Its well preserved communal houses, pagodas and other places of worship reflect the presence and influences of the Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese and Westerners who later settled in the region.

Occupied by early western traders, Hoi An was one of the major trading centre of South-East Asia during the 16th century. Nowadays, it's more occupied by tourists.
The town has a distinct Chinese atmosphere with low, tiled-roof houses and narrow streets; the original structure of some remain intact. All the houses are made of rare wood and decorated with lacquered boards and panels engraved with Chinese characters. Pillars are also carved with ornamental designs. Nearby are impressive ruins of the Sa Huynh and Champa cultures.