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Genesis and the development of Hoi An
Hoi An (Hội An) Old Town, place of cultural and
revolutionary long history, was known on the international market with
various names: Lam Ap (Lâm Ấp), Faifo, Hoai Pho (Hoài Phố), Hoi An...
Located at a good position, for more than 2000 years, this ground has
existed with Sa Huynh civilization.
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| A corner of Hoi An Old Town formerly |
Recently, archaeologists excavated the four tombs vestiges (An Bàng, Hậu xá I, Hậu Xá II, Xuân Lâm) and five residences (Hậu Xá I, Tràng Sỏi, Sồng Nà, Thanh Chiếm, Bàu sà) and found particular earthenware jar tombs, work tools, stone materials, ceramics, glass, metal... which confirmed the glorious development of Sa Huynh civilization. Especially, the discovery of Chinese copper coins (Ngũ Thù and Vương Mãng), iron objects of time Đong Sơn, Óc Eo or clever jewels in the excavations proved the presence of the foreign trade in Hoi An since the beginning of Christian era.
From the 2nd to 14th century, Hoi An pertaining to Champa kingdom, under the name Lâm ấp Phố, was a developed port town which attracted Arab, Persian, Chinese tradesmen to come to make trade and exchange. Old documents recorded the important role of this Chiem port - Lam ap Pho in the prosperity of Tra Kieu capital and My Son tower temples. The vestige of Cham temples tower, wells, Cham statues and ceramics parts of China, Dai Viet, Middle-East from the 2nd-14th century reinforced the theory that Lam ap Pho (of Champa kingdom) and Hoi An (of Dai Viet kingdom) was a very large and developed port.
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| ... and Hoi An at the band of Hoai river |
Because
of the historical upheavals, during centuries, this ground fell into
the lapse of memory. However, thanks to the favorable situation with
rivers, interior and external influences, from 16th to 19th century,
the commercial port city Hoi An experienced the glorious resurrection
and development. From 1585, when lord Nguyen Hoang (Nguyễn Hoàng) and
his son Nguyen Phuc Nguyen (Nguyễn Phúc Nguyên) conquered Thuan Hoa
(Thuận Hóa) and Quang Nam (Quảng Nam) and developed the economic in
"Đàng Trong", Hoi An became a very animated international port.
From
the second half of the 19th century, since Thu Bon estuary was extended
with deposits of silt, boats could not embark any more, the commercial
port was degraded more and more to leave the its place to Danang (Đà
Nẵng) port, built by the French people. Rich Chinese or Vietnamese
tradesmen who were going to settle in Saigon or Danang left in Hoi An
the peace with old houses.
Centuries passed away, Hoi An inhabitants are always determined to keep the ancestors heritage through the ancient aspect of the city. Hoi An is always proud of the title "cultural heritage of the world". And in front of this great honor, the old town always remains as an old architectural unit, an old city of Vietnam and world.
Synthesis (World heritage in Vietnam)
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