Hoi An

Sign of the times - Hoi An

The shop signs on display in the streets of Hoi an represent a link between the present and the prosperous past of this old port town.

Next time you’re in Hoi an and strolling through the old town make sure you check out the signs hanging above the doors. From the positively ancient to mid-20th century kitsch, numerous signs have been retained by the local population and serve as wonderful markers of times gone by.

In particular Tran Phu, Nguyen Thai Hoc and Tran Quy Cap streets have dozens of signs that are closely associated with the names of shops owned by Vietnamese as well as Chinese immigrants who settled in Hoi An centuries ago. There are 45 shops with signs that are from 100 to 200 years old and 30 shop signs that are less than 100 years old.

Once certain family names would have been veritable brandnames in the region – a name like Duc Thanh, Xan Thanh or Tan Ky would have been the equivalent of Khai Silk once upon a time. Thai Thi Sam, a 90-year old lady who lives on Tran Phu street, explains that the sign Quan Thang San above her front door, which is written in Chinese symbols, dated back to when her grandfather did business near the market.

“Now the shop is history but we will keep the sign there at any cost as a way of preserving the names of our forefathers,” she says. Her house is typical of the ancient architectural style of South China. The house was built by Diep Bao Hung, the descendent of a ship’s captain named Thai Ke Trinh, who sailed between China and Asian countries trading Chinese medicinal herbs.

Decorations carved into the wooden boards often featured floral patterns as well as Chinese symbolism – you might find a dragon fighting over pearls or herons, for example. While shop-signs differ in size and design most share the basic same principles of geomancy in terms of their dimensions.

Each sign would have been designed to instill a sense of energy to the household or store as well as bring good fortune, longevity and academic success to the owners. The names of the Chinese immigrants often expressed a desire for success. Nam Phat, for example, expressed a wish for prosperity in the south as Nam means south and Phat means prosperity.

Guarding the signs
Most households clean up these ancient signs every year with a piece of soft cloth soaked in alcohol – never with a brush. According to Le Thi Tuan, an expert at the Hoi An Relics Preservation Centre (RPC), “Over the past centuries, trading activities have always been the foundation of our forefathers, so, shop owners have a deep respect for these old shop-signs.”

When placing a shop-sign in its position, the shop owner would perform a set of rites, such as choosing an auspicious day and time – by consulting a lunar calendar – and offering fruit, betel and areca, alcohol, steamed glutinous rice, meat, imitation gold and silver, frankincense and a petition written on red paper to the gods announcing the opening of the shop.

Offerings at a Chinese shop would have most likely included a bowl of noodles and a piece of red paper laid over a cooked chicken and a dish of steamed glutinous rice as a symbolic wish for perpetual prosperity and good luck. If a customer bought some goods during the opening ceremony the receipt from the sale of goods would be kept carefully until the next lunar year began. If an apothecary sold liquorice on the shop’s opening day it meant that the shop would do brisk business.

Modern Times
The old signs are rightly cherished for their cultural value. In a town that prides itself on its traditional roots, these signs are symbols of the town’s Glory days when Hoi An hummed with traders from Japan, China, Holland and Portugal. As a result non-traditional shops and restaurants often mimic the traditional style to give their business that classic Hoi An façade that appeals to tourists.

Keen to preserve the town’s unique heritage, the Hoi An authorities have issued strict guidelines to ensure that newly erected signs maintain the ancient town’s traditional look.Signs must be of a certain size, preferably built from wood and can only be brown or dark yellow in colour.

The use of nylon or other artificial modern materials is forbidden. However as the town grows on the strength of tourism, such cultural mimicry means Hoi An is in danger of becoming a replica of itself. They say that imitation is the greatest form of flattery, but it makes it all the harder for the old signs to stand out.

(Souce:Timeout)

Tag: Asia , Hoi An , Japan , Tour , Tourism , Tourist , Vietnam , Vietnamese

Sign of the times - Hoi An

Lastest News


Preservation of My Son relics undergoes - My Son World Cultural The preservation of My Son World Cultural Relics with the help of UNESCO has entered the second phase.
US singer sings for AO victims The US country music singer Peter Yarrow, along with the return of singer Jimmy Nguyen debuting with his Jimmy Band performed, in Hoi an on June 27th.
Sea tourist season launched in Hoi An - Phu Ninh tourism festival The “Quang Nam sea tourist season 2008” programme has been launched in Hoi an city
Miss Universe 2008: Traditional dresses spotlighted - Vietnam’s traditional long dress The Traditional dresses from eighty countries were presented at the traditional costumes event in southern Binh Duong province on June 22 as part of the ongoing 2008 Miss Universe 2008 contest currently being held in Vietnam
Vietnam to host first international gong festival Vietnam will host the largest international festival of gongs in Pleiku city , the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai in March next year according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Ha Tinh commerce – tourism festival to kick off in mid-July Ha Tinh Province will celebrate its commerce – tourism festival from July 18 to 24 in Ha Tinh City to mark 40 years since the death of 10 young volunteer girls (July 24, 1968 – July 24, 2008) in Dong Loc three-way crossroad and 10 years since the establishment of Ha Tinh City.
Bright lights, little city - Hoi An travel After the sun goes down in Hoi an the party continues for the night owls on the beach. Just remember to ask what colour you should be wearing, says Quoc Hai .
Fashionistas live the dream in Hoi An - Hoi An fashion Hoi an fashion industry is giving tourism a boost as visitors go on spending sprees to find keepsakes and reminders of the charms of this ancient town.
Quang Nam develops craft villages for tourism - Hoi An Tourism Central Quang Nam province is developing its traditional craft villages to serve tourism, improving the living standards of their residents in the bargain. Tran Minh Ca, Deputy Chairman of the province People’s Committee, said developing these villages is a priority for the tourism sector.
Folklore artist given cultural knight title - Hue royal court music Folklore artist Tran Kich was awarded the French title “Knight in the Order of Arts and Letters” in Hue city on June 4.
Restored Hue palace opens doors - Emperor Khai Dinh An Dinh Palace in the former imperial city of Hue and its magnificent wall and ceiling paintings have been thrown open to the public for the first time since the restoration work began in 2003.
Hue formally annointed festival city Hue will become a festival city and a hub for national and international tourism, according to a recent decision by the Prime Minister.
6th Jim Goodall exhibition in Vietnam A painter from Scotland, Jim Goodall, will return to Vietnam with his 6th exhibition entitled “Three topics: Hanoians, Southeast Asian temples and gardens” at 7 Nguyen Khac Nhu, Hanoi from June 6 to 27, 2008.
Modern tower for ancient Hung King Temple - travel The Hung King Temple re-planning project will turn Phu Tho Province's historical relic into one of the nation's most attractive tourism sites.
US billionaire weds in Hoi An US billionaire Richardand Andrew married Russian Marina Nacheva in a lavish ceremony at the Nam Hai resort in the ancient town of Hoi an in central Quang Nam province.
Prestigious cai luong show back to stage - Vietnam Cai Luong After being cancelled for a period of time to seek investment and refresh itself, Vang Trang Co Nhac, a prestigious cai luong show, will be resumed at Dam Sen Cultural Park as of May 29.