to honouring God Thien Hau. Apart for being able to witness the traditional ceremonies, you get to admire the vintage architecture of the place made up of pretty courtyards festooned with fountains, elaborately carved gates and halls decorated with festive looking dragon figures.
Being part of the Silk Route, Hoi An was a famous trading port which in turn encouraged a number of highly skilled tailors to settle down in the city. Hence, one of the most popular activities in Hoi An is to get a tailor-made kit done by the talented tailors of Hoi An. Visit one of the most recommended and reputed shops where you can choose from a range of colourful fabric to stitch a one of a kind suit. Well, folks, these are just a few attractions in Hoi An, there's more of course to discover but that's for you to find out; book your Hoi An Hotel and start your journey.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
