Hoi An

In the early 17th century, Nguyen Hoang of the powerful Nguyen clan established great trade relations with Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu of Japan. The Nguyen lords of southern Vietnam were heavily involved in trade and as a result, the trading port of Hoi An flourished and became the most important trade port on the South China sea. Japanese red seal ships frequented the Vietnamese port and with them brought silver, copper and bronze from Japan in exchange for spices, sandalwood and Vietnamese agarwood. The metals trade was vital to the Nguyen lords, for they needed coins for commerce and bronze to cast guns. And, in turn the exotic Vietnamese spices and precious woods were sought-after in Japan and were used to make incense. Olfactory Group: Woody Aquatic