Hoi An Tours

Where is Hoi An?

Hoi An is located in central Vietnam, more than thirty kilometres from Da Nang, the largest city in central Vietnam. Hoi An is a small, but historic seaside town.

How do I get to Hoi An from Da Nang?

By No.1 public bus, which takes less than 40 minutes. It passes the junction in front of Da Nang train station. The usual fare is 20,000 per person.

If there are a lot of people, it is recommended to take a taxi to Da Nang, which is only about 10 km from Hoi An.

What's the history of Hoi An?

The Vietnamese say that this was a simple 'special economic zone' established by the Emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty. As many Chinese and Japanese came to Hoi An to do business at that time, separate neighbourhoods were built for the Chinese and Japanese, where the Chinese and Japanese lived according to their own national customs. Today in Hoi An you can still see many well-preserved Chinese and Japanese style buildings and cultural customs. Due to its geography, Vietnam has been most influenced by China, and Hoi An is the epitome of this.

What are the top recommended attractions in Hoi An, Vietnam?

Hoi An Japanese Covered Bridge

The Japanese Covered Bridge was originally built by the Japanese to facilitate commercial exchanges between the two sides of the river, and has since been renovated by the Chinese and is now a landmark in Hoi An. At night, lanterns illuminate the bridge, making the bridge even more charming at night than it is during the day.

Cantonese Assembly Hall in Hoi An

Among the many assembly halls in the old town, the four carved pillars with dragon motifs at the entrance of the Cantonese Assembly Hall are particularly striking. The Hall was established in 1885 by merchants from Zhaoqing, Guangdong, and many of the small components were shipped here once they were made in China. In addition to the dragon pottery, other elements in the hall, such as the sheep sculptures, reflect the culture of the Zhaoqing region of Guangdong.

Chinese All-Community Assembly Hall

The Chinese All-Community Assembly Hall is the earliest Chinese assembly hall in Hoi An. It is believed to have been built in the Ming Dynasty as a base for the Chinese in Vietnam at that time. The hall is dedicated to the God of Tin Hau and there are several stone monuments recording the history of the hall and the Chinese martyrs who died in the battlefield.

Hokkien Huay Kuan in Hoi An

Of the many Chinese halls in Hoi An, the Hokkien Huay Kuan is the largest and is the preferred Chinese hall for many visitors to visit. Like the Chinese All-Community Assembly, the Hokkien Association Hall is dedicated to the God of Tin Hau, who is said to have protected seafaring fishermen from disaster and was the protector of the Chinese in the early years of their voyage. The Hokkien Huay Kuan also features designs with animal elements, such as dragons, turtles and phoenixes, which represent power, endurance and nobility in traditional Chinese culture.

What to buy in Hoi An?

The old houses form the most charming part of Hoi An's old town, and in addition to the many old houses and "Ao Dai" traditional dresses, Hoi An also has a lot of lanterns. The lanterns in front of the lantern shops are so colourful and varied that they are beautiful without having to be lit up.

The lanterns in Hoi An are all hand made of wood or bamboo. Hoi An's lanterns are made of coloured silk on the outside, making them more versatile and crafty, and they make great decorations to hang in the home.