Hoi An
The Vietnamese city of Hoi An, located in Vietnam on the coast of the South China Sea, is home to around 120,000 people and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The place, shaped by local and foreign influences, achieved this status as an exceptionally well-preserved example of a Southeast Asian trading port from the 15th to 19th centuries.
Port of the Silk Road of the Sea
The Thu Bon River, which tourists can kayak on, is of particular importance to the city, which in the first century CE owned the largest port in all of Southeast Asia. Visitors on study trips can familiarize themselves with the history of this atmospheric city in four museums – the Museum of History and Culture located in an old pagoda, the Folk Museum with more than 490 artefacts, the Museum of Ceramics in a building from 1858 and the Sa Huynh Culture Museum with exhibits from 2000 years ago.
Hoi An – Peaceful meeting place
The main attractions of Hoi An include the Tan Ky House, the Tran Family Chapel and the Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese. The latter building is used by the descendants of the six Fujian families who fled China to Hoi An in the 17th century. The hall was originally used for meetings and is now used to commemorate the deity Thien Hau. Couples pray at the altar in the back room for children and leave fresh fruit for the deity. The Tan Ky House was built by the local Vietnamese more than 200 years ago and now serves as a first-class restored example of a bygone culture. Vietnamese as well as Japanese and Chinese influences can be found in the architecture of this residential building, which give the building a very special character. The great importance
The harmonious provincial town of Hoi An has a lot to offer visitors when traveling through Vietnam and impresses with its clean air and little traffic.
Sapa
The city of Sapa in northwest Vietnam is a real insider tip for Asia travelers from all over the world. After all, in the city of 37,000 people on the edge of the Yunnan Mountains near the Chinese border, you can experience original Vietnamese life up close – including at the traditional weekly market that takes place in the city center on Fridays and Saturdays. The village, located at an altitude of 1,600 meters, is surrounded by huge rice fields and offers plenty of opportunities for a relaxing holiday. Very close to Sapa is the 3143 meter high Fansipan, the highest mountain in the country. In the mountain region, many ethnic tribes can also be seen in their natural way of life.
Exciting hikes and climbing tours
From many viewing platforms throughout the city you have a breathtaking view of the surrounding high mountains. Adventure holidaymakers and hikers in particular get their money’s worth here. After all, the Sapa region, which is characterized among other things by a pleasantly cool climate, offers countless opportunities for extensive, exciting hikes, climbing tours and excursions into the almost untouched nature. The best time for an ascent on the Fansipan, during which one should never do without a guide, is the time from October to December, as only little rainfall is to be expected here in the precipitation-rich region.
Floating Markets Vietnam
If you are on vacation in Vietnam, you shouldn’t miss a visit to one of the “floating markets” in the huge Mekong Delta in the southwest of the country. Here fresh goods such as fruit, vegetables or meat are sold on long wooden boats directly on the water. For shopping you can rent a boat with a driver and plunge into the hustle and bustle of the market. A visit to the “floating markets” is particularly recommended, especially in the early morning hours, as this is where it is busiest and the goods are the freshest.
Strengthening in the sampans
The largest city in the region is Can Tho. Only a few kilometers from the city of 1.3 million people is the Cai Rang, one of the most famous of the “floating markets of Vietnam”. In addition to countless locals, thousands of tourists from all over the world cavort here every day to experience the traditional Vietnamese market bustle and to buy fresh goods. Small “mobile cafés”, the so-called sampans, provide refreshment in the meantime. In addition to cold and warm drinks, you can also enjoy a hearty noodle soup here. If you want to avoid the large tourist flow, you should go to the smaller Phong Dien in the southwest of Can Tho. There is also a popular “floating market” in Chau Doc, close to the Cambodian border.
Temple city of My Son
Anyone taking a trip to Central Vietnam should definitely plan a trip to the temple city of My Son. Even if only the well-preserved remains of around 20 temples of the original 70 temples can be seen today, the place of worship from the 2nd or 3rd century is one of the largest tourist attractions in the region. The extremely sprawling temple city, which is located in the middle of the central Vietnamese jungle, was the religious and cultural center of the historical Cham culture for several centuries. At the center of each temple is a tower surrounded by smaller buildings.
UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999
Many of the lavishly designed religious temples were destroyed by numerous US bombs during the Vietnam War. Since 1999 My Son, which is located about 50 kilometers southeast of the port city of Hoi An, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the great influence of the unique Hindu architecture on the whole of Southeast Asia. The excavation of the remains and the gradual reconstruction of the temples have been ongoing since 2002. This elaborate work is funded by UNESCO. In the entrance area of My Son is the Champa Museum, which among other things gives an overview of the former complete temple city.
The world-famous temple city, which is visited annually by thousands of tourists from all over the world and locals, is surrounded by a breathtaking, almost untouched landscape of mountains, clear mountain lakes and streams.