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Hoi An is an ancient port town located near the mouth of the Thu Bon River in Central Vietnam. From the 15th to the 19th centuries, it flourished as one of Southeast Asia's leading international trading ports, attracting Portuguese, Dutch, Chinese, and Japanese merchants who established large Chinese and Japanese quarters. It was a particularly important base for the Shuinsen (Red Seal Ship) trade during the Edo period. After the 18th century, the port's function declined due to river sedimentation, which saved it from development, allowing its old architecture and townscape to be well-preserved. Because of this historical value, it was registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1999 under the name "Hoi An Ancient Town."

Prosperity as an International Trading Port Hoi An, located in Quang Nam Province in Central Vietnam, has been known as a port town since ancient times. The name Hoi An is presumed to have been established around the late 16th century, and it was sometimes called Faifo or Fai-Fo before that. With the establishment of the Nguyen Lords' regime in Hue in the 16th century, Hoi An developed as its outer port. Particularly from the late 16th to the 17th century, it became one of the key centers for international trade in Southeast Asia, with merchant ships from various countries, including Portugal, the Netherlands, China, and Japan, visiting and engaging in active commerce.

The Japanese Quarter and the Red Seal Ship Trade

The connection with Japan is especially noteworthy in Hoi An's history. In 1601, the Nguyen Lords sent a letter to Tokugawa Ieyasu seeking diplomatic relations, and trade with the Edo Shogunate rapidly expanded. During the Shuinsen (Red Seal Ship) trade, which lasted for about 30 years starting in 1604, numerous Red Seal ships, totaling over 70, called at Hoi An (Quang Nam). This led to the formation of a large Japanese quarter in Hoi An, where Japanese residents influenced not only trade activities but also the town's culture and architecture. The "Japanese Bridge" (Chùa Cầu or Lai Viễn Kiều) that remains in Hoi An's old town is one of the important legacies of that era of exchange, said to have been constructed by this Japanese community. However, Japanese traffic ceased when the Edo Shogunate adopted a policy of national isolation (sakoku) in the 1630s.

Preservation of the Townscape and World Heritage Listing

Hoi An's prosperity came to an end in the 18th century. Sand accumulated at the mouth of the Thu Bon River, and the port's function gradually diminished. As Da Nang, located at the mouth of the Han River, developed as the main port instead, Hoi An was left untouched by large-scale development. This commercial decline ironically became the factor that preserved the historical architecture and townscape in their original form until the present day. The old town of Hoi An retains buildings from the 17th to the 19th centuries in excellent condition, including traditional wooden houses, assembly halls built by Chinese merchants (such as the Fujian Assembly Hall), and the aforementioned Japanese Bridge. Recognizing this historical and architectural value, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list in 1999 as "Hoi An Ancient Town." Today, Hoi An is one of Vietnam's most prominent tourist destinations, attracting many visitors from both within Vietnam and abroad with its beautiful ancient townscape.

Geography and Modern Designations

Hoi An is situated on the north bank of the Thu Bon River, and wetlands have developed along the river and the coast. The city has a history of being regularly affected by floods. In addition to the World Heritage-listed old town, Hoi An Ancient Town and the Cham Islands were also designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2009, advancing the protection of not only its historical heritage but also its natural environment.