Discover the Japanese Covered Bridge in Hoi An
Today, I’m taking you to discover the most iconic and famous attraction in Hoi An, the Japanese Bridge of Hoi An (Cau Chua in Vietnamese). Located in the old town of Hoi An, it is a 400-year-old bridge, 18 meters long, painted in a beautiful reddish-pink color and characterized by its yin-yang tile roof.
No trip to Hoi An would be complete without visiting the Japanese covered bridge, which is clearly one of the must-visit places in Hoi An.
It was restored in 2024, and I have included current photos from 2024 and before so you can see the difference.
The bridge, recognized as a national cultural and historical site in 1990, is as symbolic of Hoi An as the lanterns and its old quarter.
To this day, the builder of the Japanese bridge remains anonymous.
The Japanese Bridge of Hoi An on the 20,000 VND Bill
If you haven’t noticed yet, this Vietnamese national treasure, the Japanese bridge, is featured on the 20,000 VND bill. This speaks volumes about the importance of this monument to the Vietnamese.
Hoi An’s Japanese bridge in brief
The most recognizable monument in Hoi An dates back to the 16th century when Hoi An was one of the largest trading ports in the region. A place for trading spices and goods. Consequently, merchants from all over the world came here to trade. Most were Chinese, Dutch, French, Portuguese, and Japanese.
When many of these itinerant merchants began to settle in Hoi An, they started building houses, meeting halls, shrines, and pagodas to gather their communities. Most of these monuments are still in place.
At that time, the Chinese and Japanese were the largest communities, but their communities were largely separated by a river. However, as the communities grew, the Japanese decided to build a bridge to connect their district to the Chinese.
The Japanese covered bridge was built in the 1590s by the Japanese community in Hoi An to create a link with the Chinese quarters across the river. It is a beautiful example of Japanese architecture of the time.
It was completed in 3 years (1593 – 1595).
In 1719, Lord Nguyễn Phúc Chu, the ruler of southern Vietnam from 1691 to 1725, visited Hoi An. It is said that he personally carved the three Chinese characters on the temple gate. These words translate to “The bridge to receive guests from afar” or Lai Viet Kieu in Vietnamese.
Over the centuries, the ornamentation of the bridge has remained relatively faithful to the original Japanese design. The French (again, us) flattened the road to make it more suitable for their motor vehicles, but the original arched shape was restored during major renovation work carried out in 1986.
The Japanese bridge is very well preserved. It has undergone numerous renovations in 1817, 1865, 1915, 1986, and most recently in 2024.
The Hoi An bridge and the Namazu Monster
Let’s talk a little about this popular Japanese legend. Namazu is a sea monster that causes disasters and can overwhelm everything with large waves of water. The Vietnamese call it Cu, the Japanese call it Namazu, and the Chinese call it Cau Long. In the legend, this monster takes the form of a giant catfish and causes earthquakes. It is also said that Cu or Namazu has its head in India, its tail in Japan, passing through Hoi An just behind the current location of the covered bridge.
When they went to the port of Hoi An to do business, the Japanese and Chinese are people who take feng shui very seriously. Believing it to be good land to settle and make a living, they decided that the location to build the pagoda had to be on the back of this giant catfish, where the Japanese Bridge of Hoi An is currently located.
Restoration of the Japanese Bridge in 2024
You will be surprised by the photos in this article, which do not match the images you may have seen elsewhere.
Most people still share photos of the Hoi An bridge before its restoration.
The bridge underwent a restoration from 2022 to 2024 and it lost its ancient charm that made it so appealing. In fact, it caused controversy in Vietnam.
I have included 2 before/after photos below:
How to Get to the Japanese Bridge
The Japanese bridge is located at the western end of the old town. It currently connects Tran Phu Street (the Chinese quarter) to Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street (the Japanese quarter).
The best way to access the bridge is to walk down Tran Phu Street, starting from the central market of Hoi An. This main street, one of the most popular in Hoi An, has a number of shops like Metiseko ( clothing brand), Gingko (souvenir shop), Ha Ha (unique souvenir shop) and cafes lined up on both sides like Faifo Coffee (one of the most beautiful rooftops in the old town). Once you reach the end of the street, you will arrive at the entrance to the bridge.
Is the Japanese Bridge Paid?
To limit the flow of tourists on the Japanese bridge of Hoi An, the city has made it a paid attraction. Everyone can photograph the outside of the Japanese bridge, but you will need a ticket to cross it and access the temple inside. This pass (120,000 VND) gives you access to five attractions out of 22 available.
You can then choose from ancient houses, museums, and meeting halls around the old town.
Important: There is a walkway in front of the Japanese Bridge for taking photos.
What to See and Do at the Japanese Bridge of Hoi An?
A visit to the Japanese bridge can take less than 15 minutes if you only take photos.
I recommend including it in a guided tour with a guide who can teach you more.
As I mentioned earlier, the bridge is a beautiful example of Japanese architecture, known for its pure beauty and graceful curves. Its roof is covered with yin-yang tiles found throughout the city of Hoi An (ancient houses and temples).
Statues of Monkeys and Dogs
Why are there statues of dogs and monkeys at the entrance to the Japanese bridge? According to legend, this is because many Japanese emperors were born in years corresponding to these zodiac animals.
A second explanation, often given by tour guides, suggests that the bridge’s construction began in the year of the dog and ended in the year of the monkey. However, after checking the calendars of the time, the dates do not match.
The third reason mentioned is that the statues are meant to control the monster Namazu at bay, whom I discussed earlier in the article.
The Temple
Finally, you can visit the temple in the middle of the bridge which was added by the Chinese when they took over after the Japanese.
The temple does not pay homage to Buddha but to Tran Bo Bac De, a god believed to have the ability to protect the land from floods and earthquakes.
Sailors, merchants, and residents came here to try to protect themselves from bad weather and natural disasters. The temple has a very strong scent of incense because many locals still come here to pray. As it is a place of worship, be careful and remain quiet inside.
The temple walls are decorated with historical images of Hoi An and the Japanese bridge. They depict the bridge and the residents from the 15th to the 19th century.
Especially magnificent in the evening with the old town illuminated by lanterns and traditional boats floating on the river, the bridge is lit up with its own colorful sparkling lanterns.
To visit it quietly, go in the morning around 9 am when the old town closes its doors to scooters, you can see it more quietly. Before 9 am, locals park their scooters nearby to go to the surrounding cafes, which is not ideal for taking photos.
My Opinion
The Covered Japanese Bridge for Hoi An is a bit like the Eiffel Tower for Paris. A must-see.
Even though the place is touristy, you can’t miss it. To avoid tourists, you can go there early in the morning from 5 am, it’s quiet and you can visit the surroundings of the bridge peacefully.
Don’t miss a visit to the Japanese bridge in the evening when it is illuminated, and it’s just beautiful to see.