If the Hue citadel and the tombs of the Nguyen emperors are the remains of a dynasty that has faded into the past, then the ancient streets of Bao Vinh and Gia Hoi are the still-intact traces of the lives of the residents of the ancient land of Than Kinh.
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| Mat Biec coffee shop in Bao Vinh old quarter is visited by many tourists. Photo: Contributor |
Bao Vinh ancient town attracts tourists
Bao Vinh ancient town (Huong Vinh ward, Hue city, Thua Thien - Hue province) is located in the north of the suburbs of Hue. This is considered the largest trading port of Dang Trong region lasting from the 17th to 19th centuries. There were many merchants from China, Japan, India and even European countries coming here to exchange and trade goods. Today, Bao Vinh ancient town is only about 3km from the center of Hue city. Therefore, tourists can easily visit the ancient features of the town that are more than a few hundred years old. Places not to be missed when visiting Bao Vinh ancient town are Bao Vinh communal house, Bao Vinh ferry, Bao Vinh market, Thien Giang pagoda... Bao Vinh ancient town also has a unique feature of 2-storey communal house architecture, a type of communal house architecture that is very rare in Hue.
The Mat Biec coffee shop in Bao Vinh old quarter was sought out by tourists after the movie Mat Biec by director Victor Vu premiered in 2019. This is a location that appeared in the movie Mat Biec , so it is favored by many tourists with nostalgic souls.
Located at the downstream of the Perfume River, Edufarm Bao Vinh ancient town (Trieu Son Nam residential group, Huong Vinh ward, Hue city) has an area of 8,000m2 and always attracts a large number of tourists. Coming here, visitors can experience activities such as horse riding, boating, fishing, camping, as well as playing with pets.
Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Dat, a tiktoker specializing in Hue cuisine , was very excited to share breakfast dishes at Bao Vinh market in Bao Vinh old quarter. Starting with congee, then banh beo - nam - loc, bun hen, bun rieu, thach xu xoa... with very affordable prices. Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Dat's feeling is that the vendors here are very friendly, hospitable and the dishes are delicious. Besides, among the markets in Hue, Bao Vinh market is the one that retains its ancient features, with the architecture of a traditional house, so visitors to the market can feel the soul of the ancient Hue vendors.
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| Ao dai performance in Gia Hoi ancient town. Photo: Contributor |
Fall in love with Gia Hoi ancient town
Currently, there is a website called “phocogiahoi.vn” to promote Gia Hoi ancient town (Gia Hoi ward, Hue city). Just by visiting this website, visitors will have useful information about the ancient town such as places to visit, eat, stay, tours …
Not long ago, there was a tour called “Rolling with Hue” organized by the Department of Tourism of Thua Thien - Hue province in collaboration with Beebeetravel in early September 2018. On the cyclo, visitors can explore and listen to many anecdotes about Chi Lang - Gia Hoi, visit Dieu De pagoda, Phuc Kien - Trieu Chau Assembly Hall and stop at Me Xuong Thien Huong, a specialty brand that brought Hue to the world.
Located in the southeast of the Hue citadel, Gia Hoi ancient town is a land rich in Hue culture. Gia Hoi ancient town is located on an island surrounded by the Huong River and Dong Ba River. This ancient town was formed after the Nguyen Lords moved the capital of Dang Trong from Hoa Chau citadel to Kim Long (1636) and Phu Xuan (1687). When the Nguyen Dynasty was established (1802), Gia Hoi ancient town located next to Hue citadel developed rapidly, becoming a crowded city. It can be affirmed that Gia Hoi ancient town is the place that most vividly and authentically represents the life of ancient Hue people.
In Gia Hoi ancient town, there is a rich spiritual system. Here is Truong Xuan pagoda built during the reign of King Vo Vuong Nguyen Phuc Khoat. There is also Tang Quang pagoda marking the formation of Southern Buddhism in Hue. Dieu De pagoda is the third national pagoda in Hue with legend that the land where Dieu De pagoda was built is where Emperor Thieu Tri was born and lived before ascending the throne.
Gia Hoi ancient town also has Thanh Binh ancestral temple which was ranked as a national cultural relic since 1992. Here is the memorial tablet of Can Cuong Hau, who is honored as the founder of Tuong opera and the late founder of Tuong opera, Dao Tan. In the past, this place was the training place for artists of the Viet Tuong Tuong troupe in the forbidden palace, and later became a place for Tuong opera performances to serve the audience of Hue citadel.
This old town also has a temple to worship Hung Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan, a house to worship the founders of the goldsmith profession, Cao Dinh Do and Cao Dinh Huong...
The most special thing about this ancient town is a series of mansions of kings, queens, and high-ranking officials in the Hue royal court such as the Palace of Princess Nhu Sac, the Palace of Gia Hung Vuong (Bach Dang Street), the Palace of Vinh Tuong District King, the Palace of Tuy An District Duke (Nguyen Chi Thanh Street), the Palace of Hoai Duc District King, the Palace of Nghi Quoc Cong Tu (Nguyen Du Street), the Palace of Tho Xuan Vuong, the Palace of Thoai Thai Vuong, the Palace of Hoa Thanh Vuong, the Palace of Quang Bien District Duke (Chi Lang Street)... In particular, Ngoc Son Princess Tu is considered the most beautiful garden house in Hue, carefully preserved.
The Old Quarter is also the place with the largest Chinese community in Hue. There are many Chinese architectures such as the Hainan, Chaozhou, Fujian, and Guangzhao assembly halls and the Chieu Ung temple.
The Old Quarter is home to a rich culinary life with famous Hue specialties such as sesame candy, beef noodle soup, banh beo - nam - loc, vermicelli with vinegar, grilled pork noodle soup, vermicelli with fish sauce, banh khoai, grilled spring rolls, mussel rice, sweet soup... which have long been famous and attracted a large number of diners.
Currently, many ancient architectures in Gia Hoi ancient town are being beautifully restored. Researchers believe that in the near future, if invested, Gia Hoi ancient town will be able to attract tourists like Hoi An ancient town in Quang Nam province.
NGUYEN VAN TOAN
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