Hoi An Old Town has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its fascinating beauty and historical value culture. This place has an ancient grace with features that cannot be found anywhere else. Hoi An will lead you to a tranquil town with holy temples, a charming spot with colored lanterns and yellow walls, and an ancient town with plenty of historic architecture.
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1. Introduction of Hoi An Old Town
The ancient town of Hoi An is a trading port located on the banks of the largest river in the province, which has had the most prosperous development period in Southeast Asia. The ruins of the harbor, the old town, the linked houses, the family church, the pagoda, the temple, the Chinese assembly hall, the Japanese and Chinese mausoleums, and the most unique are still quite intact today.
2. Hoi An Old Town – Location, opening hours, and entrance fees
Just downstream from the poetic Thu Bon River, on the coastal plain of Quang Nam Province, about 30 kilometers to the south of Da Nang City. Not only is Hoi An Vietnam a famous tourist attraction, but also an architectural relic complex.
Because it is a town, there is no set opening time for those who want to take a stroll through the old town. Those who are keen to discover the cuisine, architecture, church, … will have an opening time for each restaurant, cultural construction, ancient house, etc. Therefore, in order to have a complete experience in Hoi An, you should look for information in advance.
There is no entrance fee if you just want to walk around, enjoy Hoi An’s specialties, or take beautiful pictures. There are, however, several cultural monuments that require admission tickets:
- Cultural constructions: Quan Cong Temple, Cau Bridge, etc…
- Ancient houses: Phung Hung ancient house, Duc An ancient house, etc…
- Temples: temple of the Tran family, temple of the Nguyen family.
- Museums: Hoi An, Sa Huynh
- Pagodas: Chua Ong, Chua Ba
Furthermore, tickets include a variety of activities such as folk games, street performances (every day from 7 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.), and displays of art (at 10.15 a.m. and 3.15 p.m. daily). Tickets cost 80,000 VND/person for Vietnamese and 120,000 VND/person for foreigners, respectively.
3. Where to visit? Attractions in Old Town Hoi An
3.1 Japanese Covered Bridge (Chua Cau)
Chua Cau is known as a tourist symbol of the old town, which makes a strong impression thanks to its Japanese-style architecture.
Chua Cau is located at Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Minh Khai Ward, Hoi An Old Town. Anyone who comes to this place is impressed by its majesty as proof of history. In fact, the history of the Japanese Covered Bridge is a dynamic place with trading activities for both domestic and foreign traders. In particular, this place has also witnessed the cultural interference of Southeast Asia and East Asia. At the same time, Chua Cau plays a significant role in the local people. Typically, the traffic regulation is convenient for traveling in the town.
Japanese Covered Bridge is a Japanese-style architecture with a total length of 18 meters, covered. With a contemplative image, this structure crosses a small tributary of the Thu Bon River. The pagoda is made of wood, with the upper portion serving as the house, the lower portion as the bridge, and the foundation made of stone pillars.
Chua Cau is considered a bright spot of Hoi An tourism with its quiet scenery. This place also witnessed a change in history with countless events. Perhaps that is why this place has become an ideal stopover attracting thousands of visitors every year.
3.2 Sacred temples
- Quan Cong Temple
Quan Cong Temple was constructed in 1653 by the Chinese people in Hoi An old town, also known as Ong Pagoda (Quan Công Miếu or Chùa Ông in Vietnamese). In order to maintain its present appearance, the temple has undergone 6 restorations over hundreds of years, with the most recent one being in 1966. Quan Cong Temple is a centuries-old spiritual treasure trove of Hoi An. Its superb architecture and exotic traditional festivals will undeniably captivate tourists visiting the Ancient Town of Vietnam.
Address: No. 24, Tran Phu Street, Hoi An Old town, Quang Nam Province
Opening hours: 6 a.m. – 5 p.m. every day
Entrance fee: included in Hoi An Ancient Town’s entrance fee
- Ba Mu Temple
Ba Mu Temple was constructed in 1626 at a different location before being relocated to its current location. However, it has changed dramatically with time, including the effects of war and weather, and now only the entrance gate remains. Ba Mu Temple is a complex of three entrance gates, an enormous ground, and two worshipping areas. The most important item was the Tam Quan Gate, where the surrounding scenery was preserved. In 2016, the construction was completed for the final time. Ba Mu Temple is a standout attraction that draws many visitors to admire and check-in, with exquisitely carved walls, paper flower clusters, and a serene lake reflecting against the deep blue sky.
Address: 675 Hai Ba Trung, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province.
Opening hours: every day, and there is no rule on closing time.
Entrance fee: included in Hoi An Ancient Town’s entrance fee
3.3. Ancient houses
- Tan Ky Old House
Tan Ky old house is the first ancient house to be honored as a National Heritage, considered a “living museum” keeping almost intact the typical architecture of Hoi An ancient houses. This is the home of the Le family for seven generations with a history of more than 200 years and is the most beautiful old house in Hoi An, as well as the “hottest” check-in place in Hoi An, attracting thousands of tourists to admire the architecture and culture and take in an impressive presentation about the ancient house of Tan Ky. The house is mainly constructed of valuable lumber, such as ironwood trusses and ribs and jackfruit wood doors. Other materials, such as Thanh Hoa stone and Bat Trang bricks, add to the old house’s value and beauty.
Address: 101 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province.
Opening hours: 30 a.m. – 5.45 p.m.
Entrance fee: 35,000 VND/person/time (20 minutes)
- Tran Family Chapel
The Tran family Chapel is one of the famous destinations in Hoi An, with ancient garden architecture, exquisite decoration, meticulously carved objects, and many valuable antique artifacts still preserved. The Tran family Chapel has an area of up to 1,500 m2, built by the upright Mandarin Tran Tu Nhac in 1802. The house was built by him as a place to worship the ancestors of the Tran clan and to leave it for future descendants. The unique feature of the Tran family church comes from its delicate and lively layout and strict adherence to feng shui regulations. In the Tran family church, behind the altar is a place to display antiquities from the reigns of King Minh Mang, King Tu Duc, and many ancient artifacts such as genealogies, diaphragms, couplets, etc. Among them are many artifacts with rare and precious hidden meanings, preserved in glass cabinets. If you love ancient architecture with traditional cultural values, the Tran family church is a destination you should not miss on your Hoi An travel itinerary.
Address: 21 Le Loi, Minh An Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province.
Opening hours: 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Entrance fee: included in Hoi An Old Town’s entrance fee
Come to experience Hoi An like a local. Along with a slow, peaceful rhythm of life, no hustle, no rush, and leaves all sorrow behind.
