Vietnam

This winter I visited several cities in Vietnam, and noticed the varied architecture that reflected the different historical regions and influences throughout the years. Specifically, I visited Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Huế, and Hội An. Because Vietnam used to be a French colony, there was a lot of French elements in the architecture, which I noticed in Ho Chi Minh City. The city hall and train station were painted in pastel colors and had baroque flourishes around the windows. The royal palace in Huế was also made in a similar style, but the interior details were in a distinct Vietnamese style. There were porcelain dragons and other mystical creatures made out of mother of pearl. The pottery was painted with blue cobalt and there was ornate calligraphy and decorate elements on the walls. I also explored the Imperial City in Huế, which was constructed in 1803. It suffered several cyclones, a fire, and also military conflicts that left marks of bullet holes on the walls. The city was built in a more traditional Vietnamese style, but the later additions had Chinese and French influences. This reminded me of the port city of Hội An. Due to its historical significance as a trading post with China, Japan, and France, there was a large variety in the architecture. Even the buildings contained writing in two or more languages. Many merchants stayed in Hội An for an extended period of time (3-6 months) with their families, so the residential houses were diverse. The merchants often brought their religion with them, and I saw several Chinese shrines. This blend of culture in Vietnam made the arts very unique, and my travels very memorable.