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Hoi an thrived on foreign trade. In the 16th and
17th centuries, Hoi An was a meeting place for migrants from different
parts of Viet Nam as well as for people and ships from other countries,
primarily Japan and China. Early in the 17th century Hoi An included a
Japanese district and a Chinese one, each with it's own "tong
tran" (governor) and regulations .
In early 2007 during an excavation archaeologists from the
Hanoi National University and Japan 's Showa Women's University found
remains of another ancient town. The Japanese played an important role at
Hoi An early in the 17th century and Hoi An was regarded as a
"Japanese city". Vestiges of the Japanese settlement are of
considerable value. They include the bridge; a number of graves and a
stele recording contributions from Japanese inhabitants. In 1636, Japan
placed a ban on foreign trade. Japanese business in Hoi An fell with a
resulting growth of Chinese commerce.
Hoi An was used by the people and ships from other countries. The Dutch
had their trading post there from 1636 to 1641. (The Dutch East Indies Company has
left a 7000-page record on Vietnam and on Hoi An in particular).
A dramatic rise in tourism in the last 7 years has
transformed the town – now a centre for tailors and shoe makers. It
is an administrative unit at the district level – with a population
of 75000. Within the old town this figure is 25.000. In 2007 on the Lunar
new year Tet Holiday there were 28,000 foreign tourists in Hoi An.
Now visit Make
A Difference and read about our work at Laugh
Café in Hoi An.
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