Fish & Chip - A new charming attraction in the ancient town

By introducing traditional customs to visitors with simple activities, the community based tour in Hoi An, Fish & Chip is a new charming attraction in the ancient town.

“Mr. Doan Tan’s career”
A fisherman, who has worked on the sea for more than 50 years, Mr. Doan Tan in Cam An ward, Hoi An has turned to navigating a wooden barge with visitors on the river to share his joy of the water. He is taking a team of European guests from Thu Bon river to Cua Dai.

Visitors will first travel by bike to Tra Que, a traditional village in Cam Ha. He said: “Even after a short visit to the village the aroma of its many cinnamon trees lingers in our noses. Visitors will observe traditional fishing activities such as fishing with nets.

After helping visitors into the boat, Mr Tan points to the square fishing net that he is raising nearby and throwing into the river to catch fish. The barge rocks lightly, but enough to worry the guests. As a safety precaution he requires them to wear life-jackets as he instructs them on how to fish with nets.

A guest, Connie Francis bursts out laughing when throwing the net. He said: “This is the first time in my life that I have tried this. It seems that thousands of years ago, my ancestors lived on fishing. It is really a fantastic experience”.

One day on the river

That was an impressive start to a new day in Hoi An. Connie Francis and other visitors continue on to visit Bay Mau coconut forest. The boat stops and guests climb down into coracles. With the assistance of 8 local people in Cam Thanh, they explore every corner of the coconut forest.

In this location, Mr. Tran Van Manh, a local person in Thanh Chau, Cam Thanh said about his ancestors: “They lived in the water coconut forests where they fished and harvested birds’ nests in Cham islet for their livelihood. We now fish with fishing robs!”

Travelers are interested in the fiddler crabs creeping on coconut palms or along the sea. “I caught a small crab with red nippers. I’m so excited to go fishing in these great waters!” said Barry Mann, a traveler from Norway.

While returning to the fishing boat, the river is noisy with the 8 coracles racing to the boat. After returning, they learn how to make mirrors, watches and grasshoppers with pineapple leaves.

While instructing guests to make traditional products, Tran Van Manh sings folk songs of the water region. He shared: “I often sing for guests. I may not sing very well, but they seem to like listening to my voice.”

A new Hoi An

The tour named “Fish & Chip” has been offered by Hoi An Travel for about half a year. It is a tourism product built on the traditional culture of Hoi An.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Tuan – General director of Hoi An Travel said: “Previously, we provided a one day tour of life in the Old Town. However, in our effort to improve our products, “Fish & Chip” was introduced as a wonderful way to discover and experience more closely the daily life of local people.

Actually, while offering this program to guests, including the singing of folk songs and playing traditional games, Hoi An Travel tested the psychology of each type of traveler. “Finding a new product for Hoi An is really difficult. However, the attempt to revitalize products was highly appreciated”, said Ms. Dinh Thi Thu Thuy, the manager of Trade and Service department of Hoi An Travel.

Tra Que Vegetable Village

Just half a kilometre up the road from the Tomb of Tani Yajirobei is the Tra Que Vegetable Farm, a community of people who grow a wide variety of veggies and herbs in the rich soil at the top of the rice field. And rarely have any rural areas in Vietnam where livelihood is based solely on growing vegetables like this. Since the begining of the XX century and previous, Traque is one of the important stop of many boats circulate along the De Vong river from Hoi An to Da Nang and vise versa .

Tra Que is a charming little village located just a few kilometres from Northeast of Hoi An. Its location is between De Vong river and Tra Que alga pond (Cam Ha commune - Hoi An town). This village is famous for many kinds of vegetables in a long time: lettuce, salad, houttuynia, flagrant knoutwed, basil and coriander vegetables etc., The village is named after the sweet scented vegetables that spice up the everyday meals of the Hoi An people. Here a new spirit for traditional Hoi An dishes like Cao Lau, Quang noodles, the local ‘Tam huu' spring roll (made from Tra Que vegetables) and cake with meat (Banh xeo) has been enlivened. 

The farmers use neither manure nor chemical fertilisers but a kind of algae found only in a lagoon in Tra Que. As a result, the vegetables both look beautiful in their fields as well as possessing outstanding taste and flavour. Products sell well and are highly appreciated due to the freshness, good quality and safety. Everyday all the year round, 8 tons of Tra  Que vegetables are sold and people in Quang Nam-Danang area are addicted to having them in their meals. That is why many eaters, even the easiest ones said that they feel tasteless if their meals lack in Tra Que vegetables.

The residents have now found a newer way to supplement their income: tourism. Thanks to its special features, the village has become a very attractive destination for tourists, particularly foreigners. In fact, it is so popular that people wishing to visit the village would have to book a tour in advance. The highlight of the visit is a chance to try their hand at actual farming.  You will take a trip around the vegetable garden and join the farmers in preparing the land and fertilizing it with seaweed from the local lake. 

Tra Que vegetable village with all the nice herb being cultivated with high techonolgy make the vegetable here nicwe and fresh. Also you will live  in the beautiful atmostphere, very relax and can feel peace of the vietnam village. If you ever stop over in Hoian shouldn't miss visit Tra Que vegetable village.

Hoi An island serves the freshest, cheapest seafood in Vietnam

Fresh seafood vendors on the Cham island (just a half-hour boat ride from UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site of Hoi An) cook up fresh catches in under five minutes at rock-bottom prices.

“I've never seen a seafood market like the one on Cham island,” first-time visitor Nguyen Thi Lan from Hue said.

“You ask for the price and once you nod your head, the lady picks up a knife and a cutting board and in less than five minutes everything is steaming up at you from your plate,” Lan told news website VietNamNet. 

Once on the island, everything becomes shockingly inexpensive.

Visitors take a hike through the jungle for free and seafood is half the mainland price and a quarter of the price at restaurants in large cities.

A tour guide said one dish of mu fish (the groupers species) costs VND300,000 ($14) a kilogram on the island but large restaurants can charge one for VND1.2 million.

A dish of Cham squid costs VND120,000-200.000 ($5.6-9.4) a kilogram, fish between VND100,000-300,000 ($4,70-14) a kilo and urchins VND30,000 ($1.4) each.

“Delicious, nutritious and cheap; cheaper than anywhere,” said Thu, a vendor.

The vendors set up a row of around ten booths and sell from early morning to dusk.

Some tourists said they visit the island several times a year.

Nguyen Xuan Anh, of Hanoi, said his family visits the island every summer.

“You get the sea and the mountains, and fresh seafood that you can enjoy without worrying about being ripped off.”

Vietnam’s most beautiful ancient wooden bridges

The ancient tile roofs of these wooden bridges have added great aesthetic and historical value to Hue, Hoi An and rural corners of northern Vietnam.

Hoi An full moon festival makes top travel list

The ancient town of Hoi An in the central province of Quang Nam came in 15th on a roughguides.com list of the world’s top “20 unforgettable things to do at night on your travels."

Hoi An's full moon festival finishes 15th in the  top '20 unforgettable things to do at night on your travels' ranked by roughguides.com 

“Banish thoughts of glow paint ravers on crowded Thai beaches, Hoi An’s full moon festival is a much more sophisticated affair. Every month on the fourteenth day of the lunar calendar, the town switches off its street lights as glowing silk lanterns, performers and food stalls fill the cobbled streets and the Thu Bon River is lit up with beautiful floats,” gushed the popular British travel site.

The Hoi An Lunar Full Moon Festival feature activities recalling the real life of Hoi An people centuries ago.

For the locals the night of the full moon is the time to honor their ancestors, setting up alters laden with fruit, flowers, candles and incense outside homes and businesses, and burning votive paper as offerings in exchange for good luck and prosperity.

The temples in town are awash with activity, monks hold candlelit ceremonies and the Fujian Assembly Hall on Tran Phu Street fills with local fishing families honoring Lady Thien Hau, the goddess of the sea who protects sailors from danger.

 

Hoi An was recognized by the UNESCO in 1999 as a World Cultural Heritage Site. The town sits on the ocean around 700 kilometers south of Hanoi. The nearest airport and train station are in Da Nang, a 30km drive away.

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.

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.