Hoi An: My Son

Although the area was heavily bombed by the Americans during the war, 20 monuments escaped destruction. Currently the Vietnamese government is restoring the remaining sites.

The Champa Kingdom ran from Da Nang to Nha Trang. This culture had many Indian influences. Cham people used the sanskrit language and hinduism was their religion.

My Son was declared a World Heritage Site in 2000 by the UNESCO. My Son was a religious center from the year 900 through 1300. Most of the temples are dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Shiva.

If you rent a private tour to My Son, try getting here first hour in the morning, before the hordes of tourists take the site.

Hoi An, My Son folklore

The visit to the My Son site usually starts with a folklore show. Local dancers and singers will represent a short play. After it, you will visit the ruins in the area.

Hoi An, boat on the river

One of the recommended excursions to do while in Hoi An is a day tour to the Cham site of My Son. You will find tours in agencies throughout the town. You can also ask your hotel for available tours.

Hoi An, Trieu Chau assembly hall

This assembly hall was built by Chinese merchants to worship the God of the oceans in the 19th century. This god protected sailors from the rough South China Sea.

You will have to use another of the coupons to visit it. Try to use one of the other coupons if you have already used your Assembly Hall one. If guards do not accept it, you will have to buy another Tourist Ticket.

Hoi An, beach

I was not very lucky. As soon as I got to the beach, clouds covered the sky, and it started raining. It was the perfect excuse to go to one of the restaurants on the beach. The nice local owner showed us some fishes she said a local fisherman had caught that morning, we chose one, and she cooked it for us. Beautiful!

Hoi An: Resort

In the picture you can see one of the luxury resorts recently opened. A night here can cost you up to 150 US dollars. It sits by the river, and has a great pool, nicely decorated rooms, and a massage parlor with excellent views. A local told me that in a few years, Hoi An would become an exclusive place. You'd better come here before this happens.

Hoi An: Dress shop

In the picture you can see one of the silk shops in Hoi An. Visitors can buy a custom made dress, and have it ready the day after. Silk pajamas are also very popular among tourists. If you bring your own model, tailors will copy it. If you are not sure what you want, ask the clerk to show you his catalogue.

Hoi An: Quang Trieu Assembly Hall

Chinese Cantonese merchants built the Quang Trieu Assembly Hall in 1885. You will have to use one of the coupons in your tourist ticket to visit it.

Hoi An: Tourist cyclos

In this picture you can see a raw of Cyclos. Cyclos are an excellent way of visiting the city. Especially if you feel tired. Make sure you state the price clear before accepting the service, though.

Hoi An, Central Market

Hoi An, Central Market

In the picture you can see Hoi An's main market. Local markets are always a must see in Vietnam. This one is no exception. In the market you will not only be able to see what local eat, but how hectic they are.

Whenever you feel hungry, go to the local market, and order one of the fast snacks. Stalls serve food all day long. Eating in the local market is something not many tourists do. I am sure the Vietnamese ladies will be pleased to serve you.

Hoi An, night restaurant
The picture shows one of the restaurantsin Hoi An. Prices and quality of the local restaurants do not differ a lot. One of my recommended dishes is the Hot Pot. Locals prepare this dish themselves, but in tourist restaurants like the one in the picture, they will prepare it for you.

Hoi An, Lantern Shop

During the 16th and 17th centuries the town of Hoi An underwent a period of expansion. Trade with Dutch, French and Portuguese ports was frequent. In the following centuries battles among competing royal families in the nearby imperial city of Hue destroyed the local economy. The construction of a new port in the neighboring city of Da Nang, led Hoi An to oblivion.

It was not until the 1980's when foreign scholars discovered the preserved architecture of ancient Hoi An, that the city recovered its splendor. With the help of the UNESCO and Poland, the town was restored. Since then, tourism has been the city's main source of income.

Hoi An, Vietnamese girls

One of the historic visitors of Hoi An was the French missionary Alexandre de Rhodes. He created the Latin script which Vietnamese language still uses today. The Western Characters make reading Vietnamese much easier than reading other languages in the region.

Hoi An: old Vietnamese lady

Although money tourists bring is slowly improving the quality of life of locals, many of them still have to live with a salary equivalent of a few dollars a month. Many of the farmers in the region come to Hoi An to sell their goods in the streets.

Hoi An: Night restaurant

In this picture you can see one of my favorite restaurants in town. It is a floating restaurant next to the town's docks. Here you can try the local delicacies. If you are not sure what to order, let the waiter guide you. I recommend ordering different dishes, and sharing them with people on your table.

Hoi An: Phu Kien Pagoda door

The first archeological rests found in the region date back to 2,200 years ago. This indicates that at that time there was already a small community of fishermen and farmers. From the year 200 to the mid-900s, Hoi An was part of the Champa Kingdom. One thousand years ago Vietnamese took control of the area.

The first contact with European dates back to 1516, when Portuguese sailors came ashore at Danang. Soon after this city became one of the most popular ports in Southeast Asia. This traffic enriched many locals, who opt for building opulent houses.

Hoi An: Barber shop

Although prices may rise in the near future, currently the cost of life in this exceptional city is still low. You can have an excellent dinner on a good restaurant by the sea for a few US dollars. Some of the luxury hotels that have recently opened their doors may cost you several hundred dollars a night, but most of the places to sleep in town are still very affordable. Silk clothes and dresses can be bought at bargain prices. Renting a motorbike or a bicycle will cost you very little money too.

Hoi An: Traditional shop

Hoi An is also the place to look for souvenirs. In Hoi An you will find the best prices in Central Vietnam craftsmanship. In the streets in downtown Hoi An you will find many shops like the one in the picture. You can also go to the stalls next to the central market. You may have to bargain a little, but you will always get an excellent price.

Hoi An: Traditional assembly hall

Hoi An is also very famous for its tailor-made clothes. Most tourists who come to Hoi An buy, at least, one of the inexpensive silk dresses. Local tailors can prepare a custom made dress in less than 24 hours. The offer of dress shops is overwhelming. Ask fellow travelers for tips on where to find the best bargains. Most of the shops offer an excellent quality/price ratio.

Hoi An: Vietnamese Lanterns

Hoi An is also famous for its lanterns. Since 1998 on each lunar 14th night Hoi An goes back 300 years. Electricity in downtown Hoi An is switched off, and the streets are illuminated by these colorful silk lanterns.

If you want to buy one of the silk lanterns, you will find many souvenir shops in the four main streets in Ancient Hoi An: Tran Phu, Nguyen Thai Hoc, Le Loi and Dach Dang.

Hoi An: City center

To visit Hoi An's main attractions you have to buy an entrance ticket. The ticket has five coupons. Each of this coupons will give you access to a certain type of site. You have one coupon to visit an assembly hall, a coupon to visit a wooden house, another to visit a temple, another to attend a music play, and the last to visit a museum. If you are nice with the guards of the monuments they may let you swap coupons. If you can, use most of the coupons to enter the assembly halls. The ticket is sold at the ticket stall of Hoi An Office of Tourist Services.

Your donation will help maintain the World Cultural Heritage of Hoi An.