Hoi An ancient town in the central province of Quang Nam has won the
2013 Asian Townscape Awards given by the United Nations Human
Settlements Programme. The award ceremony is scheduled for November 20
in Japan.
The award is given to highlight and honour
significant efforts made by Asian cities for the improvement,
revitalisation and creation of a beautiful and harmonious townscape that
is safe, sustainable and with respect to history and local culture.
Earlier this month, the world’s premier travel magazine Conde Nast
Traveller named Hoi An as the second best city for tourists in Asia
after Kyoto, Japan.
This year, the US online news site
Huffington Post listed Hoi An as one of seven must-visit places in
Vietnam, calling it as a hidden gem.
Hoi An was recognised as a
world cultural heritage site by UNESCO in 1999. The ancient town is an
exceptionally well-preserved example of a Southeast Asian trading port
dating from the 15 th to the 19 th century.
Most of the
buildings in the town are aligned along narrow lanes. They include many
pagodas, temples and meeting houses related to the development of a port
community.-VNA