Hoi An listed as world’s most famous canals

September 22, 2014 | 08:47

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The ancient town of Hoi An in Quang Nam Province has been ranked fourth in the list of the world’s 10 most famous cities with canals flowing through voted by the U.S.-based travel website www.touropia.com, according to the city’s Center for Culture and Sports.

Tourists join an ecotourism tour on a canal in Hoi An - Photo: Truong Chi

Hoi An, the UNESCO recognized world heritage, has been named for its Hoai River and its canals together with other canals like Stockholm in Sweden, Alappuzha in India, Bangkok Klongs in Thailand, Nan Madol, a ruined city adjacent to the eastern shore of the island of Pohnpei, Suzhou Canals in Eastern China on the lower Yangtze River, Panama Canal in Panama, Bruges in Belgium, Canals of Amsterdam in the Netherlands and Canals of Venice in Italy.

The tourism website describes Hoi An as the “Venice of Vietnam” because of the narrow canals that cut through part of the town. This fishing-village-turned-tourist-hotspot is situated on the coast of the East Sea in Vietnam. Hoi An has been an international port from the 16th century although the serious shipping business has long since moved to the city of Danang. The heart of the city is still the Old Town, full of winding lanes and Chinese-styled shop houses, according to the website.

SGT

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