As 2026 approaches, the Hoai River – winding through the heart of the renowned ancient town of Hoi An – maintains its signature tranquility. However, beneath this peaceful surface, a quiet transformation is occurring following the administrative restructuring that took effect on July 1 last year.
Hoi An, with its ancient core as its soul, is no longer a single administrative entity (Hoi An City). It has been divided into three distinct wards of Danang City: Hoi An Dong, Hoi An Tay, and Hoi An. Standing at a crossroads as people welcomed 2026, one could not help but feel a sense of unease about the cohesion of a heritage brand that has long been a landmark on the global map.
Wandering through the town’s gateways, one senses a festive atmosphere that seems to lack a “master conductor” to harmonize the performance. On New Year’s Eve, at the Xuan My communal house, Hoi An Tay Ward’s local government ceremoniously hosted the event announcing that Thanh Ha Pottery Village was recognized as the Best Community-Based Tourism Destination. This was a well-deserved tribute to the preservation efforts of the Nam Dieu people—the ancestral name of the current Thanh Ha residents.
The very next morning, on the first day of 2026, the Thanh Tam inland wharf in Hoi An Dong Ward was lively with the “Welcoming the First Visitors to Bay Mau-Cam Thanh Nipa Palm Forest” event. The excitement was doubled, as Cam Thanh had recently been recognized by Forbes as one of the “Top 50 Most Beautiful Villages in the World.”
At the same time, in the historic town, the Center for Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation and Hoi An Ward hosted the “Welcoming the First Group of Visitors to Hoi An Ancient Town 2026” event, greeting 29 Filipino tourists at the Japanese Covered Bridge area.
While each of these individual “puzzle pieces” shines with its own value, the overall picture suggests a fragmented experience for visitors. Instead of the seamless flow of events and the unified message of the former Hoi An City, activities have become localized and confined within new administrative boundaries.
Even the “Going to the fields” festival – a spiritual agricultural tradition once celebrated citywide – is now limited to the jurisdiction of Hoi An Dong Ward on January 4. People wonder how farmers in other wards will mark the occasion and whether the collective spirit of a land known for the “convergence of people, water, and culture” is being broken by new boundaries on a map.
Moreover, the Hoai River square, once the hub where tens of thousands of international guests gathered for the New Year’s countdown, has fallen silent, overshadowed by large concerts in downtown Danang City. The geographical distance has become a barrier for Western tourists staying in Hoi An, leaving them with few options besides private venues like “Hoi An Memories Land” to experience a part of the New Year’s Eve celebration. This lack of a flagship event for the entire heritage site creates a noticeable void in the hearts of travelers.
Administrative restructuring is a governance matter focused on development, but culture and heritage need a continuous, unbroken flow. New initiatives like the “Reverse Memory” night tour, “Decoding Hoi An’s Heritage Architecture,” and “Traces of Ancient Tuong (Vietnamese opera),” planned by the Center for Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation, are certainly steps in the right direction to promote distinctive exploration.
However, to prevent Hoi An from becoming a collection of disconnected, independent efforts, a unified coordination mechanism is essential. Heritage – both tangible and intangible – should not be divided by ward boundary signs. We need solutions to ensure that administrative reorganization does not hinder the preservation and growth of heritage values that have been globally celebrated for decades. In other words, a cohesive link is crucial to keep the Hoi An region a safe, friendly, and captivating destination on the world tourism map.
