Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Hoi An draws visitors to its lovingly preserved mix of Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and French architecture - evidence of the town's fascinating past as a major trading port. From the 17th to the 19th century, Phai Pho which is Hoi An's old name riverside port was frequented by traders from as far away as Holland, China, Japan, and India, who came for Vietnam's silk. porcelain, pepper, cinnamon, and medicinal plants.