History

SATurday - 25/12/2010 10:20

Hoi An, is a land rich in traditions of revolutionary, history and culture, is collected through the ages and it used to be well-known as an international market with many different names, such as Lam Ap, Faifo, Hoai Pho and Hoi An ...

Due to its favorable geographical c-haracteristics, this land had existed and developed the belated Sa Huynh culture for over 2000 years,. The result of archaeological research in four burial relics (An Bang, Hau Xa I, Hau Xa II, Xuan Lam) and 5 living places (Hau Xa I, boiling, Dong Na, Thanh Chiam, Bau Da ), were various types of typical burial jar with production tools, life tools, excellent stone/ ceramic/glass/ metal jewelries ... were taken f-rom the ground that asserted the flourishing period of the Sa Huynh culture. In particular, the discovery of two Chinese coins (Pentateuch, Wang Mang), the Western Han Dynasty-style iron artifacts, the shadow of Dong Son, Oc Eo culture, or jewelries with refined processing technique in the excavated hole proved an interesting thing that in early AD, foreign trade was very firrst – built in Hoi An.

Under the kingdom of Champa (9-10 century), named Lam Ap Pho, Hoi An was a port in deleveloping which attracting merchants f-rom Arab, Persia, China to trade and exchange goods. Accoring to many ancient bibliographies, there was a long time that Champa port - Lam Ap Pho played an important role in creating the prosperity of  Tra Kieu – the first capital of the Champa Kingdom and My Son sanctuary. With the ruins of Champa towers, wells and statues (the dancer Thien Tien Gandhara, the wealth god Kubera, the elephant god ...) and pieces of Chinese ceramics, Vietnam, Middle East f-rom the 2nd-14th century is taken up f-rom the ground. It is desmonstrated an assumption that there was a Lam Ap Pho (the Cham Pa) before Hoi An (the Dai Viet) at Champa port in its flourishing period.
Also, thanks to favorable water environment, coupled with numerous internal - external factors   f-rom the 16th century to the 19th century, urban areas - trading port of Hoi An was reborn and in thriving development. Because of the atttraction of this port, along with "Silk Road", "Ceramic road" were formed before on the waterway, merchant ships f-rom China, Japan, India, Thailand, Portugal, Vietnam, UK, France ... flocked to trade.

According to historical documents, the number of vessels entering the harbor so much crowded, the goods were diversified. During this period, Hoi An was an international commercial port flourished in most of countries and Southeast Asia, a major economic base of the Nguyen dynasty also.
F-rom the late 19th century, influenced by many adverse factors, "Hoi An sailboat port " gradually declined and then disappeared , leaving its historic role for " young mechanic port" in Da Nang. But due to that,  Hoi An could avoid a variation f-rom the impact of modern urbanization to keep preserving an urban architectural ensemble unique and great till now.

During 117 years of resistance against foreign invasion (1858-1975), thousands of Hoi An people who fell down for the independence and unification of Viet Nam. Many local regions and some of Hoi An people have been awarded the title of "Hero"

On August22,1998, Hoi An was awarded the title of "Hero of the People's Armed Forces". More than a year later on December 4, 1999, United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization has enter Hoi An’s name to the World Heritage and Cultural List on August24, 2000, Hoi An was again awarded the title "Hero of Socialist Labor" in  the renovation period.