Hoi An Trading Port was a busy international commercial gate during 17th and 18th centuries. From the west, merchants from the Netherlands and France and evangelists from Portugal, among the others, stopped by here and built up commercial firms to buy local products such as additives, tea, china, silk products. Thanks to these people, buildings bearing the styles of the Netherlands and France emerged, completing the big picture of Hoi An in those days.
Vietnamese people's life has always been associated with spirituality and religions. Pagodas, temples or shrines are common sights in the Vietnamese community. The spirituality section shows the typical architecture of Hoi An people in particular and Vietnamese people in general.
There were up to about six or seven hundred people in the Japanese community in Hoi An during 17th and 18th centuries. Japanese culture reflects strongly in works of architecture, culture and cuisine of the Hoi An people. Japanese village is where the stories conveying the Japan-Vietnam relationship is represented.
Japanese and Chinese merchants left cultural highlights in Hoi An. The Love Bridge is a cultural and spiritual symbol of China, Japan and Korea. This is where the lovers can write their names on the pieces of paper attached to the bridge, praying for their love to sustain. The bridge is located at the entry of Chinese and Japanese villages.