Japanese Bridge

At the heart of Hoi An’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town, the Japanese Bridge has become a symbol of the town and a wonderful representation of the town’s past. As an important trading port, Hoi An hosted a number of traders from across Asia, including those from Japan and China. The bridge was built over a stream to connect the Japanese and Chinese communities as a gesture of peace. The bridge itself is graceful and Zen-inspired – look out for the shrine in the middle that is dedicated to Tran Vo Bac De, who controlled the weather. Much more understated than the elaborate styles of the Vietnamese and the Chinese, the design and decoration of the bridge has remained remarkably true to the original over the 400 years since it was built.