Graceful, historic Hoi An met us with great holiday atmosphere as we arrived just before Chinese new year
Once a major port, it boasts the grand architecture and beguiling riverside setting that befits its heritage, and the 21st-century curses of traffic and pollution are almost entirely absent. So it’s not a surprise that In 1999 the old town was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO as a well-preserved example of a Southeast Asian trading port of the 15th to 19th centuries. Its buildings and its street plan reflect the influences, both indigenous and foreign, that have combined to produce this unique heritage site.
The face of the Old Town has preserved its incredible legacy of tottering Japanese merchant houses, Chinese temples and ancient tea warehouses though, of course, residents and rice fields have been gradually replaced by tourist businesses.
Hoi An is one of the most famous places in Vietnam where you can make your tailored clothes. You can come out with any design and style and theoretically copy any of your favourite branded items. Our advice: don’t make irrational decisions and evaluate if actually need any more stuff in your wardrobe.
One of your stops while waiting for tailored shirts was Thanh Ha village, which is famous for its pottery, bricks and tiles. The highlight of Thanh Ha Terracotta Park is the World Square. Masterpiece series includes works of art of human architecture, such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Taj Mahal, Sydney Opera House, the White House, Pyramid of Egypt and much more; made entirely of clay by the artisans of the village.
With its population of 120.000 Hoi An receives more than 1,5 millions tourists a year. They are all here because of its history, traditional architecture and crafts such as textiles and ceramics. For a lot of tourists it’s the best destination in Vietnam.
We couldn’t miss Da Nang with its tourists attractions. It marks the halfway point between the capital in the north, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City in the south. Nowhere in Vietnam is changing as fast as Da Dang. For decades it had a reputation as a provincial backwater, but big changes are ongoing and you can see that. The city has grown rapidly in recent years and reached a population of over 1,000,000 people in 2014. Impressive bridges were built.
The cluster of limestone outcrops about 9km south of Da Nang that make up the Marble Mountains were initially sacred sites worshipped by the Cham peoples of Central and Southern Vietnam. In the centuries since the Champa Empire, Buddhist followers have built shrines and temples at the summits of the mountains and in the caves below them.
Named after the elements metal, wood, water, fire and earth, Marble Mountains exist in a coastal area that is renowned for stone-cutting. The summit of Thuy Son is the only Marble Mountain accessible for visitors and it can be easily reached by 43-metre high glass elevator. To summarize our experience: Perfect place to spend several hours on a hot day, scenic views and stunning grottas guaranteed.
Another Da Nang’s point of interest is Linh Ung pagoda. It was official inaugurated on July 30th, 2010 and it became the largest pagoda of scale and artistic architecture in Da Nang area. Its Lady Buddha statue is considered the tallest one in Vietnam. Linh Ung features perfect harmony between the modern and traditional architectures of Vietnamese pagodas, especially in the three-entrance gate, the main chamber and the ancestor’s house. 18 stone Arhat statues are one of the most distinctive features of Ling Ung pagoda.
You can do few activities in Da Nang area, such as fishing, water-skiing and diving, but it was low season so our next stop Hue!