Hoi An played an important role in
international trade as a main SE Asia stopover in the Maritime Silk
Road.
By the 17th and 18th centuries it had become one of the most important Southeast Asian trading ports welcoming foreign traders.
They traded in silk, china, pottery,
and spices.
In 1999 Hoi An ancient town was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site because of its remarkably intact state.
During Hoi An’s trading heydays, it drew merchants and migrants from China, Japan and Europe. Many settled down, married and stayed. This made the city a melting pot of cultures, architectural styles, religions and foods. Pagodas, assembly halls, clan houses, shop houses, and tea houses line the ancient streets.
Within an area of 30 hectares in Hoi An's ancient town there are over 1,300 old houses which have now been converted into tailor shops, restaurants, cafés, art galleries, bars, souvenir shops and massage parlours. It is a shoppers' and foodies' paradise.
John opted for a bike ride.
John was a happy man.
2 comments:
On your travels have you been able to do any shopping and have stuff mailed back to a relative or a friend? Best I can tell from your Archive list is you have been to about 25 countries (may have missed some not in CAPS and in lower case) so be a shame if you weren't able to shop for a few mementos.
Gordon, unfortunately, we have NOT done ANY shopping. I would love to buy cool things for our home, but, we don't have a home. And since we don't know where we'll land once become responsible adults again, or what kind of home we'll have, unfortunately, it doesn't make sense to buy things now in our travels. I would love to, but...... (John tells me we can come back again and buy things once we have a home.... But, what does he know!?!?!?) Linda
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