Japanese Covered Bridge of Hoi An Town

“Lai Vien Kieu” is the Vietnamese name for this bridge. The Japanese Covered Bridge was erected in the early seventeenth century and is thought to belong to the Japanese colony in Hoi An. The Japanese Covered Bridge is a must-see for anybody visiting Hoi An. Hoi An's Japanese Covered Bridge is a stunning example of Japanese architecture from the time era. The bridge was designed with a roof so that it may be utilized as a rain and sun shelter. Two statues of a dog and a monkey stand at one end of the bridge. In Japanese culture, these two creatures are revered icons. Another explanation for these animal sculptures is that many Japanese Emperors were born in the years of the monkey and the dog, according to Asian zodiac signs. The construction of the bridge began in the dog years and was completed in the monkey years, according to records.

A shrine dedicated to the northern God Tran Vo Bac De can be found inside the Japanese Covered Bridge. This God is known as the Weather God. People think He is in charge of all weather and natural disasters, thus the sailors both worship and fear Him. Another theory is that the bridge was created to subjugate a global ‘mamazu' dragon monster with its head in India and tail in Japan. In Japan, the tail was thought to trigger earthquakes. The bridge was designed to pin the mamazu down and prevent earthquakes because Vietnam is located in the mamazu's back area.

Over the years, the Japanese bridge has experienced comparatively few changes. During their colonization, the French removed barriers and leveled the road across the bridge to accommodate motorized vehicles. During a significant rehabilitation in 1986, the adjustments were reversed, and the bridge was pedestrianized once more.

Despite the fact that anybody can photograph the bridge, crossing it requires a ticket for Hoi An's Old Town attractions, which is included in the entry price. Lacking a voucher isn't necessarily a hindrance to crossing the bridge; tickets are rarely scrutinized.

Location: The Hoi An Japanese Bridge connects Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street to Tran Phu Street, the main street along the river, and spans a tiny canal at the west end of the Old Town. Both sides of the tranquil street beyond are lined with art galleries and cafes.

Note: There are no dress code limitations, and the bridge is open at all times. Although anybody can photograph the bridge, crossing it requires a ticket for Hoi An's Old Town attractions, which is included in the entry price. Crossing the bridge without a voucher isn't necessarily a problem; tickets are rarely checked.