Thanh Toan tiled-roof bridge spans Nhu Y River - Photo: PHAM THI NHUNG
On the seventh day of the first lunar month, my whole family set off from the center of Hue city to Thanh Toan tiled bridge in Thanh Thuy Chanh village, Thuy Thanh commune, Huong Thuy town.
The road to the commune was wide and well-maintained, surrounded by lush, verdant rice fields. White egrets fluttered above the swaying rice stalks, bathed in the golden rays of the early morning sun. After about ten minutes, the car arrived at the entrance to Thanh Thuy Chanh village, much to my surprise, as the journey was much shorter than expected.
We stopped at an open-air beef noodle soup stall, nestled beside a breezy canal. The friendly vendor warmly invited us to our table. After enjoying a bowl of flavorful beef noodle soup, served with fresh, fragrant vegetables, I was ready to explore the famous village with my family.
I was still feeling a little disappointed seeing the sign for Cau Ngoi Night Market right at the entrance to the village, but when I arrived in the morning, I was immediately drawn to a lively crowd ahead. It turned out everyone was enthusiastically playing bài chòi – a familiar folk game of the Central Vietnamese people during festivals and holidays.
Each player sits in a small thatched hut, holding playing cards and tapping bamboo sticks against a pole to create a rhythmic, cheerful melody. A middle-aged woman wearing a conical hat, a purple silk blouse, and black trousers, with a nimble gait, acts as the caller. Whoever's card matches the name called out by the caller taps three times and shouts it out.
Bài Chòi performance in Thanh Thủy Chánh village - Video : PHAM THI NHUNG
The lively, captivating singing drew both spectators and players into the witty yet profound melodies. Joy permeated the air. Foreign tourists were visibly delighted; some even went to the thatched huts to get a closer look or enthusiastically asked the tour guide questions. We spontaneously clapped together when the game ended and the prize was awarded to the winner.
My husband joked, "This is a kind of Hue-style bingo." But Bài Chòi is much more unique and captivating because it introduces the game with rhymes and folk songs adapted from everyday life, evoking love for family, homeland, and country. Just watching from the sidelines, I could feel the joyful atmosphere, deeply rooted in the Vietnamese countryside, of this traditional folk game.
Bài Chòi has been recognized by UNESCO as a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, but currently in Hue, only Thanh Thuy Chanh village still maintains this tradition. Visiting here during holidays, Tet (Lunar New Year), or on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons, you can participate in this wholesome and highly community-connecting recreational game.
The tranquil Nhu Y River - Photo: PHAM THI NHUNG
Leaving the area where people play bài chòi (a traditional Vietnamese folk game), and walking along the Như Ý riverbank for about two hundred meters, we arrived at the Thanh Toàn tiled bridge with its distinctive "house on top, bridge underneath" architecture, which has been recognized as a national historical monument.
On the seventh day of the first lunar month, the crowds had thinned out, giving us plenty of space to admire the bridge. Down on the river, boats were brightly decorated with red lanterns and pots of vibrant yellow chrysanthemums, available for tourists to rent as photo spots.
The tiled bridge resembles a house on the river, with a wooden structure and tiled roof, meticulously carved in the distinctive style of Hue. The bridge is divided into seven sections, with two rows of wooden benches like long seats and railings along the sides for people to lean back, rest, and admire the view.
Wooden platforms inside Thanh Toan tiled bridge for visitors to rest - Photo: PHAM THI NHUNG
In the central hall is an altar dedicated to Mrs. Tran Thi Dao, who donated money to build the bridge out of compassion for the villagers who had to travel by boat, enduring hardship and wasted time. She was from Thanh Thuy Chanh village, the wife of a high-ranking official who served as the governor of Thuan Hoa province during the reign of King Le Hien Tong. She received a royal decree of praise from the king, and the villagers remember her kindness with a grand annual festival held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, which is also her death anniversary.
Around the tiled bridge, besides the village communal house and the martyrs' shrine, there are also areas where villagers engage in recreational activities, trade, and gatherings. Unfortunately, we missed the "Cau Ngoi Village Market" to enjoy the local cuisine and participate in the lively festival.
Sitting beside my loved ones on the wooden platform inside the tiled bridge, enjoying the fresh breeze blowing in from the gentle Nhu Y River, and gazing at the peaceful countryside and scenery, my heart was filled with an indescribable sense of tranquility. That simple moment was brimming with the joy of the whole family during the first days of the new year.
Thanh Toan tiled bridge with meticulously carved motifs - Photo: PHAM THI NHUNG
I quietly lit an incense stick at the altar of Mrs. Tran Thi Dao, silently thanking her for her kindness, for leaving behind for the people of Thanh Thuy Chanh village and the country a work of immeasurable value, both material and spiritual.
Bidding farewell to the beautiful and historically rich village, we got into the car to head back. Along the roadside, white egrets soared over the lush green rice fields, bathed in brilliant golden sunlight.
February 24th (the 15th day of the first lunar month) is the deadline for submitting entries to the "My Tet Moment" contest.
The "My Tet Moment" contest is an opportunity for readers to share beautiful moments and unforgettable experiences from Tet with family and friends.
Each article should be a maximum of 1,000 words in Vietnamese, and including photos, photo series, or videos is encouraged.
Your entry should share your favorite destinations and unique places to visit. Through your story, you will help many people discover new lands and must-see locations for spring travel.
It could be an article documenting moments of friends and family gathering, celebrating Tet (Lunar New Year), and having fun together.
These are notes and accounts of personal experiences from trips and business trips away from home during the Lunar New Year holidays that you have experienced.
The photo contest highlights the beauty of landmarks, places, or regions you've visited. This is an opportunity to tell the story of the vibrant colors and beautiful scenery of Vietnam or the countries you've been to.
From January 25th to February 24th, readers can submit their entries to khoanhkhactet@tuoitre.com.vn.
The awards ceremony and closing event are scheduled to take place in March 2024. The prize structure includes 1 first prize (15 million VND in cash and gifts), 2 second prizes (7 million VND and gifts), and 3 third prizes (5 million VND and gifts).
The program is sponsored by HDBank.
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