The historic milestones of the UNESCO-listed ancient town of Hoi An, and Quang Nam province in general, are being told through an exhibition featuring relevant printing woodblocks and imperial decrees.

Approximately 80 artefacts and archives are on display, revealing information about the formation of the region now known as Quang Nam and the region’s notable local figures.

The name of Quang Nam first appeared in 1471 when Emperor Thanh Tong of the Le Dynasty established a prefecture to govern the newly acquired land after his conquest of the Kingdom of Champa.

In the centuries that followed, Quang Nam became a prosperous region as trade flourished through the famous port of Hoi An, which was the only trade gateway between the south of Vietnam, then under the rule of Nguyen Lords, and the rest of the world.

Hoi An’s Deputy Chairman Nguyen Van Son said the exhibition is one in a string of events to be staged during the Quang Nam Heritage Festival 2017 and will help to bring the printing woodblocks and imperial decrees to the public’s attention.

Visitors, researchers and history enthusiasts will have an opportunity to gain access to valuable original materials.

The printing woodblocks of the Nguyen Dynasty were included in the Memory of the World Register in 2009, while the Nguyen Dynasty’s imperial decrees were honoured in 2014 as a documentary heritage in the Asia-Pacific register.

The exhibition will run until June 14.

Nhan Dan