Vietnam is a nation of breath-taking beauty saturated with historic and cultural heritage. Since the country’s ascension out of political turmoil, the world is starting to realise the wonders the country holds since tourism is now booming. There’s many a hotel in Hoi An Vietnam to be found such as the Anantara Hoi An Resort.
Hoi An is a famed historic city in Vietnam and is one of the few places where you can truly witness the past glory of a trading port in a state of almost impeccable preservation. The history of Hoi An as a trading port dates back all the way the 1400s, and therefore the area contains many notable sites of heritage, such as the iconic Japanese covered-bridge.
The bridge is symbolic of the Hoi An town, and was built in the 1600s according to Vietnamese legend, by a wealthy Japanese businessman. The bridge’s distinctively Japanese influences can be seen in its pagoda-like design that is iconic of Japanese architecture since the roof of the bridge protrudes in the middle.
The Japanese covered-bridge has undergone several restorations and due to the ones conducted in the 18th and 19th centuries, respectively, the bridge now has some fairly Vietnamese characteristics as well. The bridge is made out of meticulously-carved wood, while being supported by a stone-pillar foundation. The roof is composed of Ying-Yang tiles and the main door contains a large sign with kanji letters embossed on to it.
Each end of the bridge contains two statues, a monkey and a dog respectively. According to ancient-belief, these statues serve in warding off a very particular malicious deity.
If you ever find yourself in this historic part of Vietnam, be sure to visit this historic monument and check out the unique Japanese covered-bridge in Hoi An.
Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life.