|
Before the birth of this ancient urban, there had existed a well-developed civilization i.e. Sa Huynh. The archeological relics found in this civilization consists of jar tombs, jewelries, weapons etc. From the 2nd century to 15th century Hoi An was located in the Champa kingdom. About 30 to 40 km far from Hoi An, there have survived several temples and relics of Tra Kieu Capital City, My Son Temple Tower etc. At that time, Hoi An was both the outpost and the getway, as well as an important commercial port for the trade between Champa and other South East Asian countries, Indian and Egypt.
From the 16th century to the 17th century, Lord Nguyen attached much importance to the trade with foreign countries. To promote the trade, Lord Nguyen made good conditions to the Japanese, the Chinese so that they could establish a trading town. Hoi An was considered the mose advantageous spot thanks to its position adjacent to the Dai Chiem seaport and backing a prosperous land where there were various products and where the traffic of boats and ships was done easily. The export products of Hoi An were mainly gold, swallow, nests, seafood pepper, silk, amber, precious wooden furniture, pottery etc.
“Dat lanh chim dau” (good land for birds, home), the Japanese and the Chinese started buying land lost established a town, built warehouses, loadingports and stores etc., turning Hoi An into a busy and exciting town in the shape of a “special economic are” that developed most in South-east Asis. Then under the western’s eyes, Hoi An was known as faifo with a Japanese district, a Chinese district, a harbor, markets and handicraft villages on the edge of the town. Faifo was so busy and crowded that it was thought to be two cities. It was also the heyday of the town. Hoi An functioned as the bridge head for the propagation of the Christianity in Vietnam by priest Alexandre De Rhodes, who had great contribution to the promotion of the Vietnamese writing based on the Latin characters.
In the end of the 18th century, the bed of the Thu Bon river got shallower and shallower with the historical upheavals and the geographical changes and big ships could not enter. As a result, Hoi An was no longer a commercial port. Remarkably, Hoi An was not destroyed by bullets and bombs through the fierce war years in Vietnam. The houses blocks in Hoi An ancient town are now evidence for the golden age of a hustle and bustle urban.
It is these factors that attract domestic and foreign visitors to Hoi An. It is not overstated that Hoi An is a live museum for those who are keep on researching, discovering and exploring this “treasure” of non-material and material culture. |
