Hoi An develops tourism products from culture

Hoi An City has effectively restored and promoted the heritage of Bai Choi art, creating an attractive tourism product.

Creative in the way of doing

Having become a traditional activity for many years, every year, communes and wards in Hoi An City organize a Bai Choi singing contest (except for the 2 years of the COVID-19 outbreak) and have achieved more success than expected.

Competitions at all levels have attracted and introduced the masses to participate in performances, with the potential to become talented leaders in the future if they are regularly trained and practiced.

The contest also creates a strong attraction for a large number of people and domestic and foreign tourists to enjoy. Incorporated into the annual New Year's Eve programs are always scenes, singing performances, quizzes...

From being just a folk game, Hoi An has created complete art performances in the style of “folk performance of Bài Chòi” and has been continuously selected or invited to participate in regional and national folk art and folk song festivals. For many years, Bài Chòi Hội An has also been invited to perform in international cultural exchanges, from Asia to Europe, Australia, etc.

Nowadays, the card game has become an indispensable spiritual food for locals and tourists from all over the world when visiting and enjoying the old town or through the Fanpage Visit Hoi An.

Documentary footage of the national dossier on the art of Bài Chòi submitted to UNESCO for recognition as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity also filmed many scenes and activities in Hoi An.

“In the process of preparing the dossier to submit to UNESCO for recognition of the heritage of Bài Chòi as an intangible heritage of humanity, Hoi An became a very important part in the practice of Bài Chòi culture, that is, the practice of Bài Chòi performances in contemporary life” - Master of Culture Phung Tan Dong shared.

Tourists visit and watch pottery being made at Nam Dieu pottery village, Thanh Ha ward.

Exploitation goes hand in hand with conservation

In Hoi An, along with preserving tangible cultural values, management and conservation sectors also pay special attention to promoting harmonious combination with intangible cultural values in the community.

For example, on the occasion of the Lantern Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, traditional cultural and artistic forms such as folk songs, ba trao singing, tuong singing and contemporary arts such as poetry, music, painting, etc. are performed. Thereby, contributing to enriching the spiritual life of the people, at the same time creating unique tourism products.

Cultural resources, human resources, and natural resources are increasingly clearly identified. In particular, the connection of the World Cultural Heritage - the old town with the Cu Lao Cham World Biosphere Reserve and the cultural space of the countryside and traditional craft villages has had encouraging results.

Traditional craft village products, bird's nests, lanterns, cuisine, along with the programs "Old Town Night", "Walking Street", "Lantern Festival"... have become unique and attractive cultural - tourism products...

Artisans weaving hammocks from Cu Lao Cham instruct tourists on weaving parasol fibers at the experience point in Bai Lang (Tan Hiep island commune)

On February 22, 2024, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued a Decision to announce the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage; in which Hoi An City has 2 more traditional crafts: the craft of weaving parasol hammocks in Tan Hiep commune and the craft of making bamboo and coconut houses (Cam Thanh commune).

This promises more potential, creating development opportunities for traditional occupations, imbued with indigenous values, which are popular with locals and tourists.

According to documentary sources, traditional craft activities in the ancient trading port of Hoi An were very bustling, with more than 50 occupations concentrated in 4 groups: handicrafts, mining services, processing and special occupations. In addition to 2 historical - cultural and revolutionary tradition exhibition areas, the city also established 4 specialized museums and 1 Chu Dau ceramics gallery.

The activities of thematic museums have created a miniature tourist map, convenient for visitors when visiting the old town.

Mr. Nguyen Chi Trung - former Director of Hoi An Cultural Heritage Management and Conservation Center said that artifacts, relics, treasures, and antiques are one of the elements that make up the heritage of the ancient town.

“It is like a living proof to learn more about Hoi An. Fortunately, it is associated with specialized museums, so visitors to Hoi An can easily have more experiences and learn about relics and antiquities in the museums,” said Mr. Trung.

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