Explore Hoi An Ancient Town: Best Historical Sites & Cultural Experiences

The evolution of the ancient Hoi An port unfolded through four distinct phases: formation, development, peak, and decline. The most illustrious eras for this port were undoubtedly the development and peak stages. Over a span of more than a thousand years, Hoi An emerged as a bustling hub where merchant ships from China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and South Asia converged to engage in vibrant trade.

It stood as one of the premier ports in the East, not only facilitating commerce but also serving as the departure point for envoys from the ancient Champa Kingdom on their diplomatic missions to China.

From the 15th century onward, Western powers such as the Netherlands, Portugal, Britain, and France began to establish trading posts in Hoi An, further enriching its cosmopolitan character. The port witnessed a constant stream of international merchant ships, with Chinese vessels being the most numerous, sometimes numbering over a hundred at a time.

These ships brought a wealth of goods, including exquisite brocades, fine paper, writing brushes, copperware, porcelain, pottery, silverware, gold coins, silver ingots, aluminum, lead, and sulfur. In return, they acquired local specialties such as pepper, sugar, timber, spices, shark fins, bird’s nests, rhinoceros horns, ivory, gold, and silk.

As trade expanded, many Chinese merchants saw the potential in Hoi An and began to purchase land, constructing houses that served both as residences and commercial centers. These establishments became vital hubs for buying and selling, contributing to the port’s dynamic and multicultural atmosphere. Hoi An thus became one of the earliest cities in Vietnam to host a significant Chinese diaspora, leaving an indelible mark on its cultural and economic landscape.