Hoi An 2

Our last day in Hoi An included visits to several of the traditional villages. As I mentioned, the Ancient Town is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Although these villages are instrumental to the Ancient Town, they are not included in the designation and are outside the physical boundaries of the protected area. However, the community itself has chosen to protect these areas and is working to implement many of the same procedures and regulations here as in the Ancient Town. They are also finding ways to develop tourism to the villages that assists with their protection, as well as with the continued valuation of traditional working ways and the preservation of the intangible culture inherent in the villages and villagers. Here it is evident the inherent tensions between old and new, the competing pressures of industry and market forces, and the (often) growing divide between generations. Interestingly, it is the grandparents and grandchildren who are keeping things moving here, while the parents tend to work in other areas in order to provide for the families.


Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law keep traditional pottery making alive in the ceramic village. These whistles are sold by the children to tourists. We insisted on only the whistles without the red oxide dip; there is a movement to ban this poisonous element, but as long as tourists buy the pretty red whistles....



Pilyoung takes a turn at the potters wheel, and makes a lovely little vase. Amar holds class in the courtyard of one of the ceramic houses/shops.



In the woodworking village, boats are built and repaired, crafts are made, and the work is done for nearly all of the houses in the village and in the Ancient Town.




Women in the woodworking village have their own enterprise with embroidered bags, and rice wine.



In the fishing village, different methods are used for different purposes. I earlier posted a close-up of a fisherman and his catch. Here, one of the large nets that is raised and lowered into the river. Below, a variety of palms characterize this area, and have a number of uses for the people.



Boats ferry people (and their bikes) between the villages and the Ancient Town. Sunset, on our way back to town.