Destinations to visit in Hoi An Ancient Town

Pagoda bridge, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, Trieu Chau Assembly Hall, Quang Dong Assembly Hall, the Old House of Tan Ky are some destinations among the most famous destinations that visitors cannot miss when coming to Hoi An Ancient Town. 

Pagoda Bridge

Pagoda Bridge (Chua Cau) or Japanese covered bridge is a valuable property, a symbol of Hoi An. Built by the Japanese at the end the sixteenth century, the bridge has two sculptures of a dog and a monkey placed at one end because the Japansese believed that the two animals symbolize sacridness.   

In the  middle of the bridge, there lies a temple of the northern God Tran Vo Bac De who is the God of Weather. The Japanese, especially sailors worship him to pray for fine weather.

One special feature of the bridge making it distinctive is the roof covering the bridge. Over time, the bridge still remains the original Japanese design.

Position: the bridge crosses a rivulet running into Thu Bon river, connects Nguyen Thi Minh Khai street and Tran Phu street.

Pagoda Bridge. Photo: Worldheritage.routes.travel

Phuc Kien (Fujian) Assembly Hall

It is said that the Assembly Hall was originally a small temple worshiping the statue of Goddess Thien Hau (the goddess protecting sailors from danger) which was found on Hoi An beach in 1697. Undergoing several times of restoration, with main contributions of the Chinese Overseas from Fujian, the Assembly Hall has become more attractive, featuring the architectures of Hoi An Ancient Town.

When you come to Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, the very first impression you may have is the ornate gate – a typical feature of Chinese architectures. Going inside, you will see colorful courtyard, the main hall where a shrine and ingeniously carved Chinese dragons are placed, statues of God of Properity, three fairies and twelve midwives, and so on. Besides, bronze drums, bells and lacquered boards engraved with Chinese characters can also be found there.

Position: no.46 Tran Phu street

Trieu Chau (Chaozhou) Assembly Hall

Trieu Chau Assembly Hall was built by the Chinese overseas from Chaozhou in 1895 to worship the God General Phuc Ba who has power to control winds and calm the rough sea, helping sailors to cross the sea safe and sound. The hall is specially valuable in terms of architecture with sophisticated carved wooden frames, and beautiful decorating wooden patterns, wooden altars, and porcelain embossed patterns.    

Position: no.92B Nguyen Duy Hieu street

Quang Dong (Cantonese) Assembly Hall

The Cantonese Assembly Hall was constructed by the Chinese overseas from Guangdong in 1885 with the aim of worshiping the goddess Thien Hau and Confucius. After 1911, the hall has been used to worship Guangong and the ancestors of Guangdong people.

The proper use of wood and stone in the bearing structure, together with ornate motifs, curved roof, carved works, embossed pictures and the unique total design of the hall have made it distinctive and notable.

Every year, at the full moon of the first month of the year (Lantern Festival) and Guangong festival (June 24^th Lunar), people organize huge festivals with the attendance of many people including both the locals and international visitors.

Position: No.176 Tran Phu

Outside of Guangdong Assemly Hall

The Tran Family Home and Ancestral Temple

Ancestral Temple of the Tran (Chen) Family was built by an official whose surname was Chen (a large Chinese clan migrating to Hoi An in 1700s). The construction follows traditional geomancy principles of the Chinese and the Vietnamese.

Located in a large area of 1.500 square meters, the construction is divided into smaller areas for ancestor worship, displaying artifacts relating to the clan, living house. The architecture is imbued with the style of Vietnamese ancestral temple from ancient time and until now, the Tran Family Home and Ancestral Temple still remains its original structure.

Position: No. 21 Le Loi street

Hoi An Museum of History and Culture

Founded in 1989, the museum exhibits 212 original artifacts and valuable documents which are ceramics or porcelains, or made of bronze, iron, paper or wood, reflecting development periods of the urban area-trading port of Hoi An from the Sa Huynh Culture period (commencing 2^nd century A.C) to the Cham Culture period (from 2^nd century to 15^th century) and Dai Viet, Dai Nam Culture (from 15^th century to 19^th century).

Position: No.13 Nguyen Hue

The Old House of Tan Ky

Constructed almost 200 years ago in the Old Quarter of Hoi An Ancient Town, the Old House of Tan Ky is a typical example of a merchant’s residence in the 18^th century with the interior divided into many specialized rooms. The front of the house was used for commercial purpose, the back linking with the bank of river was the place for receiving and delivering commodities.

This house possesses not only unique features creating from traditional materials by the hands of local carpenters, but it also presents the exchanges with the regional architectural styles. On February 17^th, 1990 the Old House of Tan Ky was recognized as a national historical and cultural relic.

Old House of Tan Ky. Photo: niemrieng.net

Hoi An Handicraft workshop

Hoi An handicraft workshop gathers almost all kinds of traditional crafts in Hoi An and Quang Nam such as brocade weaving, textile, pottery and lacquer ware. Visiting the workshop, tourists can feel the peaceful atmosphere of Vietnamese countryside, admire the amazingly ingenious techniques of the artists with their own eyes. Visitors can also take part in some stages in the production to create some unique handicraft products and buy some of them.

Position: no.9 Nguyen Thai Hoc