Evening Lanterns and Markets

The yellow stucco walls of Hoi An Market stretch along the bank of the Thu Bon River. Inside, vendors sell stacks of silk, mounds of colorful spices, and fresh river fish from woven baskets. This site began as a humble collection of…

The Ba Mu Temple Gate stands as a triple-arched, yellow-stuccoed entrance frame rising starkly against a brick-lined courtyard. It served as the ceremonial gateway to a complex of three temples built in sixteen twenty-six to honor various…

A dark, two-story timber house with a carved wooden balcony stands tightly between its neighbors on the street. This house is a patchwork of cultural influence, built by seven generations of the Le family starting in the late eighteenth…

The riverbank at the Hoai River landing features a dense cluster of low wooden boats bobbing against the stone steps. This is the primary spot where visitors release small, paper-covered candles onto the dark water to honor ancestors or…

The Japanese Covered Bridge sits on a foundation of stone arches, its wooden frame topped by a distinct yin and yang roof tile design. Built in the late sixteenth century, it connected the Japanese merchant quarter to the Chinese district…

The An Hoi Bridge connects the old town of Hoi An across the Hoai River with a slender, arched steel frame painted a bold, bright blue. It carries only pedestrians and bicycles, serving as a narrow lifeline between the historic wooden…

Rows of colorful silk lanterns hang above the stalls in the Hoi An Night Market, illuminating the narrow street after sunset. This market grew from a need to manage the influx of nighttime foot traffic in the old town. Vendors moved from…