A quiet 'cultural feast' recreating hundreds of years of ups and downs in Hoi An

NDO - First performed on March 18, 2018 and premiered at Times Square (New York City, USA), "Hoi An Memories" is one of the largest live art performances in the world, gathering more than 500 actors on a stage of 25,000 square meters.

According to the Vietnam Record Organization, "Hoi An Memories Show" is the first and largest outdoor live performance art program in our country. Up to now, the program has welcomed millions of viewers, contributing to widely promoting the image of Hoi An to domestic and foreign tourists.

The main idea of the program originates from the traditional Vietnamese ao dai, through modern stage staging techniques, skillfully taking the audience on a special journey, back to Hoi An in the 16th-17th century to explore rich and unique historical and cultural events.

The program is divided into 5 parts with a total duration of about 60 minutes, including: "Life", "Wedding", "Lights and the Sea", "Integration" and "Ao Dai". Through this, it brings out the beauty of a bustling Hoi An with trade, diverse in culture but still very peaceful, charming, poetic with united people, always keeping in mind the spirit of patriotism.

Opening the show, the "Life" section recreates a vivid picture of the customs and practices of Hoi An people in the past through the image of a girl weaving on a loom and young women in traditional white ao dai.

Hoi An girl tells historical and folklore stories.

The beauty of Hoi An people's daily life is realistically depicted through dances about building houses, catching fish, and giving birth.

Hoi An people build houses, kindling the first buds of life.

Life here comes from very familiar materials: bamboo.

Actors reenact daily fishing scenes.

Continuing the vivid picture of the daily life of the ancient Hoi An people, part 2 "The Wedding" is inspired by the relationship between Princess Huyen Tran and the King of Champa, Che Man.

This historical milestone of Hoi An is told by the weaving girl with elaborate lyrics and a luxurious and splendid wedding procession. The audience not only learns more about the economic and political situation of Hoi An at that time, especially the origin of the two lands of Chau O and Chau Ly, but also has the opportunity to experience the traditional cultural customs of the mysterious land of Champa.

Animation introducing Cham Pa ethnic culture.

Image of Princess Huyen Tran graceful and charming at the art program.

Champa King Che Man "brought her home" with the most solemn ceremonies.

From here, the relationship between the two countries has become closer and more connected.

Moving on to part 3 "Lights and the Sea", the realistic images of the program will make it difficult for many viewers to contain their emotions. At this time, Hoi An's life has undergone many clear changes. Local people with more developed fishing techniques have joined hands to go offshore, turning Hoi An into a bustling commercial port.

But in those trips, there were young men who never returned and also loyal women who waited for the man of their life. Every day, quietly carrying a lamp to the shore to wait, the girl turned to stone and became an eternal lighthouse, lighting the way home for the fishermen who fished all year round.

Opening image of part 3 "Lights and sea".

The scene depicts the loyal and steadfast love between the young man who goes to sea and the woman who carries a lamp to the shore every day to wait.

The day her lover returned, she turned to stone, becoming a beacon that stands the test of time.

Through many ups and downs, Hoi An gradually became a prosperous and bustling trading place in Southeast Asia. True to its name, the highlight of part 4 "Integration" lies in the harmonious and smooth combination of hundreds of actors to create a vibrant, culturally diverse atmosphere while still preserving the traditional and unique features of beautiful, graceful Hoi An.

Hoi An in the image of a bustling trading port in part 4 "Integration".

In that context, Hoi An people still work hard, preserving a lifestyle associated with long-standing cultural features.

Closing the program is part 5 "Ao Dai", presented in a simple, sophisticated, even somewhat ancient and quiet way but no less brilliant and dynamic, the scriptwriters do not hide their intention of depicting the image of a Hoi An that has gone through hundreds of years of history but still retains its proud core values.

The audience will be amazed by the magical performance of hundreds of girls in traditional ao dai, combined with the unique architectural works that have long become an inseparable part of Hoi An.