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Quang Nam (Hoi An)
Area: 10,438.3sq. km
Population: 1,472.7 thousand habitants (2006)
Capital: Tam Ky City
Administrative divisions:
- Town: Hoi An
- Districts:Dai Loc, Dien Ban, Duy Xuyen, Nam Giang, Thang Binh, Que Son, Hiep Duc, Tien Phuoc, Phuoc Son, Nui Thanh, Bac Tra My, Nam Tra My, Tay Giang, Dong Giang, Phu Ninh.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Co Tu, Xo Dang, M'Nong, Co (Cor)...
Hoi An was considered as the budding port town of the Sa Huynh community who thrived in the region of Vietnam. It was during the 2nd to the 15th centuries that Hoi An was governed by the Champa Kingdom. Later on Hoi An turned into a commercial port town, having trade links with Arabia and China. As far as the history of Hoi An claims, the port town of Lam Ap turned into the so called Hoi An of the present day. The region flourished with Tra Kieu and My Son, the capital that had temples and towers belonging to the Champa Kingdom.
As far as the history of Hoi An goes, the settlement of Cham civilization within Hoi An was known for the presence of Cham port that had maritime trade links. Due to the strategic location of Hoi An along the merging point of Quang Nam and due to other positive conditions, the province showed affirmative signs of development during the 16th to the 19th centuries.
As far as the History of Hoi An goes, this small town along with the "Silk road" and "Ceramic road" was involved in trade links with countries like China, Thailand, Japan, India, Portugal, Britain, France, Holland, and others.
With time Hoi An emerged as an international port town for trade links along with being a major economic hub for Nguyen Lords and Kings within of Southern Vietnam. It was during the concluding years of the 19th century, the sailing vessels port town of Hoi An experienced its downfall and lost importance in comparison to the industrial port city of Danang.
The province fought for 117-years especially during the year 1858 - 1975 against overseas invaders and finally several Hoianians sacrificed themselves for the sake of the country’s independence and its unification.
Finally it was in December 4th, 1999 Hoi An was placed within the World Heritage list by UNESCO.
The UN's cultural agency listed the historic and quaint trading town of Hoi An as a World Heritage site in 1999. The riverine town is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a 15th to 19th century Southeast Asian trading port. Hoi An's "buildings and its street pattern reflect the influences, both indigenous and foreign, that combined to produce this unique heritage site," UNESCO says. The listing has given Hoi An the resources and impetus to better protect and maintain its wonderful architecture, which now attracts tourists by the droves.
Historians believe that Hoi An existed more than 2,000 years ago as a primitive port for the Sa Huynh people, thanks to evidence from archaeological excavations which have also pointed towards early trade with the Han dynasty in China. Through to the 15th century, the port was absorbed into the Kingdom of Champa and was known first as Lam Ap and later as Faifo. During this period, it developed into a prosperous trading port visited by trading fleets from as far afield as the Arabian peninsula. As a hub of regional trade, Hoi An brought considerable affluence to the Champa Kingdom, evidence of which can be seen at nearby My Son.
The number of traders visiting Hoi An escalated as the centuries marched on, with the Portuguese, Dutch, British and French all making an appearance, along with the ever-present Chinese, Japanese and Indians. The majority of Hoi An's most beautiful buildings were constructed from the 15th to 19th centuries.
Hoi An's star began to fade as trade slowly moved north to the larger and more industrial port of Da Nang. Today, little trade occurs aside from tourist boats, and only small-scale fishing boats use the port commercially.
The tourist trade is now Hoi An's bread and butter, and just about every business in town is geared to it. It's now one giant show-case with little in the way of an independent life of it's own. This conspires to make it one of the most authentic, but at the same time, one of the most artificial Vietnamese towns on the map. Yes, its nothing but a big tourist trap, but its an excellent tourist trap that shouldn't be missed.
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