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Culture - Sports

Bustling vibes of lantern making craft in Hoi An in buildup to Tet

By DA NANG Today / DA NANG Today
February 03, 2021, 17:02 [GMT+7]

On these days in the buildup to Tet Festival, the Hoi An lantern making craft village in Quang Nam Province has become more bustling than normal.

As compared to previous years, this year sees this time-honoured traditional craft, and many other professions serving tourism in Hoi An as a whole suffer from the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this disadvantageous fact, many lantern makers have still made ceaceless efforts to preserve and promote the image of the ‘ancient town’ to friends near and far. Yet none so unique to Hoi An as the lantern.

The most glamorous Hoi An’s moment is in the evening; when it turns to dark, all the beautiful silk lanterns light up, which makes a charming hectic old town.

The Ha Linh facility in Cam Chau Ward, Hoi An City, is one of the two largest establishments in Hoi An specialising in producing lanterns and offering craft experiences for tourists. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, this venue produced thousands of lanterns for export to Europe and Singapore.
The Ha Linh facility in Cam Chau Ward, Hoi An City, is one of the two largest establishments in Hoi An specialising in making lanterns and offering craft experiences for tourists. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, this venue produced thousands of lanterns for export to Europe and Singapore.
Due to the complicated coronavirus situation, the majority of the lanterns are being consumed in the domestic market to serve the needs of decorations at home, restaurants coffee shops and stores for Tet.
Due to the complicated coronavirus situation, the majority of the lanterns are being consumed in the domestic market to serve the needs of decorations at home, restaurants coffee shops and stores for Tet.
Usually made up of a bamboo frame and Vietnamese silk, lanterns come in many different shapes, sizes and colours. The most popular shapes are the shapes of ball and garlic. The most popular colors are white, blue, red and yellow. Their meaning is usually forward good luck and prosperity in the next year. To make highly durable and attractive lanterns, craftsmen have to promote their professional skills, high concentration, carefulness and cleverness in all stages, from choosing bamboo, sharpening sticks, dyeing silk to making fringe.
Usually made up of a bamboo frame and Vietnamese silk, lanterns come in many different shapes, sizes and colours. The most popular shapes are the shapes of ball and garlic. The most popular colors are white, blue, red and yellow. Their meaning is usually forward good luck and prosperity in the next year. To make highly durable and attractive lanterns, craftsmen have to promote their professional skills, high concentration, carefulness and cleverness in all stages, from choosing bamboo, sharpening sticks, dyeing silk to making fringe.
Bamboo used to make lanterns must be aged 5 and above, and it is soaked in salt water for several days to prevent termites and then, it is dried up and trimmed into size.
Bamboo used to make lanterns must be aged 5 and above, and it is soaked in salt water for several days to prevent termites and then, it is dried up and trimmed into size.
Then the bamboo stick is attached to two wooden rings at two ends and all are tied together by a string.
Then the bamboo stick is attached to two wooden rings at two ends and all are tied together by a string.
The whole frame is adjusted for the final touch at the end to make it symmetrical.
The making of cover is no less difficult. It involves the choosing of the right fabric, which must be chamois or silk to have certain stretch, and the master skill of the artisan. The fabric is cut into pieces and glued to the frame. The crucial part here is how to stretch the fabric at the angle of the frame which requires high level of skill. Finishing this step, the artisan does a final touch for the covered frame and then attaches it to the light holder which is made of artificial silk thread attached to a wooden ball.
The making of cover is no less difficult. It involves the choosing of the right fabric, which must be chamois or silk to have certain stretch, and the master skill of the artisan. The fabric is cut into pieces and glued to the frame. The crucial part here is how to stretch the fabric at the angle of the frame which requires high level of skill. Finishing this step, the artisan does a final touch for the covered frame and then attaches it to the light holder which is made of artificial silk thread attached to a wooden ball.
The making of lantern frame is usually done by men, whilst the making of cover and decorations are often fulfiled by women with meticulousness.
The making of lantern frame is usually done by men, whilst the making of cover and decorations are often fulfiled by women with meticulousness.
The Ha Linh establishment plans to make about 5,000 lanterns of all kinds for sale for the upcoming Tet Festival.
The Ha Linh establishment plans to make about 5,000 lanterns of all kinds for sale for the upcoming Tet Festival
The completed lantern will be attached with shimmering lights of many shapes.
The completed lantern will be attached with shimmering lights of many shapes.
The lantern’s prices range from a few thousands of VND to one million VND per piece.
The lantern’s prices range from a few thousands of VND to one million VND per piece.
Many types of lanterns can be stowed and opened for transport convenience.
Many types of lanterns can be stowed and opened for transport convenience
In the evening when all around is pit dark, the lantern look like the star lightening up the ancient land.
In the evening when all around is pit dark, the lantern look like the star lightening up the ancient land.

By XUAN SON- Translated by A.T

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