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HOI AN -
Probably
the most picturesque village of Vietnam, Hoi An Ancient Town
is toda y
UNESCO
World Heritage Site.
About 30 km from Danang City, Hoi An constitutes an exceptionally
well preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port from
the period of the 15th to 19th centuries. Its buildings and
its street pattern reflect the influences, both indigenous and
foreign, that combined to produce this unique heritage site.
This tiny village has a distinct Chinese
atmosphere
with low, tile-roofed houses and narrow streets; the original
structure of some of these streets still remains almost intact.
All the houses were made of rare wood, decorated with lacquered
boards and panels engraved with Chinese characters. Pillars
were also carved with ornamental designs.
While Hoi An's old-fashion ed
charm is always visible, on the 15th of every lunar month (a
Buddhist day of worship) modernity takes another step back.
On these evenings the town turns off its street
lamps and fluorescent
lights,
leaving the Old Quarter bathed in the warm glow of coloured
silk, glass and paper lanterns. In ancient times, Vietnamese
people made lamps out of shallow bowls filled with oil. Later,
foreign traders introduced lanterns, ranging from round and
hexagonal designs from China to diamond and star shaped ones
from Japan.
Hoi An was also a center of extensive cultural interaction,
which was reflected in the unique outlook and cultural mosaic
in the town. Historically speaking, the town inherited the cultural
heritage of the ancient Cham
culture.
Between the 4th and the 13th centuries the Cham Culture, which
owed its spiritua l
origins to the Hinduism of India, developed on the coast of
contemporary Vietnam. This is graphically illustrated by the
remains of a series of impressive tower temples in My Son, the
religious and political capital of the Champa Kingdom for most
of its existence.
Known as Faifo to early Western traders, somehow Hoi
An escaped damage during all wars, preserving a unique concentration
of architectural monuments of various forms: living house, assembly
hall, communal house, pagoda, shrine, temple, water well, bridge,
wharf, market... They are along the streets that cut one another,
forming palaces and giving a good example of symbolic oriental
cities in the Middle Age. So wonderful with its old aged and
traditionally well kept habits and customs, the town is now
an excellent model of a living museum of architecture and urban
lifestyle: it is so charming that leaving it out of your tour
should not be considered an option.
Good
Morning Vietnam
Restaurant is conveniently located
in a gracious ancient house in the heart of town, well integrated
in the local architecture. Here, you can indulge in our food,
or simply enjoy the tranquil setting while sipping your coffee.
Opened on August 2001, GMV HoiAn gained the good reputation
for serving excellent italian cuisine and some of the best specialities
from Hoi An.
For any request, the italian chef and manager, is at your disposal.
GMV
HOI AN
102, Nguyen Thai Hoc Street
Tel. : (0510) 91 02 27
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