South East Asian Trips

Location: Quang Nam, Vietnam

It is one of the nicest waterways in Vietnam. As such, it has been repeatedly portrayed in poetry.

The river begins at an altitude of 2,598m in the Ngoc Linh Mountain and then runs across the south-western mountainous area to meet the Tien and Tranh Rivers at Que Tan. From there, it flows through Que Son, Dai Loc, Duy Xuyen, Dien Ban, Hoi An, and finally into the sea at Cua Dai.

From Hoi An, visitors can rent a boat and stop at the beautiful villages located along the river.

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 30 Km 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 Khannam Danang 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.