Ancient Hoi An

We are love love loving this gorgeous town!

Here is a little photo montage of our day today.........

The Japanese Covered Bridge is emblematic of Hoi An.  It was first constructed in the 1590s by the Japanese community in order to link them with the Chinese quarters across the stream.

They built the bridge very solidly because of the threat of earthquakes.  Over the centuries the ornamentation has remained relatively faithful to the original understated Japanese design.  However, the French flattened out the roadway for their motor vehicles, and the original arched shape was restored in 1986.

The entrances to the bridge are guarded by weathered statues: a pair of monkeys on one side and a pair of dogs on the other.  One story says that construction of the bridge stated in the year of the monkey and was finished in the year of the dog.  The stelae, losing all Vietnamese and Chinese contributors to a subsequent restoration of the bridge, are written in Chinese characters (⬆)

There are beautiful lanterns everywhere

The kiddies here go to school between 7.30 - 12 when they go home for lunch and short nap, then they go back from 2 - 5!!!  And they do this 6 days a week! Be thankful Australian school kids.

(This information may not be exactly correct, but it was what we were told by a man in Hanoi)

It's just beautiful meandering down the ancient city streets without the treat of a motorbike screaming up behind you!

There are plenty of historic sights to visit around the old city.  It is suggested that you buy a ticket which gives you entry into the ancient city and then into your choice of 5 cultural buildings (museums, old houses, etc..)  Apparently the buying of the ticket is not compulsory, however the hotels have a letter in their compendium suggesting that you purchase it and there are security guards at each entrance, who strongly advise that you purchase it.

We met a lady and her daughter who were walking into the market with the chef from our hotel to buy ingredient for their cooking class and the security guards stopped them.  When they didn't produce a ticket, and didn't understand why they had to buy one the security guards put the chef into a room for 30 minutes for questioning and as one of the guards said "to teach him a lesson".  The lady had to write a letter to the police explaining that they were tourists and that he shouldn't be punished...... they had to go with the chef to the police station and everything because they feel that they are safer with tourists.

C.R.A.Z.Y!

So, for the sake of $VN120,000 (about $AU7), we just bought a ticket.  They say it's to go to the restoration of the old town - which I hope it does.... but who knows?

We were thinking  of heading down to Tassie to do a cooking class, but it turns out that you can do it right here in Hoi An!

Such beautiful colours.

Since we'd bought the tickets, we thought we'd make the most of them and visit at least one cultural sight.  We chose an old house which started out really interesting.  

A lady who was the 8th generation of people who have lived in the old house.  She walked us around and told us what each section was for, but then she did the hard sell and the upstairs of the house is just like a shop.  It is a shame that they aren't able to keep the house set up as a showcase of how people used to (and still do) live in these types of houses, instead of making it an opportunity to push a sale.  It doesn't make you want to look around or ask questions because it's all about you buying something that you don't want.

This lady was doing a bit of silk embroidery and she was amazingly quick.  I don't want to take away from their skill - because they do an amazing job.... I just don't want to buy one.

During the wet season, the old town floods - every year, so all the furniture and stock need to be moved upstairs to the second floor.  I think the bottom of this door is perhaps a reminder.

The Japanese Covered Bridge by night.....

This is The Little Hoi An Boutique Hotel

⬇