LANTERN IN HOI AN TOWN

Some people have never seen colored silk, glass and paper lanterns hung along streets at night in the ancient town of the central province of Quang Nam. It is quite a shame, because those who have believe it to be the experience of a lifetime.

 The feeling of strolling through the lantern-lit streets is like walking into a fairy tale. Moreover, these stone paved streets are made for pedestrians, thus the noisy and pollution of the motorbikes are nowhere to be found.

Especially, the 15th day of every lunar month is declared a “lantern festival.” Residents on Tran Phu, Nguyen Thai Hoc and Le Loi streets as well as the road along the Hoai River switch off their electric lights and hang cloth and paper lanterns on their porches and windows. Television sets, radios, street lights and neon lights are even turned off. Lanterns from houses and shops contribute to creating the wonderful nights.

While taking a nice easy stroll down Hoi An, tourists can choose their own lanterns with wooden frame, sometimes made from very precious wood. Usually, on each side of the lanterns is a narrative painting from the local folklore. Prices vary. There is a special set of Chinese painted lanterns worth VND250.000-280.000. However, other sets are much cheaper.

It is said that the Hoi An’s lantern is the result of exchanges among Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese cultures, reflecting all of their various cultural identities. Originated from popular appliance from life, lantern is revered as an art rather than a decor. It has a firm position in Hoi An inhabitants’ mind and life.

(Source: SGT)