Hoi An has 5 assembly halls and all of them belong to Chinese communities. Because of their large importance, they have a grand architecture with sophisticated decorations that are made by the most skilled local craftsmen, good to see and photograph. Somehow, an assembly hall shows the level of prosperity of the community owning it. Now, let’s HoiAn Day Trip Company provide necessary information about all assembly halls in Hoi An Vietnam.
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• Content by Tam Le, founder of HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD
• Designed by Giang Cong Minh, co-founder of LS E&C LTD and his team
• Photo by Dang Cong Loi, Dao Xuan Son, Tam Le & others
History of Chinese Communities in Hoi An
Overally, the Chinese community is the second most important local community in Hoi An Vietnam (just after the Vietnamese community). Its history started in the late 16th century when the first Chinese merchants came to the town to trade. Many people amongst them lived here and married locals. In the beginning of the 17th century, Chinese people had their own trading quarter (may be called ‘China town’). At this time, Japanese people also had their own quarter near the Japanese Bridge.
Furthermore, in the beginning of the 17th century, the fall of Ming dynasty led to large immigrations of Chinese people to Southeast Asia. Hoi An for sure was one of their stops. Later, after the Opium wars, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the 1911 Revolution, there are many more Chinese people escaping from China and coming to Southeast Asian countries to start a new life. Of course, Hoi An again was one of the places in Vietnam that welcomed them.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, when Hoi An trading port steadily lost its role as the main trading centre, Chinese communities still stayed back and joined hands to develop the town.
Today, the Chinese community in Hoi An is formed by five congregations: Cantonese, Fujian, Teochew, Hainan and Hakka. All of these regional communities originated from coastal cities in southern China. Interestingly, each one of them has its own assembly hall to gather and worship the god. Beside that, one assembly hall is also constructed for most congregations.
In addition to assembly halls (known as ‘pagodas’ by local Vietnamese people), Chinese people also built temples, communal houses, Confucian temples and a plenty of houses.
List of Chinese Assembly Halls in Hoi An Vietnam
Cantonese Assembly Hall
Location/address: 176 Tran Phu Street, Minh An ward, Hoi An city, Quang Nam province, Vietnam
Opening hours: 8 am to 6 pm daily
Ticket price: 120,000 VND for adult and children above 15 years old
The Cantonese Assembly Hall (or Quang Trieu Assembly Hall, Cantonese Pagoda) was constructed in 1885. It’s located on the oldest and the central road of Hoi An and not far from the river. Here, members of Cantonese Chinese congregation gather in meetings, festivals and special events as well as worship Quan Cong (a military general in China in 2nd-3rd centuries). He is also honored at Quan Cong Temple in the front of the biggest market. See more information & details
Fujian Assembly Hall
Location/address: 46 Tran Phu Street, Minh An ward, Hoi An city, Quang Nam province, Vietnam
Opening hours: 8 am to 6 pm daily
Ticket price: 120,000 VND for adult and children above 15 years old
The Fujian Assembly Hall (or Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, Fujian Pagoda) was constructed in 1757. It’s located on the oldest and the central road of Hoi An and not far from the biggest local market. Here, members of Fujian Chinese congregation gather in meetings, festivals and special events as well as worship Thien Hau goddess (the patron saint of all Chinese communities in Hoi An who blesses safe journeys on the sea). She is also honored at Trung Hoa Assembly Hall that is just a short walk away. Fujian Assembly Hall is not only the largest but also the most instagrammable place in Hoi An Vietnam. See more information & details
Teochew Assembly Hall
Location/address: 362 Nguyen Duy Hieu Street, Son Phong ward, Hoi An city, Quang Nam province, Vietnam
Opening hours: 8 am to 6 pm daily
Ticket price: 120,000 VND for adult and children above 15 years old
The Teochew Assembly Hall (or Trieu Chau Assembly Hall, Teochew Pagoda, Ong Bon Pagoda) was constructed before 1845. Here, members of the Teochew Chinese congregation gather in meetings, festivals and special events as well as worship Ma Yuan (a military general and politician in China in 1st century AD). He is honored as Fubo Jiangjun (meaning ‘General Who Calms the Waves’) who blesses safe journeys on the sea or Ong Bon who blesses good fortune and good business. Teochew Assembly Hall has the most sophisticated decorative elements in Hoi An Vietnam. See more information & details
Hainan Assembly Hall
Location/address: 10 Tran Phu Street, Minh An ward, Hoi An city, Quang Nam province, Vietnam
Opening hours: 8 am to 6 pm daily
Ticket price: 120,000 VND for adult and children above 15 years old
The Hainan Assembly Hall (or Hai Nam Assembly Hall, Hainan Pagoda, Quynh Phu Assembly Hall) was constructed in 1875. It’s located on the oldest and the central road of Hoi An and not far from the biggest local market. Here, members of Hainan Chinese congregation gather in meetings, festivals and special events as well as worship the 108 Hainan Brothers or 108 Saints (who passed away after a pirate’s attack). All of them are honored to be patron saints of Hainan people in Hoi An (and many other areas in Vietnam). Hainan Assembly Hall has an impressive architecture with intricate decorations but lesser known. See more information & details
Trung Hoa Assembly Hall
Location/address: 64 Tran Phu Street, Minh An ward, Hoi An city, Quang Nam province, Vietnam
Opening hours: 8 am to 6 pm daily
Ticket price: 120,000 VND for adult and children above 15 years old
Trung Hoa Assembly Hall (or Duong Thuong Assembly Hall, Ba Pagoda, Le Nghia Pagoda) was constructed in 1741. It’s located on the oldest and the central road of Hoi An and not far from the river. Here, members of all five Chinese congregations gather in meetings, festivals and special events as well as worship Thien Hau goddess (the patron saint of all Chinese communities in Hoi An who blesses safe journeys on the sea). She is also honored at Fujian Assembly Hall. Other role of Trung Hoa Assembly Hall is the assembly hall for the Hakka people community (because of its small population) and an educational center where children learn Chinese language and etiquette, so it’s the most important building. See more information & details
Best Assembly Hall in Hoi An Vietnam
There are 5 assembly halls in Hoi An Vietnam. Here are our thoughts:
– Fujian Assembly Hall: largest, most photographed, most festivals
– Cantonese Assembly Hall: most visited
– Teochew Assembly Hall: most sophisticated decorations
– Hainan Assembly Hall: most magnificent
– Trung Hoa Assembly Hall: most important
If have to choose one to visit, we recommend Fujian Assembly Hall or Cantonese Assembly Hall. If possible, let’s sightsee both of them. If love architecture, art and cultural heritage, you should visit all of the assembly halls in Hoi An. If you are Chinese, let’s go to the assembly hall belonging to your hometown.
Tips to Visit Chinese Assembly Halls in Hoi An
– It’s needed to buy entry ticket for Hoi An Ancient Town and then sightsee Chinese assembly halls (all assembly halls). The price is 120,000 VND for adult and children above 15 years ago. See more information & details
– All of Chinese assembly halls in Hoi An are temples, so visitors need to wear respectfully if want to walk into it for visiting/praying. See more information & details below.
– Vietnamese traditional costume ao dai dress is highly recommended. Any garment made of see-through material is not respectful.
– All of Chinese assembly halls in Hoi An are Ingrammable spots in Hoi An.
– In the dry season, from February to the end of August, visitors should bring sun cream, hat/cap/umbrella, sun glasses, and bottles of water to drink. If don’t have, it’s easy to buy at shops near all of Chinese assembly halls in Hoi An.
– In the rainy season, from September to January, visitors should bring rain poncho/jacket or umbrella, sandals or waterproof shoes. Don’t forget to check the weather forecast usually when traveling during this period.
– From October to December (the rainy season), the town may be flooded, so visitors need to keep updating the weather before going to Hoi An.
– The best way to visit the Hoi An Old Town is walking, so make sure that you have good/comfortable shoes or sandals.
– Smartphone or camera is needed for taking pictures. For more experiences, visitors can consider renting Vietnamese traditional costume (for example, ao dai long dress for ladies) or even booking a private photographer (contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) if you need).
– Don’t forget bringing cash to pay for entry fee tickets and small things because many places in Vietnam don’t accept payment by cards.
– It’s better to visit Chinese assembly halls in Hoi An with a local guide. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) if you need a professional guide in Hoi An.
Dress Code at Chinese Assembly Halls of Hoi An
Although there is no dress code checking at Chinese assembly halls of Hoi An, to respect gods and local culture, we suggest wearing long clothes while visiting. The pieces should cover the armpits, navel, upper knees and shouldn’t be see-through or too sexy. It also means that shorts, tank top, swimsuits, etc are not appropriate. If visiting on a hot day, visitors can use a long piece of fabric (such as swimwear wrap) to cover and go around, and take it off after leaving the temple.
During the rainy season, before walking in the worshipping buidlings, please remove hat, cap, umbrella, sun glasses and rain poncho/jacket.
All religions, genders and nationalities are welcomed. Taking photos is okay here too.
Itinerary to Visit Hoi An Old Town for First Timer
First of all, to enter and visit the Hoi An Old Town (the part inscribed by Unesco), visitors need to buy an entry ticket. Its price is 120,000 VND per adult and children above 15 years old and free of charge for smaller kids. Entry to 5 attractions is also included for free. See more information & details
If possible, first time visitors should go with a local guide, to know better about history and culture. Contact us by +84968009827 (call/whatsapp) to book a private English-speaking guide.
We suggest this itinerary for first timers:
Total distance: 1,65 kilometers
– Starting point: the Japanese style gate (the west end of Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street). A model of the Red Seal Ship (Japanese merchant’s ship) and a ticket office are in a close distance.
– Walk along Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street. On this road, visitors will have the chance to sightsee Cam Pho Communal House (ticket required), Japanese Culture Gallery (ticket required), Phung Hung Old House (one of the best heritage houses, ticket required), Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel (in the alleyway, ticket required).
– Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, the symbol of Hoi An. This place definitely is a must see attraction.
– Walk along Tran Phu Street, the most beautiful road in Hoi An, until Hoi An Central Market. On this road, visitors will have the chance to sightsee so many historical attractions. From the bridge to the market, there are Cantonese Assembly Hall (ticket required), Museum of Sa Huynh Culture (ticket required), Duc An Old House (ticket required), Kazik Park (free), Quan Thang Old House (ticket required), Museum of Trade Ceramics (ticket required), Trung Hoa Assembly Hall (ticket required), Fujian Assembly Hall (ticket required), Quan Cong Temple (ticket required), Quan Am Pagoda (ticket required), Hoi An Central Market (free to enter), a couple of rooftop coffee shops, Instagrammable spots, shophouses selling lanterns, food, souvenirs and fashion items.
– Walk southwards and along Tieu La Street (east side of Hoi An Central Market). On this road, there are many vendors and stalls selling a diversity of local products, giving a good chance to know about local life and photograph.
– Walk westwards and along Bach Dang Street (the riverside street). On this road, visitors will see Hoi An Traditional Performance House (ticket required if want to watch shows) and Museum of Folklore (ticket required).
– Turn into Le Loi Street and then turn left, walking along Nguyen Thai Hoc Street. On this road, visitors will see Tan Ky Old House (one of the best heritage houses, ticket required) and Diep Dong Nguyen Old House (not yet opened to visitors, see from outside).
– The ending point: the crossroad near the north end of An Hoi Bridge or the west end of Nguyen Thai Hoc Street. In the evening, from here, visitors can walk cross the bridge and then turn right to see the entrance of the Hoi An Night Market, the biggest night market in Hoi An.
For more information and details, please browse https://hoiandaytrip.com/hoi-an-self-guided-walking-tour
Guided Tours to Hoi An Ancient Town Vietnam
From Hoi An
– Hoi An Old Town Walking Tour – 2 Hour Express Tour with Local
– Hoi An Half Day Walking Tour: Heritage Sites, Crafts & Show
– Hoi An Early Morning Walking Tour with Local Pho & Coffee
– Hoi An Afternoon Walking Tour + Thu Bon River Sunset Cruise
– Hoi An Night Tour from Hoi An: Lantern Boat, Markets & Food
– Hoi An Walking Tour with Sightseeing & Cooking Class
– Hoi An Late Afternoon Walking Tour with Local Food Tastings
– Hoi An Walking Tour with Thanh Ha Pottery Village by Boat
– Hoi An Instagram Tour: Best Photo Spots & Rooftop Café
– Hoi An Old Town Food Tour with Night Boat Ride
– Hoi An Old Town Private Walking Tour with Local Expert (4 hours duration from departure time)
HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD daily organizes tours in Hoi An and Da Nang. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
From Da Nang
– Hoi An Half Day Tour from Da Nang
– Hoi An Night Tour from Da Nang
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Day Tour from Da Nang
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Night Tour from Da Nang
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Highlights Tour
– Marble Mountain, Lady Buddha & Hoi An Day Tour from Da Nang
– Hoi An Day Tour from Da Nang with Chinese Speaking Guide
– My Son Sanctuary & Hoi An Tour from Da Nang
– Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills Tour & Hoi An Tour from Da Nang
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Tour from Da Nang Cruise Port
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Tour from Chan May Cruise Port
HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD daily organizes tours in Hoi An and Da Nang. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Places to Visit near Chinese Assembly Halls in Hoi An
– Bridges: Japanese Covered Bridge (Pagoda Bridge), Moonlight Bridge, An Hoi Bridge (Bridge of Lights), Cam Nam Bridge, Cam Kim Metal Bridge
– Museums: Museum of Sa Huynh Culture, Museum of Sa Folklore, Museum of Trade Ceramics, Museum of Traditional Medicine, Hoi An Museum of History & Culture, Japanese Culture Gallery, Black Sesame Soup Demonstration
– Chinese assembly halls: Cantonese Assembly Hall, Fujian Assembly Hall, Trung Hoa Assembly Hall, Hainan Assembly Hall, Teochew Assembly Hall
– Heritage houses: Tan Ky Old House, Phung Hung Old House, Duc An Old House, Quan Thang Ancient House, Diep Dong Nguyen House, Thai Phien Ancient House
– Temples & pagodas: Quan Cong Temple (Ong Pagoda), Ba Mu Temple, Phap Bao Pagoda, Quan Am Pagoda, Hoi An Confucius Temple, Cao Dai Temple of Hoi An, Hoi An Ancestral Temple, Cam Pho Confucius Temple, Minh Huong Confucius Temple, Vien Giac Pagoda, Hy Hoa Temple
– Family chapels: Tran Family Chapel, Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel
– Communal houses: Cam Pho Communal House, Hoi An Communal House, Minh Huong Communal House, Tu Le Communal House, Xuan Lam Communal House, Son Phong Communal House
– Markets: Hoi An Central Market, Hoi An Cloth/Fabric Market, Hoi An Night Market (Nguyen Hoang Night Market), Cam Pho Market
– Theatres: Hoi An Traditional Art Performance House, Hoi An Lune Center for Performing Arts (now where Teh Dar Show takes place), Hoi An Memories Land Theme Park (now where Hoi An Memories Show takes place)
– Famous streets: Tran Phu Street, Phan Chu Trinh Street, Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Bach Dang Street/Wharf, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Cong Nu Ngoc Hoa Street, Phan Boi Chau Street (Hoi An French Quarter), Hoi An Lantern Streets
– Other points of interest: Red Seal Ship Model, Hoi An Evanlegical Church, Thong Dang Prison & Park, Kazik Park (Memory Statue of Kazimierz Kwiatkowski), Hoai River (Hoi An River), Song Hoai Square, An Hoi Sculpture Park, Hoi An Catholic Church, Hoi An Prison, Hoi An Central Park, Ba Le Well, Hoi An Book Street, Hoi An Lantern Park, An Hoi Island, Cam Nam Island, Thu Bon River, Da Ken Tree
Photos, Videos about Chinese Assembly Halls in Hoi An
Here are beautiful photos and videos about Chinese assembly halls in Hoi An:
