Paper Lanterns > Vietnamese Lanterns

Vietnamese Lanterns


Traditional Vietnamese lanterns were hexagonal and spherical in shape. During the sixteenth century, tube and canari shaped lanterns were hung by Japanese merchants and eventually, the locals began copying the practice hoping it would bring good luck to their homes.

The ancient Vietnamese city of Hoi An is home to a centuries old monthly lantern festival. On the fourteenth night of each lunar month intricately designed multi-colored paper lanterns are hung all over town making Hoi An a popular tourist attraction as well as a prominent exporter of lanterns.

Enjoy these Vietnamese lanterns with any of our large assortment of paper parasols and hand fans and bring the beauty and good fortune of Hoi An to your home.



















About Silk Vietnamese Lanterns:

During the biggest festivals in Vietnam called Tet Trung Thu, known as the Vietnamese Moon Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival, Vietnamese lanterns are usually part of the decoration. Tet Trung Thu is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. It is the time when the moon appears to be larger than on any other day of the year which usually falls every September. The moon symbolizes richness of life and wealth to the Vietnamese people. They celebrate this special day by hanging some Vietnamese lanterns and showcase them in parades. Others make their own paper lantern using simple materials.

On this special event the Vietnamese families plan their activities around their children. In a Vietnamese legend, parents were preparing for their harvest by working so hard that they leave their children playing by themselves and in order for them to compensate for the lost time they would make the Mid-Autumn festival as a way to show their love and appreciation for their children.

The Mid-Autumn Festival can also be suitably called the Children's Festival. In many Vietnamese-American communities this tradition continues in the United States. Trung-Thu activities are always concentrated on children and education. In order for the children to participate on the candlelit lantern parade which is usually done at dawn, parents buy lanterns for their children. Vietnamese lanterns symbolize brightness while the parade represents achievement in school. Vietnamese markets offer a wide range of Vietnamese lanterns, but the most popular children’s lantern is the star lantern. During this event, children perform different activities such as arts and crafts in which children make face masks and lanterns. Children also do some traditional Vietnamese dances for adults and join in contests in order to win prizes and scholarships. Vietnamese parents like the Chinese share some fairy tales stories to their children and at the same time serve them moon cakes and other special treats under the silvery moon. A popular myth is about a carp that wanted to become a dragon. After a long time of working hard the carp eventually transformed itself into a dragon. Parents make use this story to convey their children to work hard so that they can become whatever they want to be.

Hoi An located at the south of Vietnam is the home of these Vietnamese silk lanterns. It is where the world cultural heritage is located and was one of the main trading centers of Southeast Asia during 16-17th century. Commercial boats from different places like Arabian countries and China came to Hoi An to do some business.

Asian Silk Lantern trade has a wealthy and long history in Vietnam. In early times, Vietnamese people made lamps out of trivial bowls filled with oil and from the bamboo fish trap. Later, in the 1700s foreign traders introduced lanterns, varying from round and hexagonal designs from China to diamond and star shaped ones made from Japan. Vietnamese people really changed them into very charming and beautiful Vietnamese lanterns with silk materials. These lanterns come in various sizes and shapes, from normal round lanterns to diamond shape. Hoi An people became very proud of their lanterns. They have to make use of the old bamboo soaked about ten days in a salt water to help protect against insects, then dried and shaped it to the pattern that they want to make. Cloth must be made from silk and must be strong or durable enough for stretching. The Vietnamese lantern making process requires the high-quality skills and a lot of patience. The materials should be natural 100% silk worm made in Vietnam, bamboo frames with matching tassels. Each color, shape and even pattern on silk is significant. These beautiful handmade Vietnamese silk lanterns are the mixture of the beauty of Vietnamese silk and the showcase of the talent of Vietnamese people.

Hoi An's conservative charisma is always noticeable. Modernity takes another step back on the 15th of every lunar month. The town street lamps and fluorescent lights are being turned off on these evenings showing the Old Quarter filled with the warm glow of different colors of Vietnamese silk lanterns. Vietnamese lanterns are hanging on the altar of each Hoi An family. They have the attractive Chinese word that is the name of each clan or the three famous words such as Happiness, Fortune and Longevity. Vietnamese lanterns give light to every corner of the town when there are the customary opera performances, poem readings and chess competitions during the monthly full moon Festivals. These Vietnamese lanterns really bring the perfect charisma to this olden town.

The importance of the Mid-Autumn Festival has been changed over time. Originally it was not intended for children. The Vietnamese people believe that only when one who is innocent and has a pure heart can get close to the natural and sacred world. They can obtain attributes of the gods by becoming like children. Because of its interesting myths and traditions, and considering the mild weather during this festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a special and perfect time to see Vietnamese Lanterns.

These Vietnamese lanterns can bring a peaceful ancient environment into your very own home.

References:

 1. http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4853661_making-vietnamese-paper-lanterns.html
2. http://www.familyculture.com/holidays/tettrungthu.htm
3.http://www.thingsasian.com/stories-photos/1055