Fully Restored Chùa Cầu - Japanese Bridge 2025 @ Hoi An in Vietnam

Back in 2024, I was actually quite excited to soak in the physical glory of an ancient, over 400-year old bridge at Hoi An simply called Japanese Bridge but it was sadly under a full scale restoration. 

Fast forward to slightly more than a year later, I am back to the City of Lanterns, and this time, bringing my mom along for her first visit to the Land of Ascending Dragon; Vietnam! 

Restoration for the bridge was completed and above was its restored, beautiful look. In the past few weeks, however, Hoi An was besieged with floods and many photographs  and videos showed the bridge dangerously at risk of being damaged. 

Given that we stayed in Hoi An instead of making a day trip, we were able to explore the restored bridge peacefully, before the descent of the throngs of tourists. 

The original monkey and dog statues; guardians said to "symbolize protection and safety in Japanese culture". 

Aside from the monkey and dog statues at each end of the bridge, the jutted out back section also housed an altar in the center. The plaque in the middle was in Chinese and I noted it was interestingly translated as come-far bridge, instead of the more popularly, and simply known Japanese Bridge.

An old photograph of the Japanese Bridge! Do you know that it has a historical significance in Vietnam; to the extent the bridge was featured at the back of the Vietnamese currency note of 20,000 dong.

Since our accomodation was within walking distance, we walked past numerous times in our three-day stay at Hoi An! While the bridge was newly restored, you can still see the marks of age in some of the wooden columns and beams. According to what I found online, "Nearly 60% of the original wood, 30% of the tiles, and 80% of the antique plates were saved and reused".

No guard rails! Noted the high support for the bridge? In recent photographs, the flood had entirely covered up the structural support pillars! 

Excuse my mom for her dishevelled look. Visiting Hoi An in May was just too hot and humid. Her last trip to Vietnam, shall hopefully take place in December, when the weather would be more merciful. 

Last few photographs, of the Japanese Bridge at night, where it shone and contrasted with the yellow buildings surrounding it in the UNESCO World Heriatge Site.  

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Address

186 Trần Phú, Phường Minh An, 

Hoi An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam

Map

As above.