Locally known as Chua Cau, i.e. ‘Temple Bridge’, the 17th century Covered Bridge in Hoi An was built by Japanese tradesmen in order to connect the village of Hai Pho (the town's old name) with a then Japanese settlement on the other side of a stream of the Thu Bon River (fig.).

Construction of the bridge started in the Year of the Monkey and ended in the Year of the Dog, hence altars in honour of these animals of the Chinese zodiac were erected at either end of the bridge. There are two statues of each animal and those used for the monkeys are statues of the Monkey King (fig.). The bridge is depicted on the blue Vietnamese banknotes with a value of 20,000 Dong.

Akin to the Wind and Rain Bridges in southern China (fig.), this bridge also serves as a gathering place and meeting point for the local community and there is a small temple dedicated to Bac De Tran Vo (fig.), the Vietnamese god of weather and Emperor of the North.