The Thu Bon River is famous by another name among the people of Vietnam: “Kuadai.” The river is responsible in a big way for the traditional and historical heritage of the town of Hoi An. The fishing town of Hoi An was a popular international trade destination and also a convenient stopover for many merchant ships bound to and from China and other countries. The city possessed the largest harbor in Southeast Asia in the 1st century. Trade in the city was promoted because the Thu Bon River flowed into the East China Sea. Trade in the town via the Thu Bon River thrived from the 16th to the 18th centuries. In fact, most of the current population of the town are descendents of traders and merchants who chose to settle in Hoi An.
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