The ancient town of Hoi An lies on the Thu Bon River, 30 km south of Da Nang. It was formerly a major trading centre in Southeast Asia between the 16th and 17th centuries. Hoi An was also an important port for Dutch, Portugese, Italian, Chinese, Japanese and other merchant vessels from the Far East.

Hoi An is famous for its temples, pagodas, small tile-roofed houses and narrow streets. All the houses were made of wood and their pillars were carved with ornamental designs.

One of the main attractions of Hoi An is the Japanese Covered Bridge, which was built in the 16th century and is still well-preserved. All visitors to Hoi An are recommended a visit to the Assembly Hall of Cantonese Chinese Congregation. This house was built in 1855 and still keeps many precious objects that belonged to the Chinese community of Hoi An. Another attractive address to tourists is Tan Ky House, which was constructed nearly two centuries ago as a house for the Vietnamese merchant. The house now looks almost exactly as it did in the early 19th century.