Step Back in Time: Exploring the Enchanting Town of Hoi An

Shimmering Hoi An lanterns often appear in many check-in photos of tourists visiting this city. This is not only a symbol of the beauty of Hoi An but also a long-standing traditional cultural product here. When traveling to Hoi An, remember to discover the meaning behind the beautiful lanterns!

The Exquisite Art of Hoi An Lanterns

Hoi An lanterns are a unique cultural beauty, contributing to the attraction of tourists coming to the old town. Appearing in the 16th century with the trade between the Chinese and Japanese, lanterns were initially used to decorate homes, and pray for luck and peace. Gradually, they became a typical cultural symbol of Hoi An, bearing the intangible mark of the locality.

Historically, Hoi An lanterns were made from bamboo frames, and tissue paper and decorated with many rich motifs such as patterns, and images of animals,... The light from the lantern symbolizes hope. hope, luck, and fortune, and expressing the wish for a peaceful and prosperous life of the people here.

Today, Hoi An lanterns are not only used during the Mid-Autumn Festival or festivals but also appear all year round on the ancient streets. Under the warm yellow light, the shimmering lanterns create a magical, romantic scene, attracting tourists to visit and take photos.

Hoi An lanterns are not only a decoration but also a symbol of the harmony between cultures, expressing the open and intermingling spirit of the people of the old town. Tourists coming to Hoi An will not be able to miss admiring these sparkling lanterns, keeping for themselves beautiful and meaningful memories of a locality rich in cultural identity.

Crafting Exquisite Hoi An Lanterns

Creating a Hoi An lantern requires the skill and meticulousness of the craftsman, going through many meticulous stages

1. Prepare ingredients

• Bamboo frame: Choose old, sturdy, termite-free bamboo, soaked in salt water and dried.
• Paper: Use colorful paper, usually tissue paper or cement paper, with good toughness and water resistance.
• Glue: Use specialized glue to glue the paper to the bamboo frame.
• Power cord: Provides power to the light bulb.
• Light bulbs: Use energy-saving light bulbs with colors that match the decorative motifs.

2. Shape the frame

• Bend the bamboo into the desired shape, usually round, oval, or pyramidal.
• Tie the bamboo sticks together with steel wire or parachute cord to create stability.

3. Paste the paper

• Cut the paper to a size suitable for the bamboo frame.
• Apply glue to the bamboo frame and glue the paper carefully, making sure there are no wrinkles or breaks.
• Use decorative motifs such as patterns and images of animals to create highlights for the lantern.

4. Electrical system installation

• Thread the wire through the bamboo frame and secure it with tape.
• Install the light bulb in the appropriate location.

5. Finishing

• Check the completeness of the lantern to make sure there are no errors.
• Hang the lantern and turn it on to admire the results.

Creating a Hoi An lantern is not only a craft but also an art. Each lantern bears the unique mark of the craftsman, demonstrating creativity and a spirit of caution and meticulousness. Hoi An lanterns are not only decorations but also symbols of the ingenuity and cultural quintessence of the people of the old town.

The ideal time to explore Hoi An

Hoi An is beautiful all year round, each season has its beauty. However, to get the most complete experience, visitors should choose the right time to travel. The best time to visit Hoi An ancient town is during the dry season (from February to August every year).

This is the ideal time to visit Hoi An with sunny weather, and little rain, favorable for fun and exploration activities. In particular, in August, Hoi An holds the Lantern Festival, and the whole old town shimmers magically in the light of thousands of colorful lanterns.

Festivals are coming up soon in Hoi An

• The 3rd Hoi An Craft Flower Highlight

Time: May 31 - June 2, 2024

Location: Traditional craft villages and Creative Spaces

• Light Festival

Time: June 2024

Location: Hoi An Memory Island

• Sea Festival: “Hoi An - Summer Emotions”

Time: June 14 - July 31, 2024

Location: Beaches in the city

• Giap Thin Mid-Autumn Festival 2024

Time: September 15 - 17, 2024

Location: Hoi An City

How to get to Hoi An

Hoi An is only 30km from Da Nang, so the most convenient way is to go to Da Nang, then move from Da Nang to Hoi An by taxi, rent a tour car, or ride a motorbike on your own.

How to move to Da Nang

• Travel to Da Nang and Hoi An by plane

Tourists often choose to travel to the airport closest to Hoi An, Da Nang airport. Currently, both Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo, and VietJetAir have flights to Da Nang with flexible departure times that can meet your schedule needs. You can book flight tickets to Hoi An at the main websites of the airlines

• Travel to Da Nang and Hoi An by train

You can also choose to go to Da Nang by train if you have plenty of time because the train departs from Hanoi or City. Ho Chi Minh will also take 16-18 hours. However, this is also quite an interesting experience, you can relax, admire the scenery, read books, and enjoy food on the service cars that go along the train. Surely you will be surprised by the beautiful scenery outside, especially when you can see the whole train winding along the mountainside when passing Hai Van Pass.

• Travel to Da Nang and Hoi An by car

In addition, if you depart from Hanoi, you can choose a bus for your self-sufficient trip to Hoi An. However, the travel time will be about 15 hours, and the price is not too different from the train. You can choose car brands such as Tan Kim Chi, Duong Vu, A Ba...

How to move from Da Nang to Hoi An

• By motorbike

You can rent a motorbike in Da Nang to go to Hoi An for 120,000 - 150,000 VND/day. You should follow the road along Vo Nguyen Giap Beach from My Khe Beach straight to Cua Dai Beach. Here you will see an intersection, turn left to An Bang Beach and turn right to reach Hoi An, an ancient town.

• By car 

If you go in a large group, this will be the most convenient and reasonable choice. The price to rent a 4-seat car from Da Nang to Hoi An will be about 200,000 VND - 250,000 VND.

Fun places when coming to Hoi An

Hoi An is not only famous for its magical sparkling lanterns but also has many entertainment venues that attract tourists. Here are some suggestions for you:

• Take photos in Lantern Street

Stroll the old town, admiring the brilliant sparkling lanterns.

• Lantern-making experience classes

Join a lantern-making class and create your unique lantern. Learn about the traditional lantern-making art of Hoi An.

• Hoi An's museums/historic sites

Hoi An Museum of History and Culture: A place to store historical and cultural artifacts of the old town.

Tan Ky Ancient House: Typical ancient house architecture of Hoi An, currently a museum.

 

Chua Cau: A unique temple with a combination of Vietnamese and Japanese architecture.

 

• Releasing flower lanterns on the Hoai River

• Visit Tra Que vegetable village

• Explore Bay Mau coconut forest

• Enjoy Hoi An cuisine

With the above suggestions, hopefully, you will have a fun and memorable trip to Hoi An! If you want to discover Hoi An in the most authentic way, don't hesitate to contact us to book a Hoi An tour!

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