Buzz
Throughout its more than 700 years of existence, the bustling port of Van Don has not merely been a solitary dock, but rather a network of interconnected wharves and anchorages.
The allocation of ports across multiple locations serves to alleviate the congestion of vessels at a single dock, while also specifying precise docking locations, particularly for foreign ships, to avoid congestion and facilitate ease of management and surveillance.
Numerous artifacts have been unearthed in the island communes of Van Don district, with the primary hub located at Cai Lang in Quan Lan commune. Ancient transshipment docks along the Bach Dang River and Cua Luc facilitated the trade of aromatic spices, ceramics, and forest products to islands such as Cong Dong and Quan Lan.
Thus, it can be concluded that the commodities traded at the ancient port of Van Don included natural products such as aromatic spices, rhinoceros horns, ivory, gold, pearls, silver, copper, and lead. These goods constituted a significant portion of Dai Viet's total exports.
The second most common commodity was ceramics. During the Ly dynasty, the art of crafting jade-glazed ceramics was as sophisticated as, if not superior to, the blue-glazed Longquan ceramics of China. Vietnamese ceramics were elegant, with intricately embossed designs. According to Japanese historians, Ly dynasty ceramics were highly sought after and were even sold in the Far East.
By the Tran dynasty, ceramics underwent further development with sturdier designs and a sleek brown glaze, which not only appealed to foreign merchants but also to Chinese emperors, who consistently demanded the finest ceramic bowls.
The third most common commodity is silk and brocade. Although the export volume of silk is not substantial, the diverse and exquisite woven products of Vietnamese craftsmen are highly favored by merchants everywhere for import.
The relics of the Van Don port, with their special significance in trade, culture, and history, have contributed to the vast cultural heritage and rich historical background of Vietnamese commerce. Don't forget to contact Mytour to book a tour to Ha Long Bay with many attractive offers and professional, dedicated services, ensuring you a perfect vacation!
As per Mytour
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Reference: Travel guide on Mytour
MytourOctober 25, 2022
