Old houses: Most of the houses in Hoi An are tube-shaped, with a length of 10-40m, and they consist of the three living spaces: place for business, for living and for worship. The houses have timber frames, roofed with yin and yang tiles, and the floors are paved with tiles or stones. On the doors, there are two wooden knobs carved yin and yang, bagua or dragon and tiger face. The old houses are mainly located in the wards of Minh An, Cam Pho, and Son Phong.

 

Bridge Temple: Chua Cau (Bridge Temple) is a symbol of Hoi An old town. It was built by the Japanese merchants in the mid-16th century. The bridge has a length of 18 m with a tile roof. On the main door is a big plate embossed with three large Chinese characters: Lai Van Kieu. At the two bridgeheads are timber statues of a dog and a monkey, representing the years when construction began and the year of its completion.

It is very special that the temple does not have any Buddha statues. It worships Bac De Tran Vo, the god of protection who confers happiness on everyone.

 

Lanterns: Previously, only wealthy families hung lanterns in their houses. Over time, this has become more common. They are now hung along the street as well. Lanterns are made from a bamboo frame and covered with silk, and are available in various shapes. Lanterns are now typical souvenirs of Hoi An.

 

Incense: Hoi An’s incense has a very special aroma. You can see incense burnt in front of most shops in Hoi An, especially on the 1st or the 15th day of the lunar month.

 

Bicycles: Previously all kinds of vehicles were banned from running in the old town. Currently, the rules are looser and bicycles can be used here. Thus, you will see bikes everywhere. You can rent a bike for VND30,000/day ($1.5).