Through the book, a picture of a peaceful, familiar but also warm and hospitable Hoi An is presented, as if wanting to keep visitors staying longer, and then when "Returning from Hoi An, the book is the memories so that the image of this heritage city still lingers in your memory. Most likely, you will feel regretful for not staying in Hoi An longer, and who knows, one day, you will return to Hoi An again. At that time, please do not forget that you already have a Hoi An Cultural Travel Companion in your hand", just like the authors' message to readers in the book.
In the 9 articles, the authors dedicate the first pages to Hoi An Ancient Town, the core of Hoi An, so that readers know what is there that the whole world must seek out, that UNESCO must painstakingly research, review and include in the list of World Cultural Heritage. Readers will be able to walk on the old streets, experience a strange sense of relaxation, and then feel "as if they were lost in a simple fairy tale, going back in time hundreds of years ago", as if they were "returning" to the bustling Hoai Pho trading port of the past. The ancient houses with yin-yang tiles covered with moss, with rows of wooden pillars and beams, rafters, deep and deep but always open doors and visitors can completely step into any house with the door still open, and chat intimately with an old man or a shop owner.
Watching and walking around Hoi An ancient town lit up in the late afternoon, when the sunlight gradually fades, also brings a very different and enjoyable experience. At that time, "hundreds of colorful silk lanterns are hung everywhere, emitting small areas of light for visitors to confidently walk on the street... Somewhere in the distance is a dim light coming from closed houses, from small alleys that are deserted". And if you have the opportunity to visit Hoi An ancient town at this time, then you should probably listen to the advice of the authors: "there is nothing more interesting than sitting in a small wooden house, enjoying local specialties, eating and chatting with the owner's family about a long time ago, half-remembered and half-forgotten, or climbing up the narrow wooden ladders to the upper floor to enjoy tea and watch the small street full of tourists strolling below, the narrow windows flickering with lights, the rows of dark tiled roofs".
Along with the old narrow streets, ancient houses, temples, communal houses and simple eateries, the people who live here every day, the Hoi An people that we meet on the street, also have something that blends well with the architectural space and spiritual beauty of this ancient city. Some people say that Hoi An is beautiful but as small as the palm of your hand, so small that it only takes a day to explore Hoi An. This comment is probably only true when exploring Hoi An with the naked eye. Meanwhile, some people think that exploring Hoi An takes a lifetime, because Hoi An is small but deep. This is probably the comment given by someone who has felt and explored Hoi An from their heart, from all their senses.
With the Japanese Covered Bridge - a heritage considered a "symbol" of Hoi An, the authors not only "draw" the unique architectural features but also clarify the history and cultural connotation of the bridge built by Japanese merchants around the 17th century. From there, it helps readers broaden their horizons to the Japanese quarter that once existed in the glorious memory of ancient Hoi An, as evidence of the traces, imprints and influence of the Japanese on Hoi An that still exist today.
Not only the Japanese, the Chinese had a profound influence on the cultural life of Hoi An during the process of trading, living and settling in this land. What is special is that, in the end, they completely integrated into the local community. They bought land, established Minh Huong commune, opened streets, built pagodas, temples, assembly halls and to this day, many of these relics still exist, becoming one of the typical cultural features of Hoi An.
Besides the bustling Hoi An ancient town, the authors also take readers to explore Cu Lao Cham, a cluster of islands with wild and peaceful beauty located 16km east - northeast of Hoi An. Coming here, visitors can learn about the ecosystem, gain more knowledge about swiftlets, a rare bird species that chooses this place as a place to gather, about the nutritional value of bird's nests and the bird's nest exploitation profession in Thanh Chau village, or learn about the Champa culture that has flourished for many centuries on this sunny and windy Central strip of land...
There are many, many unique cultural features that readers can discover in Hoi An through the book Hoi An Cultural Travel Companion . In the last pages of the book, the authors wrote: "Hoi An is the most ancient, rustic, and quietest part of a Vietnamese space with winding alleys that seem to run endlessly. This place has preserved almost all the cultural features bearing the strong imprint of the East", and that is also what readers can fully feel through the entire 200 pages of the book. With the interesting and attractive things that the authors bring, we will truly realize that this is a destination that everyone wants to return to and truly believes in the true meaning of "healing"./.
Source: https://toquoc.vn/nguoi-ban-duong-du-lich-van-hoa-hoi-an-20240627164307008.htm
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