The Earth Hour 2014 at Hoi An

 

The event Earth Hour 2014 was successfully held at Hoi An with a very strong support of all citizens and visitors. 

The city leader gives a symbolic action to turn off lights, officially started the Earth Hour 2014

 

All the people, all homes, resaurants, hotels... turn off all lights and unimportant appliances during the event, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m on March 29.

Ancient light show at the event

 

Nearly 800 participants are expected to take part in activities including performances and a “walking street”. At the event Earth Hour 2014, the Ancient Town is so beautiful.

Sunset at Hoi An

Hoi An with Earth Hour 2014

A lot of cultural and flower floating performances in the Ancient Town and along the Hoai River will commemorate the Earth Hour 2014 on March 29.

Before the Earth Hour, many activities will be held in the city. With “One hour for a cleaner Hội An”, local people will join to clean rubbish all the town; especially there will be a “Slow biking competition”  in Hoang Diweu Street.

An art performance will be held at Hoai River Square, while a lot of floating lanterns will be released on the river.

And in the program "City without Electric Light", Hoi An will switch off its lights for an hour between 8.30pm to 9.30pm this Saturday. All ancient streets will light up with candies and oil lamps during that hour.

It's the sixth time the city has organized the Earth Hour, launched by the World Wildlife Fund.

Programme of "Earth Hour", Hội An 2014

- Time:
+ Supporting activities: 26/3 - 30/3
+ Main activities: 29/3
- Venue: Hội An city, Quảng Nam Province.

Time	Activities	Venue
26/3 13:00-17:00	Leaflet distribution to locals and visitors	Hội An city
26-28/3	Road Cleanup with Hội An Youth	Hội An wards: Minh An, Sơn Phong, Cẩm Phô, Cẩm Nam, Cẩm Châu, Tân An
28/3	“One hour for a cleaner Hội An”	Hội An city
29/3 7:30 – 9:30	Bike parade	Hoàng Diệu st.
8:00-22:00	“Let’s spread the green with Hội An women and children” (Display of recycled products, handmade paper bags,...)	An Hội Sculpture Garden
15:00-17:00	Slow biking competition	Hoàng Diệu st.
18:00-21:30	“Lamplight art”	An Hội Sculpture Garden
20:00-20:20	Artistic show	An Hội Sculpture Garden
20:20-20:30	Opening ceremony	An Hội Sculpture Garden
20:30	Turn off lights	The whole city of Hội An
20:30-21:30	Hội An, a bright city without electric light	The whole city of Hội An
	Sing and dance together with Hội An Youth	An Hội Sculpture Garden
	- Traditional art activities - Folk game	Hoài River bank
21:30	Ending	The whole city of Hội An

Source: The Centre for Culture and Sports of Hoi An city

Visit Hoi An Ancient Town

I would like to share this video clip about my home town. Hope it help :)

Hoi An Pagoda Bidge

One of the first places you "must" visit when you go to Hoi An Ancient Town is the Pagoda Bidge. It is also called "Japanese bridge" due to the history. Constructed  in the early 1600s, the Hoi An Pagoda Bridge is a symbol of the town and a beautiful reminder of a time long ago.  Without question, it is one of the most famous Japanese bridge in Vietnam - if not all of Southeast Asia, found in the historic riverside town of Hoi An.  

 Hoi An Pagoda Bridge

With a close proximity to the East Sea, Hoi An was an important trading port for Chinese, Dutch, Indian, and Japanese merchants up until the 17th century. Spice traders would retire to an upstairs eatery to enjoy local cao lau noodles while their wares were unloaded from ships below. The Japanese traders were the dominate force at the time; many of the old houses in Hoi An reflect their influence with a blend of both Chinese and Japanese architecture.

Today, the Hoi An Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and draws thousands of tourists who come to step back in time for a brief visit.

 

Read our travel guide for Hoi An, Vietnam

 In the night light

The Hoi An Pagoda Bridge

The Hoi An Pagoda Bridge remains a symbol of the significant impact that the Japanese had in the region. The bridge was originally constructed to connect the Japanese community with the Chinese quarter - separated by a small stream of water - as a symbolic gesture of peace. Although his work has been appreciated for centuries, the builder of the bridge still remains anonymous.

Roughly 40 years after the Hoi An Pagoda Bridge was constructed, the Japanese were demanded by the Tokugawa Shogunate to return home to Japan under order of Sakoku - officially closing Japan to the rest of the world.

Renovation of the Pagoda Bridge in Hoi An

The Pagoda bridge has undergone relatively few modifications over the centuries. The French removed thresholds and leveled the road across the bridge to support motorized vehicles during their colonization. The changes were later undone and the bridge pedestrianized again during major restoration in 1986.

Early days

 

The wooden sign at the entrance of the bridge was hung in the early 1700s, changing the name from "Japanese Covered Bridge" to "Bridge for Travelers from Afar". The Hoi An Pagoda Bridge has been known by various names throughout the past including: Lai Vien Kieu "Pagoda in Japan"; Chua Cau "Covered Bridge"; and Cau Nhat Ban "Japanese Bridge".

Although the designer and original builders remain unknown, a new sign notes all the Chinese and Vietnamese people which were involved with restoration work.

Shrines in the Pagoda Bridge

The small shrine inside of the Hoi An Pagoda Bridge pays tribute to the northern deity Tran Vo Bac De who reputedly controls the weather - an important thing considering the seafaring traditions and notoriously poor weather around Hoi An.

 Inside on the Pagoda Bridge

Reasoning for the conspicuous statues of a dog and a monkey on opposing sides of the bridge is disputed. Some local guides claim that construction of the Pagoda bridge began in the year of the dog and was completed in the year of the monkey. Others say the two animals were chosen to guard the bridge because many Japanese emperors were born either in the year of the dog or monkey - lending them sacred significance.

Visiting the Hoi An Pagoda Bridge

 

The Hoi An Pagoda Bridge crosses a small canal on the west end of the Old Town, connecting Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street to Tran Phu Street - the main thoroughfare along the river. Art galleries and cafes line both sides of the peaceful street beyond.

Travel Experiences in Hoi An

The best time to visit Hoi An is from February to April. The weather this time is really comfortable and not much rain. Every year has 2 distinct seasons: rainy season ( August - December) and dry season ( January - July).

Noted Information:

1. When visiting the ancient town, you should buy the entrance ticket at the ticket booths which belong to Hoi An Tourist Guide Office (Phone No: (+84) 510.3862715). With a ticket valid on 24hours, you can visit 5 of 18 sightseeing places.

2. If there are 8 people,you will be offered an experiened tour guide for 02 hours.

3. Please dress decently. Sleeveless blouse, drawers and over knee skirt or dress are not welcome inside the sightseeing places.

4. You have to be in good appearance and politeness anytime, anywhere to keep the beauty of Hoi An ancient town.

5. You should not give gifts to children though it is just small ones (such as: pen, candy, small change,..) Because you can make them a bad habit if doing that.

6. Restaurants and shops are always ready to serve you. You should not listen to a gobetween or follow them to shopping places. Because you may have to pay them and you even do not know about the things you buy.

7. If you make a first purchase in a day from a shop, you should buy something, no matter how small. By doing this, you will create the trust to the shop owner that she (he) is going to sell a lot of things at that day.

When ?

The best time to visit Hoi An is from February to April. The weather this time is really comfortable and not much rain. Every year has 2 distinct seasons: rainy season ( August - December) and dry season ( January - July). There is sometimes cold waves in winter and lasting in short period. Please update necessary informations before travelling to Hoi An.

If possible, come to Hoi An on every 14^th month in lunar calendar and enjoy Mid-Autumn Festival. On this occasion, you will have a chance to enjoy traditional songs, dance, play traditional games and try wonderful dishes; especially look directly colourful lanterns over streets. Don’t miss these time!

How to come?

Tourists travel to Hoi An from Da Nang. It takes 30-40minutes to go to Hoi An from Da Nang, by cars or taxis, or private cars. It costs 200.000 – 250.000 vnd/ one way to be picked up from the airport to Hoi An hotels.

How to relax?

Hoi An culture is influenced by Chinese and Japanese culture. The influence is showed through architecture of Japanese Brigde, Chinese space in the ancient town, ancient houses and ancestor - worship houses.

Tourists could visit the ancient monuments by bicycles or walking - a familiar and impressive form of tourism.

Hoi An is not only famous with ancient, peaceful features and unique architectural style but also with cheap, fashionable made- to- measure clothes and impressive restaurants served with Hoi An specialities. Coming to Hoi An, tourists could own a wardrobe on 1-2 days. Besides, in order to meet the demands of tourists, a lot of restaurants and bars as well as cooking classes are opened in Hoi An.

After one day shopping and discovering the ancient town, you could relax youself in Cua Dai beach – a beautiful and ideal one, 04 km from Hoi An city.

Eating?

In Hoi An, there are a lot of delicious dishes like Cao Lau, white-rose cakes, chicken rice, Cam Nam mixed mussels, la gai cakes, suse cakes, soya-cake, sweet soups, etc….

You could enjoy the dishes in any restaurant in Hoi An, even in restaurants for foreign tourists with cheap price and good quality.

Stay?

Hotels and resorts in Hoi An are located on 3 main routes: along Cua Dai beach, in Hoi An city and along roads connected Hoi An ancient town to beach. Luxury resorts are located right on the beach and others are in the heart of the ancient town. Hotels on streets between the beach and the ancient town are cheaper.

Luxury resorts provide shuttle bus from the ancient town to the beach and vice versa. Wherever you stay, you could also visit the ancient town by bicycle, motorbike or taxi and walking.

Shopping?

In Hoi An, tourists could buy a lot of things for souvenir such as lanterns, silk clothes and scarves, shoes, wooden carved utensils…

Clothes and shoes are ordered and made with your measurement in a short time ( 1 day).

Lanterns: look on addresses for buying lanterns in Hoi An

Tailoring?

In Hoi An there are many tailor shop with all kinds of fabric choices for travelers. Guests can order something and receive it a few hours later, even if travelers really want to make clothes in Hoi An, they can also leave their measurements and address. Then that shop will send the product to the customer's address. In Hoi An, Prices is not higher than other places.

Art Painting?

On Hoi An streets, they sell many kinds of art painting in diversified materials, teachiques and subjects.

Arts and Crafts?

There are alot of handicraft items: hand embroidery, painting, lanterns, ceramics and wooden products....

Lanterns?
Hoi An lanterns are very beautiful.. They are considered as a meaningful gift to visitors's fiends and family.

Notice

You can find a very beautiful Hoi An in the early morning with the unique images of quiet roads, local activities, sellers and buyers..

Also, Discovering Hoi An Night is more interesting with traditional games, folk songs, and local food..Especially at the 14th (lunar calendar), more interesting things is waiting for you to discover.

You will have a chance to take a boat trio along to the Hoai River and enjow traditional music.

LUGGAGE:

Before travelling, you should prepare necessary personal utensils:

• Swimming suits
• Hats and umbrellas
• Sunblock cream, insects’ bites preventing ointments
• Cameras
• Cold water

The Nam Hai Resort



The Nam Hai is located 30 minutes by car from Danang International Airport and 15 minutes from the picturesque town of Hoi-An. This town is a river port 30 km south of Danang and is known for its unique character that transcends time.

The Nam Hai features 60 One-Bedroom Villas and 40 Pool Villas, all offering views of the East Sea and featuring large bedrooms and living spaces, en-suite bathtubs, walk-in closets and luxurious bathrooms. Other amenities include flat screen LCD television, iPods and docks, in-room bar, and wireless Internet access. The Nam Hai Resort is self-contained luxury, meeting a guest's every need on-site with a spa and numerous recreational facilities, such as tennis courts, beachfront swimming pools and a library.

Would you like to book for your accommodation for a visit to Hoi An? The Nam Hai Resort is one of the best choices. I have a link from Hoteltravel.com for a refference.

• The Nam Hai Hoi An Hotel

  

  

  
  
  Location: Hoi An, Vietnam
  Customer Satisfaction 91 %

  from
  

  US$ 477

  one night
  The Nam Hai Hoi An Hotel offers elegant Hoi An accommodation in a well-positioned Hoi An Beach ...

Hoi An Ancient Town

The Ancient Town in Hoi An stretches along the Thu Bon River on the southern edge of town. On December 4, 1999 UNESCO declared Hoi An's Ancient Town a World Heritage Site to preserve the historical structures. Ancient Town's real charm comes out at night when the cobbled streets are dimly lit by lantern; the setting along the river is so tranquil that people feel compelled to speak in hushed voices.

For an authentic Hoi An Ancient Town experience, try a bowl of local cao lau noodles - made nowhere else in the world - before checking out one of the traditional performances.

Admission Into Ancient Town

Anyone can stroll around Ancient Town for free, however tickets are required to go inside of the museums, houses, and other attractions. With the purchase of one ticket ($4.50) visitors can choose five of the approximately 18 sites to enter. A ticket allows you the choice of one museum, one assembly hall, one ancient house, one traditional performance, and either the Quong Cong Temple or Japanese Bridge.

Tickets to Ancient Town can be purchased all around Hoi An, however to avoid hassle just purchase your tickets directly from one of the two official offices on either Hai Ba Trung Street or Hoang Dieu Street.

Popular Sites in Hoi An Ancient Town

Japanese Bridge: A symbol of pride in Hoi An, the Japanese Bridge was constructed early in the 17th century. Although it was restored in 1986, the wooden bridge still beams with age and character. There is a small shrine inside the bridge as well as sacred statues of a dog and pig that guard each end of the span. Crossing the bridge requires a ticket, however people rarely check when foot traffic is high. Read more about the Hoi An Japanese Bridge.

Nguyen Thi Minh Khai just beyond the bridge is a peaceful street lined with art galleries of all sorts. Location: Eastern edge of Tran Phu Street.

Quong Cong Temple: Constructed around 1653, this temple is dedicated to Quan Cong - a Chinese general famed for his loyalty and integrity. Location: Tran Phu Street.

Traditional Performances

Traditional Theater: Catch live presentations of folk songs, dance, and traditional instruments. The show starts at 9 p.m. - arrive earlier. Location: Nguyen Thai Hoc Street.

Hoi An Handicraft Workshop: See live musical performances at 10:15 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. every day but Mondays; shows last 30 minutes. Location: Bach Dang Street.

Museums of Ancient Town

Museum of Trade Ceramics: This museum is barely more than an ancient house with vases and shards of broken pottery. Location: Tran Phu Street.

Museum of Folk Culture: Small but interesting, the Museum of Folk Culture portrays the daily lives of villagers. Location: Nguyen Thai Hoc Street.

Museum of Sa Huynh Culture: This museum is two in one; a small display upstairs contains weapons of war including machine guns while the downstairs has pottery dating back to the 1st century. Location: Banc Dang Street.

Museum of History and Culture: Probably the most interesting museum to choose with your ticket, this museum houses an old cannon and artifacts dating back over a thousand years. Old photographs show what Hoi An looked like before it became a tourist town.

Historic Houses in Hoi An Ancient Town

Most of the ancient houses are still active residences turned into tourist attractions; visiting may seem awkward, but it does provide a chance to see how local residents live. Many of the house tours include free tea; tipping is not required but is a nice gesture if your host was helpful.

Tan Ky House: A 200-year-old house with combined Japanese and Chinese influences. Location: Nguyen Thai Hoc Street. Read more about Tan Ky House.

Phung Hung House: A traditional house located on the other side of the Japanese Bridge. Eight generations have lived there to the present day. Location: Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street.

Quan Thang: Constructed in the 18th century by a wealthy sea captain, this house is very artistic. Location: Nguyen Thai Hoc Street.

Tran Family Worship House: This house/chapel was built in 1802 inside of a beautiful garden. Location: northern part of Ancient Town on Le Loi Street.

Congregation Halls and Communal Houses

The congregation halls were where Chinese immigrants held meetings and socialized. Each house is dedicated to a family clan or region in China. Although historically important, most of the communal houses don't have much to look at other than impressive wooden architecture.

Cam Pho: This communal house was last restored in 1817.

Minh Huong: This congregation hall was built in 1820.

Folk Games in Ancient Town

Every night around 7 p.m. locals and tourists alike gather near the river at the intersection of Nguyen Thai Hoc and Bach Dang Street. For 50 cents you can participate in a traditional form of gambling where everyone chooses a paddle with a code. Paddles are hung on a line throughout the musical show; if a paddle matching yours is drawn, you win a bag of prizes. Even if you choose not to participate in the game, the traditional drums and singing are worth hanging around for!

Dressing Appropriately

As you will be entering into temples and homes, visitors are requested to dress appropriately. Women should wear knee-length skirts or dresses; both men and women should not wear sleeveless tops.