Take a ride in an iconic round “basket boat” (also known as thung chai or thuyen thung) when you head down south to Lap An Lagoon and Hoi An.
These coracles are believed to have been “born out of ingenuity during the French colonial era” when “the French levied taxes on boats” and the poor fishermen responded by weaving large circular waterproof baskets that “happened to also function as boats”. Made with young bamboo, these lightweight craft are steered using a gentle back-and-forth arcing motion to avoid spinning in circles.
Centuries ago, Chinese merchants brought silk lanterns to Vietnam, and locals have since stamped them with their own cultural influences. Wood has been swapped for bamboo, red for a plethora of colours, and the standard hexagonal shape for a range of vibrant modifications – the most popular of which resembles a garlic bulb.
The myriad of handicraft stores and workshops in Hoi An cater to all kinds of visitors, whether to make lanterns from scratch, or simply apply the desired fabric over a pre-made frame. Different colours carry different meanings – red for luck, blue for hope, purple for nostalgia, and so on.
