Hoi An Old Town (Vietnamese: Phố cổ Hội An) is a heritage site and old trading post located in Hoi An. It was an important place where foreign traders came to Vietnam from the 15th century until the 19th century. The newer city today still keeps some of this importance. The old town has many buildings and structures, including 1360 ancient and special monuments and heritage sites. These include 1068 preserved houses and the Japanese Bridge. Hoi An Old Town is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This listing began on December 12, 1999.

History

Hoi An is located on a small piece of land near the mouth of the Thu Bồn River, about 28 kilometers south of what later became the city of Da Nang. This land was originally part of the Sa Huỳnh culture and was later claimed by the Kingdom of Champa starting in the 2nd century. During Cham rule, the area became an important trading port for goods and services, serving as a stop along the maritime Silk Road.

By the end of the 15th century, Vietnamese people began moving into the area, leading to control by the Vietnamese Nguyễn family. By the early 17th century, Chinese and Japanese residents started arriving to live and trade, creating a variety of neighborhoods and streets in the old town. This immigration helped Hoi An grow economically, making it one of the busiest trading posts in Southeast Asia for several centuries.

However, during the 19th century, Hoi An’s port slowly declined as the newer city of Da Nang developed its own sea and trading posts. The decline of trade activities allowed the old port town to remain remarkably preserved over time, largely because it was no longer used and had little economic value.

Architecture

Hoi An's old town has many special building styles that were influenced by different groups of people who lived there throughout history.

During the time when the Champa kingdom ruled the area, the town developed its ports, docks, and other structures, including old wells. One example is Trảng Sỏi 1, a historical site. These items from the past have remained until today.

The most important features of the town’s building styles came from the many people who moved there starting in the 17th century. This happened because Hoi An was an important trading center. Chinese people who settled there built five assembly halls near the old port. One of these halls was used as a central meeting place. These buildings followed traditional Chinese styles, with a focus on balance and beauty. Japanese people also contributed to the town’s architecture, including a wooden bridge that was built in the early 17th century. This bridge is called the Japanese Bridge (cầu Nhật Bản) and is 10 meters long. In the 19th century, when France controlled the town, French-style homes were built along the streets.

Even though the town changed over time, its original street layout remained the same. This layout was created when the town became a major trading post. Together with the old buildings, this layout shows a traditional town design from the 17th and 18th centuries, which is still well-preserved today.

Preservation

Because the old port town had economic problems and decline since the 19th century, it did not get new development or updates. In 1985, the government classified it as a National Cultural Heritage Site. Later, in 2009, it became a Special National Cultural Heritage Site. The entire town is owned by the Vietnamese government. To preserve it, they created a 280-hectare buffer zone and organized cultural events to raise awareness about its heritage. Because of its cultural and historical value, the town was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on December 12, 1999.

Gallery

• A typical street scene in the old town at night
• Common shops and street views in Hoi An's Old Town during the day
• The old city's famous wooden bridge, constructed by the Japanese
• A typical alleyway in Hoi An's Old Town
• One of the many Chinese-built temples in Hoi An's Old Town