Memories burst forth in each lamp.

As its name suggests, the "Garden of Light" program opens up a vibrant and artistic space through the combination of light and handcrafted details. The sophisticated arrangements transform familiar landscapes into something new, offering a different way to experience the historical site. Notably, the program goes beyond simply creating beautiful backdrops for visitors to admire and photograph. Behind each installation lies a story about traditional craftsmanship, from the materials and techniques to the hands of the artisans, allowing viewers to both appreciate and understand the cultural values ​​preserved through generations.

Lantern artisan Vo Dinh Hoang (from the Dé Lantana Hoi An lantern workshop) shared: “I am very honored to participate in the program and bring the exquisite products of the craft village closer to the public. This is not only an opportunity to introduce the beauty of traditional crafts, but also a way for us to tell the story of preserving, inheriting, and creating in each product.”

Visitors participate in the "Garden of Lights" program.

Each lantern is made from bamboo, covered with thin silk, dó paper, or hand-dyed fabric, creating translucent, soft layers of color. Some are round, pumpkin-shaped, star-shaped, or carp-shaped, evoking memories of the Mid-Autumn Festival; others feature unconventional designs with multifaceted shapes, layered and interwoven like contemporary installations. The lanterns are stacked on top of each other, casting long shadows under the trees, making the space both warm and magical.

The lanterns from the Trong Binh Co Dang lantern-making village ( Ho Chi Minh City) evoke memories of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

In that space, visitors' steps seem to be held back. They walk slower, gazing longer. Some stop for a long time in front of a lantern, a childhood toy thought to be long gone, and then spontaneously smile. Or groups of young people stand together, looking up at the clusters of lanterns hanging high. The light shines on their faces, just enough to reveal their attentive eyes, just enough to maintain the necessary silence.

Tran Minh Nguyet (born in 2002, residing in Hoan Kiem Ward, Hanoi ) shared: “The lighting is beautiful, but what impressed me even more is that each exhibition area has its own story. Looking at the lanterns or handicrafts, I can clearly see the meticulousness and effort of the craftsmen and artisans.”

Heritage told in a new language.

The "Garden of Light" program is an opportunity for many traditional craft villages and workshops from across the country to gather and showcase the beauty of traditional crafts, such as Cao Vien lantern village (Thanh Oai commune, Hanoi), Phu Vinh rattan and bamboo weaving village (Phu Nghia commune, Hanoi), Kim Son sedge weaving village ( Ninh Binh province), Hoang Ngoc Tuyen umbrella and lantern artisan (Hue City), Bao La rattan and bamboo weaving village (Hue City), Hai Duong lantern and conical hat workshop (Hue City), Dé Lantana lanterns (Hoi An), Trong Binh Co Dang lanterns (Ho Chi Minh City)...

The participation of artisans and traditional craft villages from many regions has created a vibrant connection, where traditional values ​​are not only preserved but also continue to spread in contemporary life. Through diligent hands and accumulated experience, the creative spirit and knowledge of the Vietnamese people are awakened and manifested in a new form, more accessible to today's public.

At the same time, through the language of light, the program conveys the message that light illuminates the path of learning, guiding the soul with faith, opening the mind, and nurturing character. Through this, the spirit of learning, the core value of the Temple of Literature - National University, is subtly honored, contributing to meaningful values ​​in today's society.

Mr. Le Xuan Kieu, Director of the Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giám Cultural and Scientific Center, shared: “Each lamp featured in the program carries symbolic meaning. Light is not only for illumination, but also a metaphor for knowledge, for learning, and for values ​​that have been nurtured over many generations in this very space.”

Therefore, the entire exhibition space becomes a multi-dimensional dialogue between craft villages, between tradition and modernity, between craftspeople and the public. The public not only admires the beauty but also gradually learns more about the journey behind each traditional handicraft product, and about the core values ​​of the Temple of Literature - National University that are being preserved and continued.

Dr. Tran Hau Yen The, Lecturer at the School of Interdisciplinary Sciences and Arts, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, commented: “The program has brought heritage closer to the public through a new language. Each lamp is meticulously crafted, and the light from them contributes to beautifying the ancient space of the Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam National Special Monument. The harmonious combination of heritage values ​​has helped to provide visitors with memorable experiences.”

The "Garden of Light" program is the starting point for a series of activities that will take place in the Giám Garden area, implemented by the Văn Miếu - Quốc Tử Giám Cultural and Scientific Activities Center. From this foundation, many other events will continue to be organized to creatively utilize the space, while harmoniously connecting the inner courtyard, Văn Lake, and Giám Garden. Through this, the goal is to create a multi-layered, experience-rich cultural destination, contributing to the development of cultural industries in Hanoi.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/vuon-anh-sang-thap-sang-di-san-1035672