Hoi An Local Products Museum

"Life story" of Quang Nam's local products

Hoi An Local Products Museum defines 4 separate themes to serve tourists and the public. In the theme "Overview of Hoi An, Quang Nam Local Products", the typical factors of geographical and natural conditions - the basis for forming the richness of spices and local products of Hoi An, Quang Nam as well as the process of exploiting and processing spices and local products are introduced. Through images, models, historical documents, and displayed artifacts, step by step, the story of exploitation and use of spices and local products by residents of this land since prehistoric times is demonstrated.

Under the theme “Hoi An - Transit Point of Spices and Local Products of Quang Nam”, the museum displays documents, images and artifacts introducing the bustling exchange and trade of spices and local products at the international trading port of Hoi An through historical periods as well as exchange and trade activities within the Quang Nam region.

Hoi An Local Products Museum is located at 57 Tran Phu Street. The museum exhibition space has an area of ^240m2 , including 2 floors with 130 images, documents, diagrams, 151 artifacts of historical and cultural value related to spices and local products of Hoi An, Quang Nam.

In addition, many images and documents on display are records of local products and trading activities at Hoi An port as described in Overseas Chronicles (Thich Dai San), Phu Bien Tap Luc (Le Quy Don), An Nam Ky (Kydoya Shichirõjirõ Ariyoshi and Matsumoto Dadõ), Memoirs of Indochina (Paul Doumer) along with artifacts showing the exchange and trading process such as copper coins, weights, abacus, wheelbarrows, seals, local product containers, etc.

Some models of international merchant ships that docked at Hoi An such as Chinese merchant ships, Indian ships, European ships and a model of a gourd boat - a means of transport serving the trade of goods typical of the Central region also appear in this theme.

International tourists visit Hoi An Local Products Museum. Photo: TQ

On the second floor, some precious spices and local products of Hoi An, Quang Nam such as: bird's nest, areca nut, pepper, cinnamon, agarwood, tea... represent the theme "Introducing some typical and endemic local products of Hoi An, Quang Nam". In addition, there is also an introduction to exploitation and processing activities; production tools, traditional exploitation and processing of local products; indigenous knowledge, and related intangible cultural forms of localities associated with the exploitation and processing of spices and local products of Hoi An, Quang Nam.

Finally, to introduce the theme “Hoi An, Quang Nam Local Products - Continuation and Development”, part of the museum space in the back room on the first floor is used to display and introduce OCOP products of spices and local products such as pepper, cinnamon, tea, agarwood, etc. and an experience space for visitors.

Inspiring museum tourism, medicinal tourism

Walking around the museum, Ms. Lucy, a tourist from the Czech Republic, shared: “It was a coincidence that I was one of the first international visitors to visit the museum right at its opening. There are so many new and interesting things in the museum. For the first time, I saw models of overseas merchant ships from many countries because our country has no borders with the sea. In addition, for the first time, I also saw agarwood with my own eyes, a plant species related to many cultures and religions in the world.”

Hoi An Local Products Museum adds to the richness of the network of specialized museums in Hoi An Ancient Town. Photo: TQ

The appearance of the Hoi An Local Products Museum adds richness to the network of specialized museums in the old town that already existed: Sa Huynh Culture Museum, Trade Ceramics Museum, Traditional Medicine Museum, Hoi An Folk Culture Museum.

Mr. Pham Phu Ngoc - Director of Hoi An Cultural Heritage Management and Conservation Center said that the establishment of Hoi An Local Products Museum at this location will connect with neighboring thematic museums, creating a chain of attractive tourist attractions in the eastern area of the old town, creating conditions for local people to develop services for tourists, improving their lives.

In the long term, it is worth waiting for the Hoi An Local Products Museum to lead tourists, even tourism professionals, to explore and design experiences related to the valuable medicinal treasures of Quang Nam. Trips to explore Cu Lao Cham bird nest cave, Ma Chau silk, Tra My cinnamon forest, Ngoc Linh medicinal ginseng area, etc. will certainly bring tourists clearer experiences about the unique values of this land.

Even further, the re-enactment of a medicinal herbs and local products market on the wharf and under the boat as it once existed in the past, with trips through the Hoai River, Co Co River, Truong Giang River when conditions permit, in a moment brings visitors back to the space of Hoi An hundreds of years ago. That is the story of the future, but in the immediate future, for visitors who love to explore the depth of this land, it is difficult to ignore the Hoi An Local Products Museum!

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/diem-hen-bao-tang-tho-san-hoi-an-3145491.html