Google celebrates Hội An, doodle shows colorful lanterns with full moonlight

Google today celebrates Hội An with a stunning doodle with a global notion that the city is remained largely unchanged for several centuries. With a population of approx. 120,000 in Vietnam’s Quảng Nam Province, Hội An was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. One of the major attractions is the Hoi An Lantern Full Moon Festival that takes place every full moon cycle.

Hoi An Lantern Full Moon Festival is a celebration to honor the ancestors. During the festival, people exchange flowers, lanterns, candles and fruits for growth, prosperity and good fortune. Hội An is globally known as an exceptionally well-preserved example of a Southeast Asian trading port dating from the 15^th to 19^th century. The structures of old town’s buildings and street plan reflect a blend of indigenous and foreign influences. The covered Japanese Bridge dating back to the 16^th to 17^th century is a prominent one and of the most attractive tourist destinations.

The name Hội An (Hoi An) originally means ‘peaceful meeting place’ and the town was historically known as Faifo in English and other European languages. The Cham (people of Champa) controlled the spice trade between the 7^th and 10^th centuries and the business brought massive wealth during that period. By the starting of 17^th century, Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish, Indian, Filipino, Indonesian, Thai, French, British, and American ships would come and go, while Chinese and Japanese traders rented waterfront houses in the seaside town.

The residents of Hội An burn incense and ignite small lanterns under the presence of full moonlight and float them on the river. The most magnificent and scintillating view comes when the river’s water is filled with colorful lanterns. This lantern festival remains unchanged in centuries and has become the brightest time to attract the visitors from across the world. Google’s new doodle shows how the covered Japanese bridge and its front water looks illuminated when colorful lanterns are floated under the full moonlight.

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