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The Ancient Town of Hoi An

Along with My Son Sanctuary, Hoi An Ancient Town is another popular natural World Heritage Site in Quang Nam Province, Viet Nam. It was recognized by UNESCO on December 4th, 1999. Since then, Hoi An Ancient Town remains one of Viet Nam's most beautiful places with its cultural richness.

Hoi An Ancient Town used to be one of the most bustling trading ports in Southeast Asia, thanks to the canals cutting through it. From the 15th to the 19th century, many kinds of goods—silk, china, pottery, and spices—were exchanged among traders from all over the world. Trading activities declined in the late 19th century, but the lively spirit still remains in this little port town.

Hoi An Ancient Town features a mixture of diverse architectural styles. In particular, Chinese, Japanese, and French cultural influences are evident in the architecture of Héi An Ancient Town. The cultural mixture is reflected in wooden Chinese-inspired temples and colorful French-style buildings. It is also reflected in the Vietnamese tube houses and the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge with its pagoda.

What is also special about Hoi An is the lantern festival. It is held on the 14th night of every lunar month when the moon is the fullest and brightest. At 8 p.m., all fluorescent lights are turned off, and the lanterns are lit up by candles. People can enjoy the peaceful atmosphere with the traditional character of Hdi An.

Over the centuries, Hoi An Ancient Town is still in an excellent state of preservation. Its antique beauty and rich culture have attracted many tourists around the world.

canal (n) an artificial waterway

tube house (noun phrase) long and narrow house

fluorescent light (noun phrase) tube-shaped electric light

Answer:

Phố cổ Hội An

Cùng với Di sản thế giới Mỹ Sơn, Phố cổ Hội An là một điểm du lịch nổi tiếng khác ở tỉnh Quảng Nam, Việt Nam. Nó được UNESCO công nhận vào ngày 4 tháng 12 năm 1999. Kể từ đó, Phố cổ Hội An vẫn là một trong những địa điểm đẹp nhất của Việt Nam với sự giàu có văn hóa của nó.

Phố cổ Hội An trước đây là một trong những cảng buôn bán sầm uất nhất ở Đông Nam Á, nhờ vào những con kênh đào xuyên qua. Từ thế kỷ 15 đến thế kỷ 19, nhiều loại hàng hóa - như lụa, đồ sứ, gốm và các loại gia vị - được trao đổi giữa các nhà buôn từ khắp nơi trên thế giới. Hoạt động buôn bán suy giảm vào cuối thế kỷ 19, nhưng tinh thần sống động vẫn còn tồn tại trong thị trấn nhỏ này.

Phố cổ Hội An có sự kết hợp của nhiều kiểu kiến trúc đa dạng. Đặc biệt, ảnh hưởng văn hóa của Trung Quốc, Nhật Bản và Pháp rõ ràng trong kiến trúc của Phố cổ Hội An. Sự pha trộn văn hóa được phản ánh qua những ngôi đền mang phong cách Trung Quốc và những tòa nhà phong cách Pháp đầy màu sắc. Nó cũng được phản ánh qua những ngôi nhà ống Việt Nam và cây cầu Nhật Bản đặc trưng với ngôi đền của nó.

Điều đặc biệt về Hội An là lễ hội đèn lồng. Nó được tổ chức vào đêm 14 của mỗi tháng âm lịch, khi trăng tròn và sáng nhất. Lúc 8 giờ tối, tất cả các đèn huỳnh quang đều được tắt, và những chiếc đèn lồng được thắp sáng bằng nến. Mọi người có thể tận hưởng không khí yên bình với bản sắc truyền thống của Hội An.

Qua nhiều thế kỷ, Phố cổ Hội An vẫn được bảo tồn tốt. Vẻ đẹp cổ kính và văn hóa phong phong phú của nó đã thu hút nhiều du khách từ khắp nơi trên thế giới.

A. MY WORLD Are there any UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Viet Nam? Work in pairs. Tell your partner anything you know about the World Heritage Sites in Viet Nam.

(Có di sản thế giới nào được UNESCO công nhận ở Việt Nam không? Làm việc theo cặp. Nói với đối tác của bạn bất cứ điều gì bạn biết về Di sản Thế giới ở Việt Nam)

Answer:

Yes, there are several UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Vietnam.

One of them is the Complex of Hue Monuments in Thua Thien Hue Province. This site consists of a series of palaces, temples, and tombs that were built by the Nguyen Dynasty, which ruled Vietnam from 1802 to 1945.

Another World Heritage Site in Vietnam is the My Son Sanctuary in Quang Nam Province. This is a complex of ruins from the ancient Cham civilization, which ruled much of central and southern Vietnam from the 4th to the 13th century.

The Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This site features thousands of limestone karsts and islets rising from the waters of the bay, creating a stunning natural landscape.

There is also the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh Province, which is home to a vast network of caves and underground rivers. This park contains some of the largest and most spectacular caves in the world.

Finally, the Hoi An Ancient Town in Quang Nam Province is another World Heritage Site in Vietnam. This is an old port town that was a major trading hub in Southeast Asia from the 15th to the 19th century. It features a unique blend of Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and European architectural styles.

B. Read the article. Circle T for true or F for false. Make the false statements true.

(Đọc bài báo. Khoanh tròn T cho đúng hoặc S cho sai. Sửa những tuyên bố sai sự thật)

1. My Son Sanctuary and Hoi An Ancient Town are World Heritage Sites in Quang Nam Province.

2. Hoi An Ancient Town used to be a trading port.

3. The architecture of Hoi An is affected by only one culture.

4. Hoi An lantern festival is held every night.

5. Hoi An Ancient Town is well-preserved.

Answer:

1. TRUE

2. TRUE

3. FALSE - The architecture of Hoi An is affected by multiple cultures.

4. FALSE - Hoi An lantern festival is held on the 14th night of every lunar month.

5. TRUE

C. Answer the questions.

(Trả lời các câu hỏi)

1. When did UNESCO recognize Hoi An Ancient Town as a world heritage site?

2. Which goods were exchanged in Hoi An trading port?

3. What are the diverse cultural influences on the architecture of Hoi An?

4. What happens during the night of Hoi An lantern festival?

5. What attracts many tourists to Hoi An Ancient Town?

Answer:

1. UNESCO recognized Hoi An Ancient Town as a world heritage site on December 4th, 1999.

2. Silk, china, pottery, and spices were exchanged in Hoi An trading port.

3. The architecture of Hoi An reflects diverse cultural influences, including Chinese, Japanese, French, and Vietnamese.

4. During the night of Hoi An lantern festival, fluorescent lights are turned off, and the lanterns are lit up by candles, creating a peaceful atmosphere with the traditional character of Hoi An.

5. The antique beauty and rich culture of Hoi An Ancient Town attract many tourists around the world.

Goal check

In groups, plan one of these projects and write down the information in the table. Then, share your plan with the class.

(Theo nhóm, lên kế hoạch cho một trong những dự án này và viết thông tin vào bảng. Sau đó, chia sẻ kế hoạch của bạn với cả lớp)

1. A campaign to help preserve the antique beauty of Hoi An Ancient Town.

2. An event for landscape preservation in Viet Nam.

Answer:

Project 1: A Campaign to Help Preserve the Antique Beauty of Hoi An Ancient Town

What is the project?

• The project is a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of preserving the antique beauty of Hoi An Ancient Town. It aims to encourage the local community and tourists to take action to protect the heritage sites, such as reducing plastic waste and respecting the cultural values of the town.

When are you going to start and finish?

• The campaign will start on May 1st, 2023 and end on September 30th, 2023.

Who is going to do each part?

• Planning and organizing the campaign: The local government, Hoi An Center for Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation, and a team of volunteers.

• Publicizing the campaign: A marketing agency hired by the local government and volunteers.

• Education and awareness-raising: Volunteers and the local community, with the support of the Hoi An Center for Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation.

What are you going to need?

• Marketing materials (posters, brochures, banners, social media posts)

• Educational materials (booklets, leaflets, workshops, talks)

• Public events (clean-up campaigns, traditional cultural events)

• Support from local businesses (hotels, restaurants, shops)

• Donations from sponsors (to cover the cost of materials and events)

Project 2: An Event for Landscape Preservation in Viet Nam

What is the project?

• The project is an event to raise awareness about the importance of landscape preservation in Viet Nam. It aims to encourage people to take action to protect the natural environment and promote sustainable tourism.

When are you going to start and finish?

• The event will start on June 5th, 2023 (World Environment Day) and end on June 10th, 2023.

Who is going to do each part?

• Planning and organizing the event: The local government, Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism, and a team of volunteers.

• Publicizing the event: A marketing agency hired by the local government and volunteers.

• Activities and workshops: Environmental NGOs, local businesses, and volunteers.

What are you going to need?

• Marketing materials (posters, brochures, banners, social media posts)

• Educational materials (booklets, leaflets, workshops, talks)

• Public events (tree planting, beach clean-up, cycling tours)

• Support from local businesses (hotels, restaurants, shops)

• Donations from sponsors (to cover the cost of materials and events)