Hoi An, once a major trading center in Southeast Asia in the 16th and 17th centuries, is essentially a living museum housing the architecture of the old town. Some of the notable heritage buildings include Chinese temples, Japanese-style bridge, pagodas, wooden shop houses, French colonial homes, and ancient canals; Although the large-scale trade has long since moved elsewhere, Hoi An has successfully preserved its charming roots and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in December 1999.