Hoian  is the famous ancient town in Quang Nam province in the central city of Vietnam known for its cultural beauty from 17th century with well-preserved buildings cut through with canals. The former port city’s melting-pot history is reflected in its architecture, a mix of eras and styles from wooden Chinese shop-houses and temples to colorful French colonial buildings, ornate Vietnamese tube houses and the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge with its pagoda. The following Places to Visit in Hoian city will be listing out places you should visit when you are in one of Hoian Package Tours.

JAPANESE COVERED BRIDGE

The Japanese Covered Bridge or Cau Chua Pagoda (in Vietnamese “Cau Nhat Ban”) is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Hoi An, Vietnam. The original Vietnamese name of this bridge is “Lai Vien Kieu”. It is considered that the Japanese Covered Bridge belongs to the Japanese community in Hoi An, and was built in the early seventeenth century. No trip to Hoi An would be completely without visiting Japanese Covered bridge.

The bridge was first build in the 1590s by the Japanese community to link them with the Chinese quarters. It is a solid structure as the threats of earthquakes. Through hundred years, the ornamentation has remained relatively faithful to the original understated Japanese design. In 1986, the government has restored the original arched shape after the work of the French to open a roadway on the bridge.

With its unique shape and on the way to discover the Old Houses in Hoian, The Japanese Covered Bridge is on the top list of Places to visit in Hoian and it is estimated that nobody ever come to Hoian without seeing this Japanese Bridge!

Further Reading:     Hoian Day Tour From Danang

MESEUM OF SA HUYNH CULTURE

The museum was established in 1994, and displays a unique collection of artefacts from Sa Huynh culture, considered to be the first settlers of the port town, who cooperated and traded with countries in Southeast Asia, South India and China. This collection shows visitors useful information about the ancient Sa Huynh culture's inhabitants mostly related to burial customs, conceptions of life and death, the developmental history of the region, and relationships with other cultures. The particular significance is a collection from Bai Ong - a site on Cham Island - which traces Sa Huynh culture back by 3000 years considered the largest and most unique collection of Sa Huynh artefacts in Vietnam.

It is a museum showcasing the pre-historic Sa Huynh culture, showcasing terracotta work that has been found in the area. 

The museum is just several footsteps away from the Japanese Covered Bridge and if you are museum persons, you can save your time visiting this unique museum.

TAN KY OLD HOUSE 

Tan Ky Old house is around 200 years old structure built by an ethnically Vietnamese family and has been lovingly preserved through seven generations.  

The house is a typical Old house style built in a city with "Tube" shape divided by different areas for different uses from the Exterior with tiled roof, the inside first part with the family worshiping place and guest room, next come to the open door middle part of the house and the living part in the back. 

PHUNG HUNG OLD HOUSE

Few steps away from the Japanese Covered Bridge, Phung Hung Old House is a typical combination of Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese styles. The house used to be a shop trading in cinnamon, pepper, salt, silk, chinaware and glassware. Now part of the house is used as a workshop for making commercial embroideries.

The house is not as long as some other old-style houses with two stories and mainly made of wood with  and four roofs. Here you can see a unique blending of two different architectural styles: Japanese style of four-sided roof can be perceived in the ground floor, and the Chinese design of round shaped roofs that reflect a turtle shell is present in the upper floor. The ground floor used to be a shop and now it is the family’s living room, furnished with some wooden old-style cupboards containing many precious objects and belongings.

CHAOZHOU ASSEMBLY HALL

Located in 92B Nguyen Duy Hieu Street and built in 1752, this is the place for community even and local beliefs of ChaoZhou in Hoian. ChaoZhou Assembly Hall is for worshiping of the gods that bless the merchants travel in the sea.

the highlight in this congregational hall is the gleaming woodcarvings on the beams, walls and altar – absolutely stunning in their intricacy. You could stand here for hours to unravel the stories, but if you’re just popping by quickly, look for the carvings on the doors in front of the altar of two Chinese women wearing their hair in an unexpectedly Japanese style. 

MUSEUM OF TRADE CERAMIC

If you are historians or those with an interest in archaeology then this is the place for you. Others may find it rather dry largely due to the fact of number of objects on display and most of the exhibits consisting of ancient shards of flatware and pottery mainly dating from the 8th to the 18th centuries.

The museum is @ 80 Tran Phu Street right at the town center and it is the memory to the past of Hoian Ancient Town when once upon a time Hoian was one of the Asian leaders in the trading of pottery from nations such as China, Thailand, the Middle East, India and Japan. 

CANTONESE ASSEMBLY HALL

 Name as one of the most famous building in the Old town of Hoian, Cantonese Assembly Hall is also a popular tourist attraction. The house is adjacent to Cau Pagoda on 176 Tran Phu Street – a gastronomic street of Hoi An . It was built in 1885 by Chinese overseas who came from Guangdong/ Cantonese (China) dedicating to Thien Hau Holy Mother in the early time, then to Quan Cong, and then to the Sages who came from Guangdong Formerly. It was a place for Chinese fishermen and traders to rest temporarily and to exchange goods. In those days, there was a wharf at the front of the house.

After passing by three-entrance gate by of stone and four rows of stone pillars at the front. Four Chinese characters, meaning “Quang Trieu Assembly Hall” is an amazing fountain that features a dragon. The dragon is a beautiful creation made out of pottery. Besides that, there are more attractions waiting for you inside the Quang Trieu (Cantonese) Assembly Hall in Hoi An.

 Various Cantonese statues are spread out all over the hall. Some of these statues reflect the musical dramas of the Cantonese culture. All of these combining making the Cantonese Assembly Hall on the top of Places to visit in Hoian.

FUKIAN (PHUC KIEN) ASSEMBLY HALL

Also located in Tran Phu Street with the number 46, Fukian Assembly Hall  was built in 1690 and functions as a traditional assembly hall for the Chinese ethnic group from Fujian, China to socialise, but later was transformed into a temple dedicated to their deity named Thien Hau – the goddess of sea who protects sailors from danger. 

The place is also for worshiping other influential gods and goddesses in the Fujian people’s belief, reflected in several murals, lacquered boards and paintings, etc. Throughout the temple, there are a plethora of statues, bronze drums, bronze bells and horizontal lacquered board engraved with Chinese characters. The whole combination and arrangement of every element in the hall tend to imply the Chinese philosophy of happiness.  

THANH HA POTTERY VILLAGE

 3 km away from the ancient town and reachable by boat. Thanh Ha Pottery Village is a restored ceramic village which was here from 15th century. The potters here have a reputation for being welcoming and friendly and the local craft man would be very happy to offer us a seat and watch them pounding up some clay into a long slug and then coiling it into a pot shape atop a stone kick wheel mounted on the ground. If you are interested in creating some products yourselves, you can go ahead and try sticking your hands in to learn to create a ceramic piece as you want. 

Once leaving the village, the craft man will present you a blow whistle made from ceramic and you can choose an animal you like out of the 12 zodiacs of the local belief. 

Further Reading:     Hoian Day Tour From Tien Sa Harbor

TRA QUE HERBALVILLAGE

Just 3 kms way from the ancient town, we can bike to a special village that has long been known for growing many kinds of vegetables: lettuce, salad, houttuynia cordata, basil and coriander, vegetables etc, with which the traditional specialties of Hoi An have gained part of their fame.

 Visitting Tra Que Village, you will be fascinated by watching the farming procedures of local farmers such as: raking the ground, sowing, watering, picking vegetables and many other activities which are rarely seen in modern daily life and learn about organic farming techniques and try their hand at actual farming. The farmers don’t use chemical or fertilizers but a kind of algae found only in a lagoon in Tra Que making Tra Que herbs and veggies widely recognized for their quality, safety and especially outstanding taste and flavor.

 The best way to discover the village is by a bicycle with also a cooking class prior to lunch at local friendly families with wonderful food of Hoi An such as: cao lau, Quang noddles, banh xeo, etc and some kinds of drinks extracted from local herbs.

Further Reading:   Tra Que Village Biking and Cooking Day Tour

DANANG CITY

Da Nang  is a Port coastal central city of Vietnam known for its sandy beaches and history as a French colonial port and an international airport serving for the whole area. More than that, Danang is also a famous tourism destination in Vietnam. 

Further Reading:                 Places to Visit in Danang Vietnam

HUE CITY

Hue is around 100 kms Nothern of Danang. This is the ancient capital of Vietnam from 19th century till the middle of 20th Century. You can learn more about this destination at: 

Further Reading:                         Places to visit in Hue Vietnam

MYSON HOLYLAND

Myson is a special holy place of the Cham people which is a world heritage of Vietnam. It is also listed as 1 of the 10 Best Places to visit in Vietnam. You can view its details at: Myson Holyland Vietnam. 

Futher reading:                   10 Best Places to visit in Vietnam

VTT hopes that with the above information you have got the basic ideals of Places should Visit in Hoian and its surroundings area, Vietnam to be able customize your Hoian Package Tours with the best suitable to your desire and interest!

Have a nice holiday in Hoian, Vietnam!