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 Tucked away 30 km from the bustling city of
Danang is the tranquil and lovely Hoi An town situated beside Thu Bon river.
This idyllic town was once a busy port in the 16th & 17th
centuries frequented by traders from faraway places such as Japan, China,
Portugal, Italy and France etc until the river silted up and it was almost
impossible for big vessels to dock in Hoi An.
Much of the architecture (communal houses, bridges, family
chapels and community halls) in Hoi An have been preserved and kept intact in
its original form, transforming the entire town into a living museum with a
character of its own. For these
reasons and more, UNESCO has accorded this antique and artistic town a World
Cultural Heritage Site on 4 Dec 1999.
Unlike the busy cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city where you are
bombarded constantly with the sound of traffic and incessantly horning, many of
the cobbled stone paved streets in Hoi An are off-limits to motor-cars and
buses, and on certain days, only pedestrians and pedal bicyles are allowed to
travel on these streets. This makes
for a very delightful experience touring and shopping in the culturally-rich old
town.
 You will feel completely relaxed and at ease within the
atmosphere of Hoi An town whether it is sipping coffee along the banks of Thu
Bon river, browsing leisurely in the various art and handicraft shops or
enjoying a performance of traditional Vietnamese music.
Do not forget to visit the tailors as these master seamstresses can sew
up anything from blouses and pants to cushion covers and waistpouches.
Enjoy having your feet sit neatly in handmade to fit shoes and sandals
with your choice of colour and type of leather.
Beach lovers will be thrilled with the white
sandy beaches, clear waters and gentle waves at the beautiful Cua Dai beach 4 km
from Hoi An town. This is a stretch
of beach which connects with China Beach in Danang.
The road journey from Hue into Hoi An will cross
over Hai Van pass, a cliff extension of Truong Son mountain range into South
China sea. The picturesque view of
the sea from the cliff is simply breath-taking and beyond description.
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