Old-time Vietnam — The Fishing Village of Bao Vinh

I went to Bao Vinh because I wanted to see a fishing village in Hue.



Once upon a time, Bao Vinh was a bustling port besides having a vibrant fishing community. Its rise as a trading port originated from the Chinese merchants’ commerce in this area during the 17th century. They traded much sought-after goods: rice, salt, seafood, and fish sauce. The workmen of Bao Vinh made coffins, inlaid pearl crafts, bricks, tiles and woven handcrafts.

There were 39 century-old houses from this era of prosperity, but only about 15 remain and they are in ruins. When Hue no longer served as the capital of Vietnam, Bao Vinh’s booming commerce slowly declined. Today, there are still traditional craftsmen here, as some of the old craftsmanship has been revived, such as the making of conical hats, incense, carpentry and blacksmiths.

When I got there, I decided that it would serve all my purposes if I just walked through the main street. The main street that runs through this riverside community is named Bao Vinh. It was very busy. Vendors, pedestrians, bicyclists, vehicles – every bit of cacophony bespoke a vibrant community. I did not look very hard for the century-old buildings in Bao Vinh. I would rather just relax and enjoy the vibe. The colors all along its main thoroughfare came with lots of natural and man-made flavours. They were of the native fruits grown locally, of the handicrafts on sale, of the machine-made household goods. The sights were every bit aged as they were every bit youthful.




#baovinh #hue #vietnam #southeastasia #fishingvillage
#travel#thingstodo#familytravel

Post by Helen Yu (Chestnut Journal) | Feb 8, 2025