Hoi An allows ancient town residents to welcome guests to stay with them

On May 20, Mr. Tong Quoc Hung, Head of Hoi An Department of Culture and Information, said that the pilot area for the accommodation experience model with residents of Hoi An ancient town is the house in the alley (deep in the alley), alley area I and the areas adjacent to area I; the frontage houses in area I, IIA of the ancient town.

The household that is allowed to host guests must be a homeowner, a local resident of Hoi An, and actually living at the registered address. The family that is expected to host guests must be a typical cultural family and have prestige in the local community.

Each household provides information on the forms and contents, living time, and activities at home for the convenience of visitors to experience and participate. Activities must ensure housing conditions as well as regulations of the 2017 Tourism Law.

Hoi An authorities require ensuring good services other than accommodation, especially experiential and discovery services associated with daily life activities.

To pilot the model, households submit applications to participate in the accommodation model, experience with the residents of the old town with relevant legal documents at the local residence. The Department of Culture and Information presides, coordinates with relevant departments and localities to organize inspections, survey the actual house and propose decisions.

According to Mr. Hung, up to now, in area I of the old town center, there have been no accommodation services but only for trading and sightseeing. "This pilot creates new products for tourists to experience in the heritage area. Only when households meet the conditions will they be approved," said Mr. Hung.

According to statistics, Hoi An ancient town has more than 1,000 houses and ancient relics. Of which, about 10% are managed by the state; 20% are collectively owned, including family churches, assembly halls, and family memorial houses. The remaining 70% are privately owned, of which 30% are owned by Hoi An natives, 40% are transferred to people from other provinces. Among the houses of Hoi An natives, many owners live elsewhere, and the houses in the ancient town are only rented out. Many houses are uninhabited, opened for business during the day, and closed at night.