Hoi An:
Hoi An is a magnificent place toun-wind from the ...: Hoi An is a magnificent place to un-wind from the hustling-bustling city life, its located in the south central coast of Vietnam in a p...
Monday, April 8, 2013
Hoi An is a magnificent place to
un-wind from the hustling-bustling city life, its located in the south central
coast of Vietnam in a province called as Quang Nam, the name Hoi An in
Vietnamese means 'Peaceful Meeting Place'. Hoi An is a peaceful town with a
laid back atmosphere.
Da Nang,is a gateway to Hoi An, it’s 40.2 Kms away precisely,
which could be covered by driving for an hour approximately.
History About Hoi An :
Hoi An has a history of more than 2,000 years, this province was under the rule of Cham Dynasty the present culture and heritage has a major influence of Cham Dynasty, the heritage is blissfully preserved in the old town of the city which is centrally located.
The major attraction of the old town is Tran Phu Street located
to the south of the old town, just across the Thu Bon River.
My Travel Experience:
After celebrating my 25th birthday on the cockpit of the Boeing
737-900 NG series of aircraft's simulator in Singapore, I decided to
travel to a place where there would be peace and tranquility, a place
where i could relax and de-stress, well fortunately the dart that i threw at
the map helped me to choose the perfect place, after researching and browsing
for about a week i decided no other place would be better as Hoi An would be,
as it was a kind of place I was exactly looking for. I got a plush river view
villa booked for myself through booking.com (my travel partner), at Hoi An
Beach Resort And Spa stunningly located in Cu Dai Beach.
After about 7 hours of nerve shattering flight from Singapore with a stopover
in Saigon ( Ho Chi Minh City), I landed in Da Nang Airport late in the evening, I was met
at the airport by a Guest Representative Of The Hotel, and was driven
to the hotel in a luxurious Ford Endeavour, It was about an hour’s drive from
the airport as Hoi An Beach Resort And Spa is nestled in the end of the city in
a place called Cu Dai Beach. The staffs in the hotel were truly welcoming
and hospitable.
The next morning I woke up to see the sunrise in Cu Dai beach,
after having my breakfast in the restaurant I decided to laze around in the
private beach owned by the hotel with my I-pod, book and yes not to forgeta bottle of Dalat- the local red wine.
In the evening I decided to explore the old town and a bit of
historical heritage sites in there, a receptionist in the hotel Ms.Kathy Nhung
was quite helpful in guiding me to explore Hoi An, since the hotel lies a bit
far from the center they have a free shuttle service to the city center.
The walk along Bon River in the old town was truly rejuvenating,
it’s a place where you can do a bit of shopping like buying some souvenirs, or
custom made clothes, there are plenty of hostels like backpacker’s paradise and
some great spa’s in here,
The next morning I decided to explore more of the old town, but
this time I wanted to go by my own, so I rented a scooter locally known as XE
for VND 45,000 per day, it was an amazing 20 mins ride through the beautiful
landscape and enchanting cool breeze. I got myself a ticket for 4.50USD which
gives access to any 5 of the total 18 heritage sites to enter.
I met a Belgium solo traveler in the ticketing desk in old town,
so both of us decided to hang around together, we started with Japanese Bridge
(one can access this even without ticket) we shed a coupon in here as we
entered the small temple which could be seen from outside too, then we walked
into Tan Ky House, Quang Thang, Museum of Trade and Ceramics and museum of
history and culture,
At each houses the visitors were welcomed with a shot of green
tea…literally a shot...Then a member of the family would take us around showing
us different parts of the house and explaining the prominence of the designs
and architecture of the insights.
After a tiring day of walking around the old city of Hoi An , I
settled down in the private beach with a glass of beer to see the sun going
down, I packed my bags, checked out of the hotel and flew to the Capital city
Hanoi.
The 18 Sites that you can visit :
·
Japanese
Bridge: A symbol of
pride in Hoi An, the Japanese Bridge was constructed early in the 17th century.
Although it was restored in 1986, the wooden bridge still beams with age and
character. There is a small shrine inside the bridge as well as sacred statues of
a dog and pig that guard each end of the span. Crossing the bridge requires a ticket;
however people rarely check when foot traffic is high.
·
Nguyen
Thi Minh Khai just beyond the
bridge is a peaceful street lined with art galleries of all sorts. Location:
Eastern edge of Tran Phu Street.
·
Quong
Cong Temple: Constructed
around 1653, this temple is dedicated to Quan Cong - a Chinese general famed
for his loyalty and integrity. Location: Tran Phu Street.
Traditional
Performances
·
Traditional
Theater: Catch live
presentations of folk songs, dance, and traditional instruments. The show
starts at 9 p.m. - arrive earlier. Location: Nguyen Thai Hoc Street.
·
Hoi
An Handicraft Workshop: See
live musical performances at 10:15 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. every day but Mondays;
shows last 30 minutes. Location: Bach Dang Street.
Museums of Old Town
·
Museum
of Trade Ceramics: This museum is
barely more than an old house with vases
and shards of broken pottery.
Location: Tran Phu Street.
- Museum
of Folk Culture: Small but interesting,
the Museum of Folk Culture portrays the daily lives of villagers.
Location: Nguyen Thai Hoc Street.
- Museum
of Sa Huynh Culture: This
museum is two in one; a small display upstairs contains weapons of war
including machine guns while the downstairs has pottery dating back to the
1st century. Location: Banc Dang Street.
- Museum
of History and Culture: Probably
the most interesting museum to choose with your ticket, this museum houses
an old cannon and artifacts dating back over a thousand years. Old
photographs show what Hoi An looked like before it became a tourist town.
Historic Houses in Hoi
An Old Town
Most of the old houses are still active
residences turned into tourist attractions; visiting may seem awkward, but it
does provide a chance to see how local residents live. Many of the house tours
include free tea; tipping is not required but is a nice gesture if your host
was helpful.
·
Phung
Hung House: A traditional
house located on the other side of the Japanese Bridge. Eight generations have
lived there to the present day. Location: Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street.
·
Quan
Thang: Constructed in
the 18th century by a wealthy sea captain, this house is very artistic.
Location: Nguyen Thai Hoc Street.
·
Tran
Family Worship House: This
house/chapel was built in 1802 inside of a beautiful garden. Location: northern
part of Old Town on Le Loi Street.
Congregation Halls and
Communal Houses
The congregation halls were where Chinese
immigrants held meetings and socialized. Each house is dedicated to a family
clan or region in China. Although historically important, most of the communal
houses don't have much to look at other than impressive wooden architecture.
·
Cam
Pho: This communal
house was last restored in 1817.
·
Minh
Huong: This
congregation hall was built in 1820.
Folk Games in Old Town
Every
night around 7 p.m. locals and tourists alike gather near
the river at the intersection of Nguyen Thai Hoc and Bach Dang Street. For 50
cents you can participate in a traditional form of gambling where everyone
chooses a paddle with a code. Paddles are hung on a line throughout the musical
show; if a paddle matching yours is drawn, you win a bag of prizes. Even if you
choose not to participate in the game, the traditional drums and singing are
worth hanging around for!
Some Shopping Tips
For Shopoholic:
The above mentioned link would perfectly guide you through
the shopping tips in the city of Hoi An.
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