Huynh Kim Suong (right) and his son and grandson (Photo: VNA)Quang Nam (VNS/VNA) - The picture that comes to mind when thinking ofHoi An is of magical multi-coloured lanterns lighting up the meanderingHoai River, the town’s signature yellow-painted old houses or the littlecharming cafés and shops in the old town.
Cam Kim commune on the town’s outskirts is near, yet another world. Separatedfrom the old town by the Thu Bon River, this peaceful village can be reached byboat or a ten-minute bike ride.
One of the commune’s tourist highlights is Kim Bong village, known for itsunique religious rituals as well as its carpentry, which was recognised as anational intangible cultural heritage last year.
A stroll or bike ride through the tiny village, only about 40ha in size,reveals greenish rice fields, colourful fruit and flower gardens and local womensitting at their weaving machines.
Kim Bong village of Cam Kim commune is one of the earliest Hoi An villages, towhich the carpentry craft was brought in the 15th century from the north andcentral regions of Nghe An and Thanh Hoa.
Cam Kim commune on the town’s outskirts is near, yet another world. Separatedfrom the old town by the Thu Bon River, this peaceful village can be reached byboat or a ten-minute bike ride.
One of the commune’s tourist highlights is Kim Bong village, known for itsunique religious rituals as well as its carpentry, which was recognised as anational intangible cultural heritage last year.
A stroll or bike ride through the tiny village, only about 40ha in size,reveals greenish rice fields, colourful fruit and flower gardens and local womensitting at their weaving machines.
Kim Bong village of Cam Kim commune is one of the earliest Hoi An villages, towhich the carpentry craft was brought in the 15th century from the north andcentral regions of Nghe An and Thanh Hoa.
The sounds of carpentry are indeed unmistakable as soon as one steps foot inKim Bong village.
The drilling, chiseling and cutting echoe from households, where one can alsosee delicate carvings of the artisans and hear the history of local carpentry.
In late 17th century, Hoi An was a busy and important port, trading with localand foreign cities and paving the way for craft villages like Thanh Ha(pottery) and Kim Bong to develop and prosper.
At the time, Kim Bong served the needs of urban architecture, making familyfurniture and boats as well as the decorative, characteristic carpentry of HoiAn.
Kim Bong carpentry products have since not only contributed to the architectureof Hoi An’s old town, they have also been used in several monuments in thecities of Da Nang and Hue.
These days visitors to Kim Bong can visit the eastern part of the village whereboats are made, and the western part, which makes carpentry carvings. One canalso see the village carpentry products in old town shops.
While carpentry of other localities is greatly influenced by northern culture,with characteristics of feudal times with symbolic patterns or powerfulcreatures like dragon, Kim Bong’s wooden products appear influenced more bynature, with carvings of trees or flowers.
The Hoi An Department of Trade and Tourism recently introduced a Kim Bong tour,giving travellers a chance to experience the cultural and religious activitiesof the traditional craft village.
The tour features destinations such as Ms Quan’s banh trang (atraditional Vietnamese dish known as "girdle pancakes"), the Huynh Riancient house, and the Anh Vu ecological tourism area, and offers theexperience of traditional folk games and the viewing of traditional craftproduction. The ritual commemorating the founders of carpentry in Cam Kim is aparticularly unique and interesting practice.
Invariably, with tourism comes change. Kim Bong now has carpentry productionfactories, a guest reception centre, and a centre introducing and promotingtours, such as a "Being a Kim Bong Artisan" tour. Four homestays arealso available.
Since 2015, Hoi An city has focused on improving tourism activities in itscraft villages. The city will open several sites to touristsafter restoring characteristic traditional crafts like ship building andrepair, mat weaving and carpentry, according to Deputy Director of HoiAn’s Department of Tourism and Trading Nguyen Hung Linh.-VNA
The drilling, chiseling and cutting echoe from households, where one can alsosee delicate carvings of the artisans and hear the history of local carpentry.
In late 17th century, Hoi An was a busy and important port, trading with localand foreign cities and paving the way for craft villages like Thanh Ha(pottery) and Kim Bong to develop and prosper.
At the time, Kim Bong served the needs of urban architecture, making familyfurniture and boats as well as the decorative, characteristic carpentry of HoiAn.
Kim Bong carpentry products have since not only contributed to the architectureof Hoi An’s old town, they have also been used in several monuments in thecities of Da Nang and Hue.
These days visitors to Kim Bong can visit the eastern part of the village whereboats are made, and the western part, which makes carpentry carvings. One canalso see the village carpentry products in old town shops.
While carpentry of other localities is greatly influenced by northern culture,with characteristics of feudal times with symbolic patterns or powerfulcreatures like dragon, Kim Bong’s wooden products appear influenced more bynature, with carvings of trees or flowers.
The Hoi An Department of Trade and Tourism recently introduced a Kim Bong tour,giving travellers a chance to experience the cultural and religious activitiesof the traditional craft village.
The tour features destinations such as Ms Quan’s banh trang (atraditional Vietnamese dish known as "girdle pancakes"), the Huynh Riancient house, and the Anh Vu ecological tourism area, and offers theexperience of traditional folk games and the viewing of traditional craftproduction. The ritual commemorating the founders of carpentry in Cam Kim is aparticularly unique and interesting practice.
Invariably, with tourism comes change. Kim Bong now has carpentry productionfactories, a guest reception centre, and a centre introducing and promotingtours, such as a "Being a Kim Bong Artisan" tour. Four homestays arealso available.
Since 2015, Hoi An city has focused on improving tourism activities in itscraft villages. The city will open several sites to touristsafter restoring characteristic traditional crafts like ship building andrepair, mat weaving and carpentry, according to Deputy Director of HoiAn’s Department of Tourism and Trading Nguyen Hung Linh.-VNA
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