Hoi An: The thousand-year-old well that never dries up

Hidden deep in a small alley on Tran Hung Dao Street, Ba Le ancient well, which has existed for more than a thousand years, is not only a historical witness to the ups and downs of the ancient city but also a sacred part for the people of Hoi An...

Until now, there has been no official record of the birth and name of the ancient well Ba Le. The elderly in Hoi An only know that the well was built around the 13th - 9th century. The name Ba Le was born around the 20th century, the name of the person who restored the well.

Ba Le well is square in shape and is said to have been built by the Cham people. The well wall was built of bricks, solid and sturdy.

At the bottom of the well is a wide ironwood frame that has been through thousands of years, but has not rotted. Layers of moss cling to the well walls, creating an ancient, distinctive Hoi An feature.

The square mouth of an ancient well – a characteristic of the ancient Cham people's construction method. Photo: PL

A corner of the Vo family church, where Vo Ba Le is worshiped - the person who restored the ancient well from the French colonial period. Photo: TH

Hoi An people believe that if they use Ba Le well water for cooking, the ancient town's specialties will be more flavorful and delicious.

Ms. Thi - the "successor" of the famous black sesame stall shared: "If you want to make delicious black sesame, you must use water from Ba Le well. If you cook it with other water, it will lose its flavor."

Also from Ba Le well, the profession of carrying water for hire to serve restaurants was born. The ancient well water makes famous delicious dishes of Hoi An. Photo: TH

The strange thing is that Ba Le well never runs dry. No matter the rainy season or the most severe drought.

Many people here believe that when a baby is born and bathed in the ancient Ba Le well, his skin will be rosy, healthy, and grow quickly. Many families still have the habit of drinking well water and making tea from Ba Le well water, because they are used to the cool, fresh taste of the water that tap water cannot replace.

The mouth of Ba Le well is located on a small piece of land, without a fence so that every day Hoi An people can come here to fetch water for use. Photo: TH

Hoi An people have always believed in the belief of “all things have animism”, that everything around humans has its own soul. They believe that Ba Le well always loves the people of Hoi An and brings the best to this ancient land.

About half a meter from the mouth of the well, there is a very solemn altar to the well god. On full moon or new moon nights, Hoi An people still keep the habit of bringing flowers, fruits, incense and candles to worship and thank the cool water that Ba Le well brings to Hoi An. Ba Le well exists like a shadow with the old town, making the culture and cuisine here even more special.

Source: https://laodong.vn/la/hoi-an-gieng-co-ngan-nam-khong-can-606418.ldo