Hai Ba Trung Street

Every street in Hoi An tells a story, but this one starts with two of the most extraordinary women in Vietnamese history. Hai Ba Trung Street is named after the Trung Sisters — Trung Trac and Trung Nhi — who led a massive uprising against Chinese Han dynasty occupation in 40 AD. Nearly two thousand years ago, two women raised an army, drove out a colonial power, and established an independent kingdom that lasted three years. They are Vietnam's original freedom fighters, and you will find streets named after them in virtually every city in the country. Here in Hoi An, Hai Ba Trung Street serves as a connector — linking the heritage zone of the Ancient Town to more residential neighborhoods and the bustling central market to the east. It is a transitional street where tourist shops gradually give way to the stores and services that Hoi An's residents actually use day to day. One of the street's crown jewels is Ba Mu Temple, built in 1626. Though only its spectacular triple-gate entrance survives today, that Tam Quan gateway has become one of the most photographed structures in Hoi An. The three arched openings represent Buddhist concepts of emptiness,...