Hoi An at night - song of paradise

Boat carrying tourists on Hoai River through Hoi An. Photo: NGUYEN KHOI

It does not hide the mess, but rather cleans it up, turning the old town into a shimmering silk painting. The night brings people closer together, not with hasty words, but with the warm light from thousands of lanterns, with simple smiles without make-up, belonging only to this moment - the moment when Hoi An returns to its simple, gentle self, carrying with it countless lingering memories. “What is it that makes Hoi An so tilted?/ The lanterns are high in the dreamy night.../ That light, the lanterns of the festival night.../ Hoi An ancient town... You are so beautiful” (Hoi An Night - Phan Van Bich).

Thousands of lanterns, from luxurious silk to rustic do paper, not only spread throughout the corners of the streets but also dance on the boats bobbing on the Hoai River. Each lantern is like a flame of love whispering its own story, illuminating every wandering step. The strong wind carries the strong scent of alluvium from the shore, mixed with the sweetness of ripe fruit from Cu Lao Cham. Clear in the air is the endless love song of Hoi An: the sound of bai choi singing like the confession of the land, the graceful melodies of the ancient assembly halls. And sometimes just the rustic guitar notes falling on the waves, like the whispers of travelers in the midst of a frozen time. That alone is enough to make the heart captivated and sweet!

Stopping by the Hoai River, I was fascinated by the lines etched on the faces of the lantern sellers. There were old ladies with hair as white as smoke, their wrinkled skin marked by the traces of time, but their toothless smiles and gentle eyes still sparkled with the beauty of eternal peace. Right next to them were little girls and boys, nine and ten years old, with clear eyes, innocent smiles and strangely holy hearts. They were the pure buds of the dawn, contrasting with the rays of the afternoon sun on the old ladies' faces. These two images, one side was the nostalgic past, the other side was the bright future, shining warm light into people's hearts, making time seem to slow down in an amazing way.

It seems that only the night in Hoi An can bring such excitement and fascination. In the embrace of Hoi An night, people's hearts suddenly become peaceful. The worries of daily life, competition, jealousy... all seem to disappear into nothingness.

Hoi An Night is not just a trip, but a return - a return to the original values, to the purification of the soul. Then suddenly realize, sometimes happiness is simply a night without worries, a soul at peace in the flow of human love.

LUONG DINH KHOA

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/hoi-an-dem-khuc-hat-thien-duong-post807647.html