Ancient and peaceful, Hoi An is one of the most popular destinations in Vietnam that caters to travellers of all tastes and across the continents. The little town is just the perfect candidate of what Vietnam tourism ministry is aiming to show to the world.
Warm-hearted, welcoming and traditional, but never out of
touch with the outside world, the people of Hoi An are in overdrive mode trying
to catch up to the opportunities their new found fame has recently given them.
A History of Asian fusion
A slow stroll through town reveals its gems. Hoi An has to
this days well preserved its most sacred treasure, the centuries-old
architecture. The town used to harbor foreign traders back in the 17-18th, and
once is an important heavily-frequented trading port in Southeast Asia. The
foreigners come from all corners of the world, but mostly are Chinese and
Japanese nationalities. Some come and go, but many settle in permanently and
etch their marks into the history of Hoi An.
Mixing together with Vietnamese design, Chinese and Japanese
accents melt and create a picture-perfect Hoi An of the late 19th century,
which it has somehow remained mostly intact since. The end product is an oddly
strange-yet-familiar sight that exists nowhere else in the world. To this day,
few descendants of the foreign traders remain but the architectural setting
manages to survive the damage of time.
read more: alternative things to do in ho chi minh
Little town gathers world fame
In 1999, UNESCO formally recognizes Hoi An as a World
Heritage Site. There are the things that make up the reputation. Hoi An is home
to many temples, pagodas and the ancient homes that bear its very unique mark.
The density of such sites is unlike any other in Vietnam. These places carry
with them the history of Hoi An itself. The depiction of its formation, its
once-prosperous merchant past, its progress and how it manages to become one of
today are all well documented, in words and in priceless relics.
Hoi An earned UNESCO recognition since as early as 1999
The town is not just reminiscent of the past, it truly takes
one for a slow enlightening journey to the past. Such journey is simply
unthinkable most elsewhere in Vietnam. It is only possible because of the
careful and dedicated works that have gone into preserving and presenting its
way - efforts that have come as the result of the UNESCO recognition. Enjoying
the spotlight and catering to the increasing number of tourists flooding its
narrow streets hoping to catch a glimpse of the past, hotels and resorts are
now sprouting up all over town.
read more: best time to travel to dalat
Hoi An Accommodation and Shopping
One shall find his accommodation options ranging from lowly
affordable motel rooms as low as $8 per day to the world-class 6-star
top-of-the-line allegedly-best-in Southeast-Asia Nam Hai resort nearby, which
starts at a whooping $600. Vietnam may be small, but there will always be an
extra bedroom for the staying- over guest. These days, the guests may well
outnumber the homeowners however. True to its origin, Hoi An today still boasts
a booming trade.
Nam Hai Resort amongst the most luxury in the world's hotel
industry
Of the things sold in town, there are only 3 different
categories. First is souvenir, the second being clothing and the last is food,
both western and Vietnamese. The souvenir is not something to write home about,
since offerings are limited in diversity throughout the country. Hoi An is
better known for its tailor shops, which mostly service personal bespoke
orders. Tourists circulate rumor that people stay in this little sleepy town
for entire weeks doing nothing, waiting just to have their shirts made to the
perfect fit. Most designs are traditional Vietnamese in nature, with some offer
contemporary twists and touches of foreign taste as well.
Hoi An lantern makes a perfect house deco - and inexpensive
Coupled with the right prices, Hoi An is truly a shoppers’
paradise, one that dictates its western customers on a unique oriental sense of
style. Paradox does not end. One imagines never being able to find western food
in such a hardcore Vietnamese setting. That turns out not the case. Hoi An is
home to multiple restaurants that serve big hearty American meals with only a
small portion of the menu dedicated to local food. The locals prefer their sidewalk
vendors to the many re-innovated house-turned-restaurants out there.
read more: dalat blog
Of Food and Cuisines
There is no shortage of bacon in town, but cao lầu is the
dish that one simply can not miss. Prices and service are rightfully on par
with the latest venues in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. Yet in the
face of all the hurrying capitalist business going on, for some reason,
somehow, Hoi An retains its quite serenity. Life just seems to flow by at an
uneventful rate. People seem to slowly enjoy things as they are. While
foreigners come to experience the old way, natives also come to Hoi An for a
break in the hustling busy path of life.
Hoi An Chicken Rice - A must try of Hoi An
And it is in Hoi An that their inner peace shall be found,
paradoxically in the face of all the money being changed hand. As for a fitting
end to a story of many extremes, Hoi An is, sadly, situated in one of the
poorest provinces in the country. Apart from the glamour of the
tourism-enriching little town, Quang Nam’s population generally lives at the
poverty line level. A typical drive from Danang’s airport or train station to
Hoi An soon enough will reveal all the stories that are silently told.
0 nhận xét Blogger 0 Facebook
Đăng nhận xét