In addition to Hue Citadel, which is the place to keep a golden age of the ancient land, a few kilometers from the city center, there is also a port town that more than 200 years ago was once the busiest and busiest trading gateway in Vietnam. Dang Trong. That is Bao Vinh – an ancient Hue tourist destination mixed with modernity, reflecting the ups and downs of history.
Every small corner, village, and neighborhood in Bao Vinh has a gentle beauty mixed with contemplation that makes most Hue tourists fall in love when coming here.
BAO VINH – A TIME “ON THE DOCK UNDER THE BOAT”
In the mid-17th century, when the country was divided into Dang Trong and Dang Ngoai, Thanh Ha port was considered the most important commercial port with a neighborhood named Dai Minh. Many traders from all over Asia such as Hong Kong, Macau, Japan … have come here to trade. However, in the 18th century, this port was sedimented, the Huong River changed its flow because King Gia Long built the Hue Citadel, many sand dunes appeared, making it difficult for boats to access the port. At this time, traders began to choose Bao Vinh, just 1km away, as a trading place. Since then, Bao Vinh continued to become a busy trading port of Phu Xuan citadel in the early period of the Nguyen Dynasty.
Bao Vinh commercial port has many retail stores, ranging from popular goods such as rulers, fruits, and children’s toys to high-end products such as silk, tea, ceramics, and products such as betel nut, betel nut, and dyed wood. , ivory… Bao Vinh is also famous for its mosaic, brick and tile making, box making, cloth weaving, and powder making.
In 1885, the capital Hue fell, Bao Vinh was devastated and gradually died out. When King Thanh Thai built Dong Ba market street, Bao Vinh’s bustling “market door and trading port” position disappeared completely.
BAO VINH OLD TOWN TODAY
Bao Vinh is now just a few hundred meters long streets with 2 blocks of houses close to the road, old houses – new houses intertwine. Although a busy time has passed, Bao Vinh’s soul still lingers in the idyllic lives of the simple and warm people in familiar nostalgic images such as banyan trees, water wharf, communal yard, etc. Country markets, street corners, etc. It is the simple beauty that holds many travelers’ feet every time they have the opportunity to travel from Hue to this dear old town.
+ SLOW PACE OF LIFE INSIDE THE OLD TOWN
Traveling from Hue to Bao Vinh, wandering from the communal house along the street, looking at the remaining architecture of the trading port that day, it was difficult for anyone to contain their emotions. Although only about a dozen old houses still exist, next to the newly built houses. Those old rafter columns and roof tiles are still resisting day by day with the harsh wear and tear of time, making the traveler love Bao Vinh more than ever.
The houses in Bao Vinh are mixed with the architecture of the French colonial period and typical Chinese shops with 2-story structures, wooden ribs, low tile roofs. The row of houses by the river is designed in a quadrilateral style, facing the river, making Bao Vinh’s old town similar to Hoi An old town. The pace of life here is also quite calm and slow. In the early morning, Bao Vinh attracts tourists with images of mothers with loads of vermicelli, mussel rice, cakes, porridge, etc., sitting quietly in a small corner on the street, alley-like many other old quarters. Going deep into the alley is a glimpse of confetti, mossy walls, and old doorways tinged with time.
+ QUIETLY THE FERRY RIDES
Near the end of Bao Vinh’s old town is the Thien Giang Tu temple which is more than 200 years old and the ferry crossing. The ferryboats that seemed to only exist in the literature still quietly take Hue people and tourists from Bao Vinh to Thanh Tien village to make paper flowers, Sinh village to print wood carving, and Tien Non village to do the painting. . The boat rides back and forth carrying the whole village, making the villages on both sides of the river even more attached.
For many Hue tourists in Bao Vinh old town, the most enjoyable experience is probably sitting on a boat along the Huong River and admiring this “muse” glowing in the early morning sun. The image of houses painted in striking colors reflected in the cool water, the boat turning into the river creates a picture of a charming and poetic landscape.