Hoi An ancient city revives after COVID-19

After nearly two years of closing its door to visitors to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hoi An is again crowded with tourists. The town used to be an international port in the past. Located in the lower reach of Thu Bon River in the coastal plain in Quang Nam province, about 30 km south of Da Nang city, Hoi An has been known in the international market by various names such as Lam Ap, Faifo, Hoai Pho and Hoi An. Moreover, on December 4, 1999, in Marrakech city of Morocco, the 23rd session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO officially included Hoi An ancient town into the list of the world's cultural heritage sites. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the city to close its doors to tourists for a long time. It only officially welcomed domestic tourists from November 15, 2021, and foreign tourists from March 15 this year, when Vietnam completely reopens to international tourists. Most accommodation and tourism service providers in the ancient town are promoting efforts and measures to revive the local tourism industry after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The city administration will continue to renew existing products such as tours and entertainment activities in Hoi An at night, Hoi An show, agriculture, aquaculture and cultural tourism to promote sustainable industrial development in the city. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Tourists on the street in Hoi An. The ancient town in the south-central coastal province of Quang Nam has been voted one of the "10 Most Welcoming Cities on Earth" by over 232 million reviews from real travellers verified by the leading digital travel platform Booking.com. The UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognised in 1999, has captured the hearts of travellers worldwide with its simple daily life of locals, bustling and thriving old streets, and beautiful white sandy beaches nearby. According to the website Booking.com, Chinese and French influences can be seen throughout the city, which all blend together into the diverse local food scene, said the website Booking.com. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The central province of Quang Nam is home to many popular tourist destinations, including Hoi An. The town used to be a bustling international port in the past. Located in the lower reach of Thu Bon River in the coastal plain in Quang Nam province, about 30 km south of Da Nang city, Hoi An has been known in the international market by various names such as Lam Ap, Faifo, Hoai Pho and Hoi An. The old town, which UNESCO recognised as a world cultural heritage site in 1999, is a warren of ancient temples, houses and stores built around several canals.  (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Hoi An is a top tourist-drawing spot in Quang Nam province. The old town, which UNESCO recognised as a world cultural heritage site in 1999, is a warren of ancient temples, houses and stores built around several canals. Strolling the streets in Hoi An at night is a good way to enjoy the town's tranquillity and old buildings decorated in colourful lights. Visiting ancient pagodas is also among the recommended activities in the town. The town was a confluence of many cultures from Asia to Europe in the 16th - 17th centuries, which is why it is home to several temples, pagodas, and shrines built in such unique architectural styles. Photo: VietnamPlus

Strolling the streets in Hoi An is a good way to enjoy the town with its tranquillity and old buildings decorated with colourful lanterns. The town was a confluence of many cultures from Asia to Europe in the 16th - 17th centuries, which is why it is home to several temples, pagodas, and shrines built in such unique architectural styles. Hoi An is the only Southeast Asian port market in Vietnam and is very rare worldwide. It keeps almost 1,360 architectural relics intact. These include streets, houses, assembly halls, communal houses, pagodas, shrines, clan houses, ancient wells and tombs. They exhibit Vietnamese traditional art characteristics and the convergence of eastern and western cultures. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Stepping into the ancient town of Hoi An in the south-central province of Quang Nam, visitors can deeply feel a diverse and artistic blend of typical architectural works from the Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese and French cultures. The old town, which UNESCO recognised as a world cultural heritage site in 1999, is a warren of ancient temples, houses and stores built around several canals. It used to be an international port in the 17th century. Located in the lower reach of Thu Bon River in the coastal plain in Quang Nam province, about 30 km south of Da Nang city, Hoi An has been known in the international market by various names such as Lam Ap, Faifo, Hoai Pho and Hoi An. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A street in the Hoi An ancient quarter is crowded with visitors. One thing that makes Hoi An different from many other tourist destinations in Vietnam is the absence of beggars or nagging vendors. The ancient town in the south-central coastal province of Quang Nam has been voted one of the "10 Most Welcoming Cities on Earth" by over 232 million reviews from real travellers verified by the leading digital travel platform Booking.com. The UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognised in 1999, has captured the hearts of travellers worldwide with its simple daily life of locals, bustling and thriving old streets, and beautiful white sandy beaches nearby. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

After two quiet years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hoi An is now bustling again as it was among the two destinations selected by provincial authorities to reopen its door to international tourists. The ancient riverbank town, which used to be a trading post with historical richness, was recently reviewed by The Travel website as an ideal place for foreign visitors who want to see the exotic culture of Vietnam. A recent post on The Travel described Hoi An as one of Vietnam's most visited destinations and a perfect spot to know what port and international trading life was like in the 18th century. Apart from its distinct architecture, it is famous for its delicious street food, making it an ideal destination to explore. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Hoi An is said to be a confluence of many cultures from Asia to Europe in the 16th - 17th centuries, and that's why it is home to several temples, pagodas, and shrines built in such unique architectural styles. Strolling the streets is a good way to enjoy the ancient town with its tranquillity and old buildings decorated in colourful lights. Stepping into the town, visitors can feel a diverse and artistic blend of typical architectural works from the Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese and French cultures. The municipal administration will continue to renew existing products such as tours and entertainment activities in Hoi An at night, Hoi An shows, agriculture, aquaculture and cultural tourism to promote sustainable industry development in the city. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Various activities are being held throughout the summer, attracting large crowds of visitors to Hoi An. After two quiet years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hoi An is now bustling again as Quang Nam province is hosting the National Tourism Year 2022 themed 'Quang Nam - A green destination'. Spotlighting the potential and strengths of Quang Nam for tourism development, the deputy head of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration Ha Van Sieu said that the organisation of music and food festivals, fashion shows, the 'Cu Lao Cham - Legendary Green Island' tourism programme, and the 'Hoi An – A Touch of Summer' sea festival will help Quang Nam and Hoi An, in particular, revive the tourism industry, regaining the position as one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Vietnam. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Colourful and crowded streets have returned in Hoi An. Each day, the town welcomes thousands of visitors. Even during the two years of the pandemic, Hoi An continued to be honoured by international media and was given prestigious awards like being in the top 25 best cities for tourism in the world 2020 (Travel & Leisure), the top 15 of Asia's best cities 2021 (Travel & Leisure) and Asia's best cultural urban destination 2021 (World Travel Awards). Most recently, it reached the top 10 most hospitable cities in the world 2022 by Traveler Review Award, and one of the most romantic destinations in the world 2022 voted by Time Out. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Hoi An was among the two destinations selected by provincial authorities to reopen its door to international tourists, and it has quickly regained bustle. Vice Chairman of the Hoi An People's Committee Nguyen Van Lanh expressed his gratitude to foreign visitors for choosing Hoi An as their destination on their trip to Vietnam. He said it had taken great efforts from the local authority and people over the last two years to welcome back foreign tourists and make Hoi An a safe and friendly destination. He added that he expects to see Hoi An and Quang Nam at large regaining their reputation soon. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Hoi An has been voted to 20th place in a new global listing of the 25 best cities chosen by US magazine Travel + Leisure readers. Readers ranked the cities based on factors such as the quality of hotels and restaurants, cultural heritage, attractions, cuisine, and COVID-19 protocols. After two quiet years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hoi An is now bustling again as the central province of Quang Nam is hosting the National Tourism Year 2022 themed 'Quang Nam - A green destination'. Various activities are being held in Hoi An throughout the summer, attracting large crowds of visitors to the ancient port town. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Recently, Dubai-based Time Out magazine also listed Hoi An among 'the very best places' to travel to in July with warm weather. The municipal administration will continue to renew existing products such as tours and entertainment activities in Hoi An at night, Hoi An shows, agriculture, aquaculture and cultural tourism to promote sustainable industry development in the city. The ancient riverbank town, which used to be a trading post with historical richness, was recently reviewed by The Travel website as an ideal place for foreign visitors who want to see the exotic culture of Vietnam. The old town, which UNESCO recognised as a world cultural heritage site in 1999, is a warren of ancient temples, houses and stores built around several canals. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The cultural and economic exchanges that occurred from the 16th to 19th centuries have left their imprints on Hoi An in the forms of ancient architecture and traditional national arts enriched with sketches of foreign arts. Researchers hold that the ancient architecture in Hoi An was renewed in the early part of the 19th century, but the real starting point could be much earlier. The ancient architecture is clearest in the ancient quarter located inside Minh An ward, covering about 2 square km and housing most of the famous relics in Hoi An. The streets in the ancient quarter are short, narrow and crisscrossing. Architectural works were mostly built from traditional materials, including brick and wood, which are not higher than two storeys. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The ancient quarter is crowded on a sunny day. The quarter is located inside Minh An ward, covering about 2 square kilometres and housing most of the famous relics in Hoi An. Hoi An is said to be a confluence of many cultures from Asia to Europe in the 16th - 17th centuries, and that's why it is home to several temples, pagodas, and shrines built in such unique architectural styles. Strolling the streets is a good way to enjoy the ancient town with its tranquillity and old buildings decorated in colourful lights. The tranquil town also maintains its position as one of the world's 13 most romantic places for travel, selected by Global Cable News Network (CNN). (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Visitors walk on the small street along the Hoai River. Stepping into the town, visitors can feel a diverse and artistic blend of typical architectural works from the Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese and French cultures. The town used to be an international port in the past. Located in the lower reach of Thu Bon River in the coastal plain in Quang Nam province, about 30 km south of Da Nang city, Hoi An has been known in the international market by various names such as Lam Ap, Faifo, Hoai Pho and Hoi An. On December 4, 1999, the 23rd session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO officially included Hoi An ancient town into the list of the world's cultural heritage sites. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Local boatmen are waiting for passengers on the Hoai River. Sitting on a small boat and exploring streets and craft villages along both sides of the Hoai River is an interesting experience for couples visiting the town. Through centuries, customs and practices, rites, cultural and belief activities, and traditional foods of Hoi An are still kept and preserved along with generations of ancient street dwellers. The town also boasts a natural environment which is healthy and peaceful, with small suburban villages engaged in crafts like carpentry and pottery. To get a taste of Hoi An and authentic village life, travellers can take a guided cycling tour to visit local artisans and learn about their craft. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Cycling is the easiest and most affordable way of getting around Hoi An. Most of the hotels in the town offer rental bikes, but travellers can always check outside the hotel in the many available rental shops. Cycling tours offer incredible opportunities to explore rice paddies, fishing villages, and the surrounding countryside. The ancient riverbank town, which used to be a trading post with historical richness, was recently reviewed by The Travel website as an ideal place for foreign visitors who want to see the exotic culture of Vietnam. A recent post on The Travel described Hoi An as one of Vietnam's most visited destinations and a perfect spot to know what port and international trading life was like in the 18th century. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Touring the small streets in Hoi An on a three-wheeled cyclo is relaxing. The small ancient town in the south-central coastal province of Quang Nam used to be a busy international commercial port from the 16th to 19th centuries, attracting merchant ships from China and Japan. It is a World Heritage site recognised by UNESCO. Hoi An has been voted one of the '10 Most Welcoming Cities on Earth' by over 232 million reviews from real travellers verified by the leading digital travel platform Booking.com. It has captured the hearts of travellers worldwide with the simple daily life of locals, bustling and thriving old streets, and beautiful white sandy beaches nearby. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The streets in the ancient quarter of Hoi An are short, narrow and crisscrossing. Architectural works were mostly built from traditional materials, including brick and wood, which are not higher than two storeys. It is easy for tourists to recognise traces of the time in the architectural design of each construction and everywhere else, from moss-covered tile roofs, walls, sculptures depicting a strange creature or an ancient story. It is a convergence of Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and Cham artisans. Each construction work still bears the cultural hallmarks of many nations. Hoi An is still the dwelling place of thousands of residents, serving as a living museum in terms of architecture and urban lifestyle. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Stepping into Hoi An, visitors can deeply feel a diverse and artistic blend of typical architectural works from the Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese and French cultures. The ancient riverbank town in the central province of Quang Nam used to be a trading post with historical richness. It was described in a post on The Travel website as one of Vietnam's most visited destinations and a perfect spot to know what port and international trading life were like in the 18th century. Hoi An is home to several temples, pagodas, and shrines built in unique architectural styles, as it is a confluence of many cultures from Asia to Europe in the 16th - 17th centuries. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The increasing flow of visitors to Hoi An, and Quang Nam province in general, is a positive sign for the local tourism sector. Local authorities are eyeing tourism as one of the spearhead industries to drive post-pandemic economic recovery. After two quiet years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hoi An is now bustling again as the central province of Quang Nam is hosting the National Tourism Year 2022 themed 'Quang Nam - A green destination'. In addition, various activities are being held in Hoi An throughout the summer, attracting large crowds of visitors to the ancient port town. Head of the city's department of trade and tourism, Le Van Binh, said Hoi An has gradually regained its position as a tourist locomotive in Vietnam. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Hoi An has reached the top 10 most hospitable cities in the world 2022 by Traveler Review Award, and one of the most romantic destinations in the world 2022 voted by Time Out. In addition, the river bank town was again voted to 20th place in a new global listing of 25 best cities chosen by US magazine Travel Leisure readers. Even during the two years of the pandemic, Hoi An continued to be honoured by international media and was given prestigious awards like being in the top 25 best cities for tourism in the world 2020 (Travel & Leisure), the top 15 of Asia's best cities 2021 (Travel & Leisure) and Asia's best cultural urban destination 2021 (World Travel Awards). (Photo: VietnamPlus)