Vietnam (Hoi An) Jan 2014

Map of Hoi An, Vietnam

Total Expenses incurred (1/2 day trip): 50,000vdn=US$2.40 (Rm$7.90)

Bus: 50,000vnd (Hoi An > Danang)

I take my hat off after
seeing Hoi An

Hoi An has no train station. You can easily visit Hoi An from Danang by bus (1 hr). From the Hoi An bus station, you can either take a cab or walk about 1 km to this UNESCO site. We spent about 4-5 hrs and took a casual walking tour at the Hoi An Old Town. Many of the old buildings are well preserved dating back to the 17th to 19th centuries. 

In the old days, Hoi An was an important port of call to traders from the West & East ie Dutch, Portuguese, Chinese & Japanese. If you have visited the historic city of Macau & Malacca (in Peninsula Malaysia-my home country), you may able to spot on some similarities in terms of their historical, cultural & architectural background. So as soon as I walked into the pedestrian street of the Hoi An Old Town and started to admire the cultural & historical sites, I was very much at ease & began to think of my last visit to the historical city of Malacca starting from the Jonker street by admiring the old traditional buildings & the surrounding places along the Malacca river !

If you are in Hoi An, you may consider visiting My Son, a UNESCO world heritage site & an important center of the ancient kingdom of Champa. Having visited Angkor (Cambodia), Ayuthaya (Thailand), Bagan (Mymmar) & Borobudur (Java, Indonesia), I gave it a miss in visiting My Son but will consider this site if I am in Central Vietnam again ! 

1) Yellow bus ride from Danang > Hoi An, Vietnam & return (approx 1 hr)

Foreigners paid 50,000 dong (one way) 

2) Japanese Covered Bridge, Hoi An, Vietnam

The First bridge was built
in 1590s by the Japanese

The entrances are guarded
 by a pair of monkeys & dogs

3) Assembly Hall of The Cantonese Chinese Congregation, Hoi An, Vietnam

4) Assembly Hall of The Fujian Chinese Congregation, Hoi An, Vietnam

4) Chinese All-Community Assembly Hall, Hoi An, Vietnam 

5) Cam Pho Temple, Hoi An, Vietnam

6) Hoi Thanh Tin Lanh (Church), Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An Ancient Town - an UNESCO world heritage site, well preserved old residential & shop houses dating back to 17th to 19th century ! 

6) Thu Bon River, Hoi An, Vietnam

7) Art Galleries, Hoi An, Vietnam

8) Souvenirs & Gifts, Hoi An, Vietnam

9) Cho Hoian (Hoi An Market), Vietnam