The cultural characteristics of Hoi An lanterns in Vietnam

Hoi An lanterns appeared in Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam in the 16th century. They have a history of more than 400 years and are one of Vietnam's long-standing traditional handicrafts. Lanterns are nostalgic and are a major local feature. Every time Hoi An is mentioned, people will think of the colorful traditional lanterns on both sides of the Huai River during festivals or the fifteenth day of each month in the lunar calendar. When in Hoi An, visitors can admire the exquisite and eye-catching lanterns hanging on the streets of Hoi An at any time of the year.

To make a lantern, artists have to put in a lot of effort. The first step is to select and process the bamboo, tie the frame, and shape it carefully. The size of the lantern depends on the size of the bamboo. After tying the frame and covering it with cloth, this is the main part of making an impressive lantern. The cloth of Hoi An lanterns is usually silk, printed with patterns full of classical East Asian cultural colors, and the color is single color. The colors of lanterns have different meanings, such as red for luck, yellow for joy, etc. Hoi An lantern means to shine. Locals believe the lights are a symbol of humanity. Therefore, offering a lamp on the altar also means placing oneself under the protection of the invisible God. In addition, artists also use landscape paintings familiar to Vietnamese people to decorate the lanterns. Not only are there many styles and unique materials, artists have also created many novel styles that still retain cultural essence to adapt to different spaces, such as circles, octagons, hexagons, etc.

In the past, lanterns could only be hung in palaces, but today's artists design lanterns that are suitable for all spaces and locations, from ancient houses to modern rooms, from ordinary restaurants to high-end restaurants. Here, international tourists wander through the quiet ancient streets in the morning and are immersed in the colorful lights at night. Therefore, every tourist who visits here likes to buy lanterns as souvenirs or for decoration.