Hoi An, Vietnam

Former provincial city in Quảng Nam province, Vietnam

About Hội An (city)

Hội An is a former city of Quảng Nam Province in Central Vietnam. Hội An Old Town has been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 and is recognized as a well-preserved former site of a once-thriving Southeast Asian trading port dating from the 15th–19th century.

Etymology

Hội An (chữ Hán: 會安) translates as "peaceful meeting place" from Sino-Vietnamese. The name "Hội An" appears early in historical records, though its precise origin is unclear. According to Dương Văn An's 1553 work Ô Châu Cận Lục, Điền Bàn County listed 66 villages, including Hoài Phố, Cẩm Phố, and Lai Nghi, but no mention of Hội An. A map by Lê dynasty official Đỗ Bá, Thiên Nam Tứ Chí Lộ Đồ Sách, records Hội An Citadel and Hội An Bridge. Inscriptions at the Phước Kiến Cave in the Marble Mountains mention Hội An three times. During Nguyễn Phúc Lan's rule, the Minh Hương village was established near Hội An village. Records from the Minh Mạng era indicate that Hội An comprised six villages: Hội An, Minh Hương, Cổ Trai, Đông An, Diêm Hộ, and Hoài Phố. …

History

Though the name "Hội An" emerged around the late 16th century, the area's history is far older, having been home to the Sa Huỳnh culture and Champa culture. The Sa Huỳnh culture, first identified by French archaeologists in Quảng Ngãi Province, was confirmed as a distinct culture by Madeleine Colani in 1937. Over 50 Sa Huỳnh sites have been found in Hội An, mostly along ancient Thu Bồn River sand dunes. Artifacts, including Han dynasty coins and Western Han-style iron tools, indicate trade as early as the 1st century BCE. Notably, only late Sa Huỳnh culture is evident in Hội An, suggesting its prominence in this period. Between the 7th and 10th centuries, the Chams (people of Champa) controlled the strategic spice trade and with this came increasing wealth. The early history of Hội An is that of the Chams. …

Culture

Hội An stands out for its history and cultural diversity. Since the late 15th century, Vietnamese settlers coexisted with Cham residents, and the town's role as a trading port welcomed diverse cultures, fostering a multilayered cultural identity expressed through customs, literature, cuisine, and festivals. Unlike the royal heritage of Huế, Hội An's culture is rooted in everyday life, with vibrant intangible heritage complementing its physical landmarks. In addition to ancestor worship, Hội An residents practice the worship of the Five Deities (Ngũ Tế), rooted in the local belief that "the state has its king, and the house has its master." These Five Deities are considered the household guardians, believed to govern and arrange the family’s fate. …

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Gastronomy

For centuries, Hội An’s position at the crossroads of waterways and its role as a hub of economic and cultural exchange have fostered a diverse culinary tradition influenced by Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and Western cultures. Although the region lacks the vast expanses of the Mekong or Red River Deltas, its fertile riverbank dunes and narrow alluvial lands shape local lifestyles and customs, including culinary practices. Seafood dominates Hội An’s daily diet, with fish and other marine products often outselling other meats by double in local markets. Fish is so integral that markets are commonly referred to as “fish markets.” Hội An’s Chinese community continues to preserve traditional Chinese cooking habits and customs. …

Heritage and tourism

In 1999 the old town was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO as a well-preserved example of a Southeast Asian trading port of the 15th to 19th centuries, with buildings that display a blend of local and foreign influences. According to the UNESCO Impact Report 2008 on Hội An, there are challenges for stakeholders to protect the heritage from tourism. Owing to the increased number of tourists visiting Hội An a variety of activities are emerging that allow guests to get out of the old quarter and explore by motorbike, bicycle, kayak, or motorboat. The Thu Bồn River is still essential to the region more than 500 years after António de Faria first navigated it and it remains an essential form of food production and transport. As such kayak and motorboat rides are becoming an increasingly common tourist activity. …

Transportation

The nearest airport to Hội An is Da Nang International Airport which is 28 km to the north, about a 40 minutes drive, and Chu Lai International Airport is 73 km away in the south which is a one and a half hours' drive. There are other transportation such as regular car and bus services to and from Hội An. Hội An main routes connect to Đà Nẵng including: National Route 14B – Provincial Road 607 (which is known as Ngô Quyền Street and Lê Văn Hiến Street in Đà Nẵng urban core), coastal road from Sơn Trà Mountain to Cửa Đại Beach. From Chu Lai Airport, Hội An can be accessed by Võ Chí Công Coastal Road that ends at Cửa Đại Bridge. Cổ Cò River is being dredged is a waterway connects Hội An with Đà Nẵng from Thu Bồn River near Cửa Đại Bridge to Vĩnh Điện and Hàn River. …

Hoi An

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