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Hoi An city, a captivating tourist destination, is known not only for its breathtaking landscapes but also for its rich cultural heritage, including the age-old tradition of lantern play. Hoi An lanterns sparkle and enchant miraculously, embodying the soul of this thousand-year-old port city.
- Explore more: Hoi An Travel Guide: From A to Z
Lanterns - a timeless traditional cultural feature
Throughout centuries, amidst the rise and fall of epochs, but nearly unparalleled in history, Hoi An tourism retains an entire complex of rich and diverse ancient relics. Lanterns have been present in our country for a long time, evolving alongside human history. Yet, they remained relatively obscure because in the past, people primarily used lanterns for illumination and decoration. However, in Hoi An, from ancient times to the present, the art of beautifying with lanterns has been highly regarded, becoming one of the distinctive cultural features of Hoi An.
The lantern-making profession in Hoi An probably emerged during the peak urbanization around the 15th century, coinciding with the establishment of trade shops, guildhalls, and the construction of Japanese Covered Bridge thanks to the skilled hands of Kim Bong artisans – Hoi An residents. Perhaps lantern-making came into being because it was an essential part of the architectural ensemble of Chinese and Japanese-style houses in Hoi An.
Many believe that lanterns appeared in Hoi An because the Chau, La, Thai lineages... originating from Chaozhou, Fujian, Guangdong in China, who migrated to our country and engaged in business in Hoi An's old town, used lanterns to alleviate homesickness. Listening to the elderly, who are knowledgeable about Hoi An lanterns, reminisce: In the past, there was a lantern maker in Hoi An named Xa Duong, revered as the master artisan specialized in making lion heads, lanterns for festivals, or lantern-making contests. Only on special occasions did the affluent people of Hoi An have large lanterns with Han characters or watercolor paintings hanging in front of their gates.
Lanterns – the hues of Hoi An at night
Each time one gazes upon those dim, shimmering lantern lights, the human soul wells up with an indescribable emotion, a mesmerizing blend of serenity and tranquility as if wandering into a realm of enchantment and mystique. Yet, perhaps more poignant is the sense of nostalgia, as if the vigor of modern life has 'swallowed up' everything, leaving behind only a small corner, a part of reminiscence that cannot be forgotten.
Many Vietnamese and international tourists have dubbed Hoi An as the lantern town – Hoi An's specialty, and it's not without reason. Lanterns are always hung high in front of every house's porch or in front of guildhalls, restaurants, and shops. Everyone passing by inevitably looks up to admire them; they are the silent charm of Hoi An, the refined convergence of cultural essences from various countries to Vietnam since centuries past, symbolizing the ancient town of Hoi An like the silent, unassuming yet elegant soul of its people.
What's even more special is that during festivals and holidays, people make handmade lanterns to hang amidst the bustling atmosphere, initially for home decoration, then for sale. Lantern-making has become a distinctive feature of Hoi An, specializing in handmade lanterns or lantern decoration in hotels or hanging in ancestral altars of families. Lanterns adorn most streets in Hoi An, enveloping the scenery in a truly unique and distinctive color.
Strolling around the streets of Hoi An as night falls, as thin veils of mist drape over the scenery, is also the time when the faint, mystical glow of lanterns is lit, replacing electric lights, like a miraculous light illuminating a land of elegant, hospitable people, sharing light with distant travelers, guiding them back to the past to immerse in the atmosphere of folk arts and ancient festivals. The night street, the candlelight beside the Hoai River embracing Hoi An all year round, the ancient architecture sometimes concealed, sometimes revealed, sometimes bright, sometimes dim, and the night's chants... all so magnificent that no poetry can fully describe the beauty that delves into the depths of the soul.
The traditional lantern-making profession
If you happen to visit Hoi An during the Mid-Autumn Festival, you'll witness an array of exquisitely crafted lanterns adorning the streets, giving the ancient town of Hoi An an extraordinary charm. These lanterns are entirely handmade by skilled artisans, without the intervention of any modern industrial machinery, which captivates tourists. In recent years, Hoi An lanterns have become an indispensable beauty, providing stable income for dedicated artisans who continue to passionately pursue their craft.
The lantern-making trade has endured for 400 years, weathering the storms of history, the ups and downs of time, yet seemingly still intact, still capable of enchanting the hearts of people.
The primary materials for making lanterns are bamboo and silk fabric. Depending on the color and fabric material, lanterns convey different meanings. While red symbolizes luck, yellow represents joy, brocade red signifies regal elegance, and green brings hope and vitality. Pink symbolizes sweetness and affection, while purple evokes loyalty and steadfastness, akin to the people of this land.
The lantern-making process consists of 2 stages: soaking bamboo in saltwater for 10 days to prevent decay, then drying, splitting, and shaping it into thin strips. These strips are attached to two wooden rings, connected at both ends, and wrapped with silk or satin fabric. The fabric wrapping requires skilled craftsmanship to fit the frame's shape. People in Hoi An prefer using fabric from selected pieces of silk sourced from various silk villages, especially Ha Dong silk, known for its excellent quality, diverse designs, and rich patterns, providing authentic yet dazzling light. The final step is beautifying the lantern, attaching colored tassels, and artistic decorations.
To meet the demands of tourists, lanterns must be made quickly, beautifully, and conveniently stackable for travelers to carry. In the past, lanterns were often large, wrapped in good fabric, intricately decorated, containing philosophical or emotional messages of the artist. Today, they are replaced with simpler drawings or machine embroidery, sometimes using only woven silk depicting various submerged or floating flowers. More elaborate lanterns are crafted from precious wood, intricately carved, and displayed only during the lantern festival in the city.
Visiting the Hoi An tourism city, tourists will create unforgettable memories and gain valuable insights into Hoi An lanterns. The captivating beauty of these lanterns has enchanted countless tourists who have set foot here. Hoi An lanterns come in various designs, styles, and colors for you to admire and even purchase as souvenirs or gifts.
- Famous Tourist Attractions in Hoi An
- Hoi An Lantern Festival on Mid-Autumn Night
- What to Eat in Hoi An
