Hi again,
Hoi An, the city where I was born and raised, is well known, but it is not only beautiful in the bright sunlight of the day, but also soft and graceful beauty at night.
The winding streets, under the canopy of paper flakes, intertwined with the light sneezing from the golden walls in the city. It's all like a beautiful picture of a special old town by the Hoai River. Hoi An is now empty, only a few visitors return to learn about the rare quiet moments of this place. Three years ago, the streets were crowded, cultural and tourist activities took place everywhere.
This article of mine is about Hoi An of a busy and turbulent time. Walking around Hoi An at night, you can see a very different Hoi An, from Pagoda Bridge, Hoai River, Night Market, Night Street, Sailing to drop lilies, Drop lanterns, Snacks, Souvenirs... You can walk or ride a bike, as there is no traffic until 10 PM in the town. And to fully enjoy a very gentle, slow Hoi An, most people choose to walk.
To have time to see and enjoy everything. Along Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, or Phan Chau Trinh Street, or riverside streets, are shining electric light bars. Hoi An is famous for its traditional architectural beauty, the harmony of houses, walls, and streets. Along with many ups and downs of history, Hoi An Ancient Town still retains its ancient beauty in moss in each tile roof, brick, tree line... the things that make it unique. The most common type of housing is houses with a narrow horizon and a very long depth.
Houses are made from materials with high strength and durability due to the harsh climate here. The sunny season burns the skin, the rainy season floods.
With this special architectural style, the space of the house in Hoi An is always spacious, full of sunlight, close to nature. The street in the old quarter with short and beautiful streets, winding, embracing houses. Walking through each of those beautiful and peaceful small streets, visitors not only enjoy delicious food but also see a part of the daily life of Hoi An city people, a peaceful and simple life.
The first mention of Hoi An is the Bridge Pagoda, located opposite the Hoai River, the Bridge is a symbol of Hoi An's historical culture. With its unique architecture and convenient location, this is one of the points that make a distinctive mark of the old town. In the evening the place is equally busy during the day. Lanterns are also considered a must-see when traveling in Hoi An.
Visitors easily encounter colorful and shaped lanterns around the streets and houses. A magnificent Hoi An with the light of lanterns, lanterns, and lilies. Because, at any given time, they have a beauty of their own. Watch the lanterns in the morning to see all the flair, creativity, and talent of the craftsmen. When the night comes, the legendary, shimmering lanterns shine in the night.
It gives the space of Hoi An at night so beautiful, poetic, nostalgic to the heart. If anyone has ever come here and has not experienced such an interesting feeling, it is a great pity. In the beginning, only the elites had large Han painting lanterns or glass paintings hanging in their houses. Gradually, the new lantern came to the common class in the form of home decoration but still maintained the bright, luxurious, and charming beauty.
Making a lantern is an elaborate process that requires the skill and skill of a craftsman. The process of making a lantern is divided into two main stages: Making a bamboo frame: To make a lantern, bamboo must be old bamboo soaked with salt water for 10 days to fight termites, then dry and thin depending on the size of the lamp.
The spokes are attached to two wooden rings at both ends and then connected by parachute strings. Finally, the worker will edit with his hand to have a symmetrical light frame. Cloth wrapping: Cloth wrapping should be rubbing cloth or silk, with the tenacity to stretch when not torn and the fabric tensioner should have techniques to straighten the corners in the bends. Each shape and color of the lantern has a different meaning. For example, round lights represent harmony, balance.
This is a lamp with the specific features of Hoi An lantern. According to the folk concept, the round lantern hanging in the house is a symbol that brings a lot of warmth, peace, and luck to the house. In Chinese or Japanese culture, lanterns mean repelling evil spirits, bringing peace and happiness, lanterns in Vietnam are not just that.
It is the symbol of the unionist New Year for Vietnamese people. On the moon of August each year, each family lets their children hang out, light lanterns on the street. In some rural areas of Vietnam, there is still a tradition of starlight procession activities around the village to hope for a peaceful and favorable New Year. For that reason, lanterns also have meaning towards charity and closeness to nature. If you once had the opportunity to visit Hoi An, you should not miss the moments of blending together to see the shimmering lanterns.
It is an opportunity for you to move away from all the temptations of ordinary life to live slowly and fully in every moment. Walking on each small street, you seem to find yourself in the old days, the beautiful memories of childhood in this strange and dear land.
Dropping flowers by the Hoai River is an experience not to be missed. Lighthouse means lamp, lighthouse is understood as the lamp.
Flower lamps are beautifully lit for the purpose of honoring spiritual cultural values and beauty in Vietnam's spiritual culture on major occasions. On the lunar day of January, people used to light the lights of joy, pray for the transcendental temple, the peaceful Thai nation, the prosperous country.
The lilies released on the river are both aesthetic, unique, and spiritual in the Vietnamese cultural tradition, which is the beginning of a good new year.
Souvenirs here are made from a variety of materials. From materials of wood, paper, fabric, plastic, ceramics, or from simple bamboo bars...with ancient and modern features.
The hand-made pieces are uniquely artistic. It really makes it impossible for you to take your eyes off because it's really impressive. Impressed by the variety and richness of each item. Impressed by the uniqueness of each piece, impressed by the charcoal seller.
Along every little alley, on every street, there are souvenir shops everywhere. The night, when Hoi An street lights up, the flow of people is more crowded, the souvenir shops also appear thicker on the sidewalks along the street.
Hoi An every moment has its own very personal beauties. It can be a ray of peaceful summer sunshine or a rainy afternoon that draws visitors back to the old days by the shape of tea and vegetables. And it would be flawed not to mention the nights of Hoi An being returned with lanterns, sparkling lilies.
Sit still by the Hoai River, listen to the unspoken music from the loudspeakers placed skillfully along all the ancient streets, watch the river. According to the water, the lilies sometimes combine together to create a bright area in the middle of the river.
That's Hoi An from my point of view, how about you? Looking forward to seeing your posts about the place you love.
See you around!