Hoi An Culture
Walking through Hoi An's pretty streets visitors will see hundreds of multicolored lanterns hanging from the old buildings' eaves. Made by hand, these lanterns are a specialty of Vietnam's central Quang Region. While many shops sell handicrafts and fine arts of unclear origin, these colorful lanterns are locally made. As such, they make great souvenirs.
As word of Hoi An's beauty spread, the World Heritage-listed site drew growing numbers of tourists. The local lantern-making industry has grown accordingly. While the success of the lantern industry is relatively recent, the Quang Region has a long history of handicraft production.
Cultural and artistic exchange between northern Vietnam and the central Kingdom of Champa began in the 13th century. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Hoi An, then known as Fai Fo, was a major port town, merchants from around the world stopping here to buy the area's handicrafts and diverse natural materials. To meet the demands of traders and nobles in the nearby royal city of Hue, dozens of specialized handicraft villages appeared in the Quang Region. Some of these villages still produce their traditional wares.
Tour guides often lead visitors to the riverside pottery village of Thanh Ha, its pretty streets lined with red pottery and overhung with lush trees. The pottery produced here is unglazed. After firing it is the color of cinnamon, evoking the deep red of the region's Cham towers. The shapes are simple and practical, like Quang Nam's hardy residents.
Not far from Thanh Ha lies the village of Kim Bong where, from early morning to midnight, the sound of chisels hitting wood does not stop. In the old days, the skill of Kim Bong's carvers was recognized by the Emperor, who commissioned them to help build the imperial city and royal tombs in Hue. As well as contributing to many nationally-important projects like the restoration of traditional Ruong houses, these artisans now turn out beautiful items for tourists.
More silent and less visited is the silk village of Duy Trinh, which lies in the Duy Xuyen district on the way to the holy site of My Son. For centuries, green mulberry fields have grown on the banks of the Thu Bon River, and Duy Trinh's women have transformed cocoons into colorful bolts of silk.
Today, while silk from Duy Trinh may be found in Hoi An's countless tailor shops, the local silk industry is finding it hard to compete with imported products. Visitors in search of locally-made souvenirs, however, are delighted to see silk woven on Duy Trinh's looms turned into beautiful clothes by Hoi An's tailors in less than 24 hours.
Another craft village with a long history is Phuoc Kieu, located in Dien Ban district. Four hundred years ago, a bronze caster named Duong Khong Lo traveled from Lang Son in northern Vietnam to settle in the Quang Region. Word of his fine products soon spread throughout the central Tay Nguyen region. For centuries, gongs made in Dieu Ban have been prized by highland ethnic minority peoples like the So Dang, Ko Tu, and Ja Rai. Bells cast in Phuoc Kieu's furnaces may also be found in pagodas throughout Vietnam. Along with worship objects, the village produces bronze items for daily use. Thanks to their skill and artistry, these workers are bringing honor to the Quang Region and creating good lives for themselves in this harsh land.