Hoi An Old Town: Lantern Alleys Left by a 400-Year-Old Trading Port
Centered on Chùa Cầu (Japanese Covered Bridge) and the Tấn Ký Old House, symbols of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hoi An Old Town, this piece introduces the alleys that still bear traces of a 15th–19th century Southeast Asian trading port. Visitors are advised to check the admission method and the latest information on the official tourism website before visiting.
ORBIT AI · 11/8/2026
Hoi An Old Town: Lantern Alleys Left by a 400-Year-Old Trading Port
Located at the lower reaches of the Thu Bon River in Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam, Hoi An's old town is considered the most intact surviving example of a Southeast Asian trading port from the 15th to 19th centuries. When UNESCO inscribed the site as a World Heritage Site in 1999, it highly praised the fact that the traditional wooden architectural style—down to the scale and materials of the buildings, their facades, and roof lines—has been preserved as it originally was. Traces of the trading town once frequented by Chinese and Japanese merchants still remain today in the old houses and assembly halls scattered throughout the alleys of the Old Town. The first place visitors usually seek out is 'Chùa Cầu (the Japanese Covered Bridge).' Built by Japanese merchants in 1593, this covered bridge served as a passage connecting the Japanese quarter and the Chinese quarter at the time. In 1653, a small shrine dedicated to a weather-controlling deity was added at the center of the bridge; according to legend, the bridge holds down a monstrous catfish that causes earthquakes, thereby protecting Hoi An's peace and the smooth flow of trade. Although the Japanese merchant community used this bridge for only about 50 years, the bridge and surrounding area remained relatively intact even after Japan's policy of national seclusion began in 1638. Over the following 400 years, it underwent seven rounds of restoration to maintain its present appearance, and in 1990 it was designated a National Historic Site of Vietnam. Another landmark encountered while walking through the Old Town is the 'Tấn Ký Old House (Nhà cổ Tấn Ký).' This merchant's house near the Thu Bon River is notable for its structure, which blends Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese architectural styles under one roof. It offers a glimpse of how merchants of the trading port built their homes with river transport and flood prevention in mind, making it a place where one can truly sense why Hoi An is called a 'living museum of a trading port.' Since its UNESCO inscription, Hoi An has seen a steady increase in visitors and has established itself as one of the most visited tourist destinations in Vietnam. Walking along the narrow alleys and riverbank, one gets the sense that different eras and cultures are layered within a single street—this is because the history of trade spanning the 15th to 19th centuries has accumulated layer upon layer in each and every building.
Visiting Tips
The core area of the Old Town includes old houses and assembly halls that operate on a paid admission ticket system, so it is advisable to check the latest admission method and time slots on the official tourism information website or at a local ticket counter before visiting. Since Chùa Cầu has recently undergone restoration work, its open status and viewing route may have changed, so it is recommended to refer to on-site guidance on the day of your visit. The atmosphere around the Thu Bon River changes completely once the lanterns are lit at dusk, so walking the area both during the day and at night is also a good approach.
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1This is Hoi An's iconic bridge, which recently completed restoration; it is advisable to check its open status locally before visiting.
Find on the map · Add to your trip ↗This is a merchant's house blending Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese styles; it is often viewable with the Old Town's common admission ticket, so checking at the ticket counter is necessary.
Find on the map · Add to your trip ↗