Hoi An history takes the stage in outdoor spectacle

A one-hour show called ‘Hoi An Memories’ recreates the 400-year history of the town from its early days as a small village to its golden era of a busy trading port.

With 500 actors and actresses, the show is performed on an outdoor stage covering an area of 25,000 square meters at the Hoi An Impression Theme Park on Hen Islet in Cam An Ward.

The stage is capable of accommodating 3,300 people at a time.

The show is divided into five parts, with the first showing how first Hoi An settlers came and set up a village.

Befitting its fame as a traditional fabric maker, the show starts with the image of a woman wearing ao dai (traditional Vietnamese long dress) and sitting by a weaving loom.

The second part of the show enacts the wedding of Noble Princess Huyen Tran and Champa King Jaya Sinhavarman III (also called Che Man in Vietnamese).

The princess was the daughter of King Tran Nhan Tong who pledged his daughter’s hand in marriage to the Champa King to strengthen bilateral relations.

In the third part of the show, this is a scene depicting a local legend. A wife waits for her husband with a lantern.

In the 16th century, Hoi An was well known as the busiest trading port in Southeast Asia. Merchant ships from many countries passed by the town.

Around this time, Hoi An residents also started setting sail.

The scene of Hoi An women walking amidst windstorms with lanterns showcases their courage and resilience in bearing life's hardships and being a spiritual support for their husbands and lovers.

"Hoi An Memories" is staged every day of the week except Tuesday from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Ticket prices range from VND480,000-1.2 million ($20.58-51.45).