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Water
bodies in general are an important part of Vietnam as a
whole. More so for this shore town of Hoi An. The Thu
Bon River in Hoi An plays an important role in the
geography, culture as well as the history of Hoi An. The
town which was better known as Fai Fo in the days of
antiquity, is situated on the banks of this river.
Located at a distance of 30Km away form Vietnam’s 4th
largest city, Danang, this small town is positioned in
the estuary of the Thu Bon River in Hoi An. Moreover,
the Thu Bon River in Hoi An is not just the chief
culminating point for most festivals and events that are
held at Hoi An but also the chief source of livelihood
for many residents of the town.
The
Thu Bon River in Hoi An is the largest of its kind in
the Quang Nam Province of Vietnam. The Thu Bon River in
Hoi An is also famous by another name among the people
of Vietnam: “Kuadai”. The river is responsible in a big
way for the traditional and historical heritage of the
town of Hoi An. The now fishing town of Hoi An was a
popular international trade destination and also a
convenient stopover for many merchant ships bound to and
for China and other countries. This was chiefly because
of the simple reason that the Thu Bon River in Hoi An
flowed into the East China Sea. Trade in the town via
the Thu Bon River in Hoi An thrived from the 16th to the
18th centuries. In fact, most of the current populations
of the town are descendents of traders and merchants who
chose to settle down in the town. It is believed that in
those days the Thu Bon River in Hoi An had a larger
estuary area that facilitated trade and communication.
The formation of the bays and shores of the river today
that are made of sandbanks and guarded by lagoons
indicate to this.
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