Hoi An in the Indochina period – Before 1975: Ancient imprints amidst turbulent history
Hoi An today is known as a world cultural heritage site with a quiet old town on the Thu Bon River. But few people know that, before becoming a famous tourist destination, Hoi An had gone through an important period under French colonialism - the Indochina period - and lasted until before 1975.
It was a time when Hoi An carried on its layers of memories of a traditional society mixed with modernization, between Vietnamese identity and French cultural influence. Let's find out to better understand Hoi An in this special historical period.
.jpg)
Tourists view Hoi An ancient town from a high-rise building on Tran Phu street. Illustration photo: hoians.com
Hoi An was not an administrative center during the French period.While many other cities such as Hanoi, Da Nang, and Saigon were chosen by the French as administrative, economic, and military centers, Hoi An was not on the list of places that were strongly developed during the colonial period. Because at the end of the 19th century, Hoi An port - once one of the busiest international ports in Southeast Asia in the 16th - 18th centuries - was pushed back due to natural silting and the shift of trade to Da Nang (Tourane) - a deep-water port invested in and built by the French.
However, because it was not re-planned in the French urban style like many other cities, Hoi An was fortunate to keep its traditional architectural system almost intact, becoming a "living museum" of traditional urban architecture of Vietnam and the East Asia region.
.jpg)
Along the Hoai River in Hoi An ancient town. Illustration photo: hoians.com
Diverse community
1. Hoi An Under Indochina: A Traditional Town Amidst Colonial Flows
.jpg)
Tourists view Hoi An ancient town from a high-rise building on Tran Phu street. Illustration photo: hoians.com
Hoi An was not an administrative center during the French period.While many other cities such as Hanoi, Da Nang, and Saigon were chosen by the French as administrative, economic, and military centers, Hoi An was not on the list of places that were strongly developed during the colonial period. Because at the end of the 19th century, Hoi An port - once one of the busiest international ports in Southeast Asia in the 16th - 18th centuries - was pushed back due to natural silting and the shift of trade to Da Nang (Tourane) - a deep-water port invested in and built by the French.
However, because it was not re-planned in the French urban style like many other cities, Hoi An was fortunate to keep its traditional architectural system almost intact, becoming a "living museum" of traditional urban architecture of Vietnam and the East Asia region.
2. Hoi An Social Life in Indochina Period – Before 1975
.jpg)
Along the Hoai River in Hoi An ancient town. Illustration photo: hoians.com
Diverse community
Hoi An was still home to many communities in the early 20th century, especially the Vietnamese, Chinese (mostly Fujian, Teochew, Cantonese), and a small number of Japanese and French. These communities still maintained separate but harmonious activities, together contributing to the preservation of relics such as assembly halls, pagodas, and ancient houses - the heritage of the commercial port period of the previous century.
Local trade system
Local trade system
Although no longer a major international port, Hoi An still retains the bustling character of a local trading town, serving residents in the area and neighboring areas such as Duy Xuyen, Dien Ban, Tam Ky. Famous products include:
Handicrafts: Thanh Ha pottery, lanterns, wooden handicrafts.
Local products: Rice, tea, dried fish, fish sauce, textiles.Some old shops remained in operation throughout this period, and even survive to this day, such as tailors, herbal medicine shops, gold shops, bookstores, and Chinese tea shops.
French architectural influence is very limited.Compared to other cities such as Hue, Da Nang or Saigon, Hoi An has almost no large-scale French constructions. However, there are still a few French-influenced constructions such as:
French-style schools: Some primary and secondary schools in Hoi An during this period were built in the style of brick houses, red tile roofs, high ceilings, and arched doors - typical of French colonial architecture.
Churches and some offices: Some religious and administrative constructions have a simple Western architectural style, but on a small scale.
This contributes to the unique harmony between traditional Asian architecture and a few Western touches - a unique beauty of Hoi An during this period.
Handicrafts: Thanh Ha pottery, lanterns, wooden handicrafts.
Local products: Rice, tea, dried fish, fish sauce, textiles.Some old shops remained in operation throughout this period, and even survive to this day, such as tailors, herbal medicine shops, gold shops, bookstores, and Chinese tea shops.
3. Hoi An Architecture in the Indochina Period – Before 1975
Ancient house architecture is preserved intactLittle affected by the wave of colonial urbanization, the traditional two-story townhouses in Hoi An are still preserved almost intact. They are wooden houses with yin-yang tiled roofs, wooden doors, small porches, skylights and minimalist interiors, clearly showing the architectural style of ancient China and Vietnam.French architectural influence is very limited.Compared to other cities such as Hue, Da Nang or Saigon, Hoi An has almost no large-scale French constructions. However, there are still a few French-influenced constructions such as:
French-style schools: Some primary and secondary schools in Hoi An during this period were built in the style of brick houses, red tile roofs, high ceilings, and arched doors - typical of French colonial architecture.
Churches and some offices: Some religious and administrative constructions have a simple Western architectural style, but on a small scale.
This contributes to the unique harmony between traditional Asian architecture and a few Western touches - a unique beauty of Hoi An during this period.
4. Hoi An in the period 1945 - 1975
The period from after the August Revolution in 1945 to before 1975 was a period of many changes for Vietnam, and Hoi An was no exception.
The period of resistance against France (1945 - 1954): Although not a fierce battlefield like many other places, Hoi An was still a point of activity for resistance forces, while the French army focused on controlling coastal trade routes.
Vietnam War period (1955 - 1975): Hoi An was under the control of the Republic of Vietnam government, relatively more peaceful than the western mountainous region of Quang Nam. However, the presence of the army and conflicts in the surrounding areas also left many social and economic impacts.During the war, Hoi An was not heavily damaged, thanks to which the ancient architectural treasure was kept almost intact, which was rare compared to many Vietnamese cities at that time.
The period of resistance against France (1945 - 1954): Although not a fierce battlefield like many other places, Hoi An was still a point of activity for resistance forces, while the French army focused on controlling coastal trade routes.
Vietnam War period (1955 - 1975): Hoi An was under the control of the Republic of Vietnam government, relatively more peaceful than the western mountainous region of Quang Nam. However, the presence of the army and conflicts in the surrounding areas also left many social and economic impacts.During the war, Hoi An was not heavily damaged, thanks to which the ancient architectural treasure was kept almost intact, which was rare compared to many Vietnamese cities at that time.
5. Cultural Life - Religion - Education
Religion: Buddhism and Confucianism are still dominant, along with Chinese assembly halls that play a community and religious role. Catholicism is present through a number of small churches, influenced by the French period.
Culture: Hoi An people still maintain a quiet, elegant lifestyle. Traditional activities such as hát bội (tuong singing), processions, village festivals, Vu Lan festival, Lunar New Year, and Mid-Autumn Festival are all solemnly celebrated.
Education: Some schools in Hoi An teach the national curriculum in Vietnamese and French. The literacy rate in Hoi An is among the highest in the region thanks to a tradition of studiousness.
.jpg)
The old houses in the center of Hoi An ancient town are run by the owners or rented out for selling tourist goods and services. Illustration photo: hoians.com
The period before 1975 can be considered the period when Hoi An was "asleep" - no noisy development, no massive industrialization and urbanization. This "slow development" became a "historical luck", helping Hoi An preserve all of its architectural, cultural and traditional urban space values until today. After
1975, and especially since being recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage in 1999, Hoi An has truly returned to the global spotlight. But the core of Hoi An's beauty and identity is the period that has been preserved intact from the Indochina period to before 1975.
Culture: Hoi An people still maintain a quiet, elegant lifestyle. Traditional activities such as hát bội (tuong singing), processions, village festivals, Vu Lan festival, Lunar New Year, and Mid-Autumn Festival are all solemnly celebrated.
Education: Some schools in Hoi An teach the national curriculum in Vietnamese and French. The literacy rate in Hoi An is among the highest in the region thanks to a tradition of studiousness.
6. Hoi An – The "Sleeping" period before shining
.jpg)
The old houses in the center of Hoi An ancient town are run by the owners or rented out for selling tourist goods and services. Illustration photo: hoians.com
The period before 1975 can be considered the period when Hoi An was "asleep" - no noisy development, no massive industrialization and urbanization. This "slow development" became a "historical luck", helping Hoi An preserve all of its architectural, cultural and traditional urban space values until today. After
1975, and especially since being recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage in 1999, Hoi An has truly returned to the global spotlight. But the core of Hoi An's beauty and identity is the period that has been preserved intact from the Indochina period to before 1975.