Hoi An Ancient Town 

35km south-east of Da Nang is the ancient town of Hoi An, known as Faifo, which was one of the most important trading ports in Southeast Asia for merchants from China, Japan and afar during the 16^th and 17^th centuries. It also served as the hub of East-West cultural exchange, Hoi An's ancient past is superbly preserved in its fascinating temples, pagoda, shop houses and home which make up the town's old quarter. The picturesque town of Hoi An, with its unique character, is considered the most enchanting place on the coast. A mixture of Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, British and French influence, it retains the feel of centuries past. It's magnificent collection of almost 850 old structures and intact streetscapes just beg to be explored… a great deal of rustic charm and an ideal spot to relax! Walking in the streets of this ancient town, you can observe the influence of the architecture, sculpture and decorative styles of China and Japan and the skill of former Vietnamese architects who have absorbed their influences and created something similar yet somehow uniquely different.

It is recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1999.

A visit of the old streets

The centre-piece is, of course, the Ancient Town. It retains the original street pattern and hundreds of houses built of precious wood in a very original style of architecture, such as Phuc Kien Pagoda, ancient mechant’s house, Assembly Hall, etc...

The most outstanding part of Hoi An is the area of the Japanese Bridge, built in the early days of the city. In the middle of the covered bridge, a small altar is dedicated to Bac De Tran Vu. Formerly, the main road of the town stretched form the Japanese Bridge to Ong Pagoda. 
Hoi An looked out Cui market river, renamed Thu Bon river in the early 20th century.

At night, the old streets become mysterious and glisten to the enchanting lights of Chinese lanterns hanging from every house and covered with colourful silk. 

Gastronomy 

Hoi An is also very famous for its excellent cuisine and typical dishes. It is said that the Cao lau noodles are so palatable because they are cooked in water coming from the local well.

Many dishes were originally brought by a Chinese family of Phuc Kien district such as banh bao (dumplings), or banh quai vac (sweet fritters), which are still prepared by the third generation of Tran Tuan Ngai family living on Phan Chu Trinh Street.

Beach

Hoi An is also attractive by its beautifully white sand beaches and a wide range of luxury resorts looking over the East sea.

Shopping

Hoi An is also a good place for shopping, especially for silk material and garments. Most of the silk shops are just outside the boundaries of the Ancient Towns – most can turn material into a tailor-made garment within 24 hours.