Joanna James
The thing about Hoi An is that not only is it a great place to visit sacred sites from all religions, it is also a relatively laidback city with the charm of a former colonial establishment that is quite visible in its architecture. Here are some religious sites to visit before exploring the city.
Named after a Chinese General who was successful in battle and made man a grand victory for the Han Dynasty. Since he was such an epitome of sincerity, prestige and loyalty the temple built in his honour was given such qualities as a red and gold interior and exterior to mirror all the general did in the name of harmony. Quan Cong is made up of four main buildings: two to the West and two to the East. Many motifs of dragons and carp cover the décor of the walls and entranceways. There is also a very well sculptured statue of the general at the main altar. He is flanked by his best guardians. The temple becomes an arena of colour and celebration every year during the Ong Pagoda festival. Entrance is free and the temple is open to the public all seven days of the week.
Getting to Hoi An Cathedral from Anantara Hoi An Resort is relatively easy. It is a gigantic Catholic church that was constructed in 1903. The current structure is part of the massive renovations that took place in 1964. While on the exterior the church may look both ancient and modern, the interior design is very bright and spacious. The interiors are also very simple but embellished by small stained-glass windows. English mass is held every Sunday at 4 pm. The church is open from Monday to Saturday but only at the hours, 5 am to 5 pm. Entrance is free.
The oldest pagoda in Hoi An, Chuc Thanh Pagoda is a great example of the seamless marriage of Vietnamese and Chinese architectural styles. No one knows when the pagoda was first built, but stories put it to be around 1454. Some of the more fascinating aspects of the pagoda are the various paintings, murals, animal carvings, ritual objects and lacquered pillars within the temple. They are numerous and, in some cases, unique and have been around for almost 6 centuries. If you are looking for Hoi An things to do that will give you peace of mind, a visit to the Chuc Thanh Pagoda would be one of the best.
Hoi An is often referred to as Vietnam's Yellow City due to the many buildings in the town that have been painted in bright sunshine yellow. Yellow symbolizes luck and prosperity in Vietnam and the colour is great for absorbing sunlight which can be quite strong and humid in the seaside city.
During the 15th and 19th centuries, Hoi An was a bustling port city and a lot of traders moved through. Even though it is more of a pretty little postcard town today, everyday life mirrors that of its colonial history and heritage.
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