This weekend, we take you to the ancient town of Hoi An, on the coast of the south central coast of Vietnam.

Hoi An, ancient trading town of South Central Vietnam

Strolling through the quiet narrow streets of Hoi An is like taking a step back in time.

Waiting for the owner to finish his afternoon coffee

Hoi An, also known as “Faifo”,  is derived from the Vietnamese words Hội An phố (meaning the town of Hội An), which was shortened to “Hoi-pho”, and then to “Faifo”. The town served as as a major trading port in Vietnam for Japanese, Chinese, Indian, and Dutch traders up until the 17th century.

Present-day streets of Hoi An

The Old Town of Hoi An, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999,  is a special example of a traditional trading port in South-East Asia which has been well preserved: it is the only town in Viet Nam that has survived intact in this way. Most of the buildings are in the traditional architectural style of the 19th and 20th centuries. They are aligned along narrow lanes and include religious buildings such as pagodas, temples, meeting houses, which formed part of the then port community.

Shops along streets of Hoi An

We spotted a little Italian flavor in this little town.

“Vitalian” sighting: a bit of Italy in a small Vietnamese town

We next arrived at the Japanese Bridge in the Old Town, a symbol of the Japanese influence in the region.

Japanese Bridge in Hoi An

The bridge, whose builder remains unknown to this day, was originally constructed to connect the Japanese community with the Chinese quarter as a symbolic gesture of peace.

We walked down brick alleys and ancient structures that have been partially restored.

Narrow Streets of Hoi An

A visitor can see all the historical sites of Hoi An via a coupon system where the equivalent of US$6 gives access to five attractions: one museum, one old house, one assembly hall, a handicraft workshop (and traditional music show) or a traditional theater, and either the Japanese Bridge or a temple.

We adored the famous colorful Hoi An lanterns sold everywhere in markets and shops.

Hoi An lantern shops displaying the beautifully famous lanterns

Small town commercial life still carry on today, though at a much quieter pace than the other more bustling cities of the country.

Selling fruit in the streets of Hoi An

At night the streets are dimly lit by lanterns, both in the streets and from shops.

Lanterns in Hoi An

Nightlife activities come to life – locals and tourists strolling after dinner, taking sunsets and evening boat cruises, doing some night shopping.

Candles for the night boat in Hoi An

What to eat in Hoi An? Stay tuned for our upcoming blog entry on fresh and healthy cuisines of Vietnam.

In the meantime, we retire to the oasis of the beachfront Nam Hai Hotel, whose architecture and interior design represents a dramatic play on wind and water inspired by feng shui and the grandeur of the Tu Duc royal tombs in the city of Hue.

The Nam Hai in Hoi An, a peaceful oasis for the soul

Until next time, enjoy the remainder of 2013 and see you next year!

The Perfume River