A Step into the Past: The Vintage Charm of Cholon

Описание: Cholon was originally established by the Hoa, the name for the Chinese diaspora community in Vietnam. Many of them were merchants who came to Vietnam from the 17th century onward. And they continued to operate markets and trade centers in their new home down south. Cholon, in fact, even translates to “big market.” While once a separate and distinct city from Saigon, the two were eventually fused together by the French in the 1930’s. Now comprising most of Saigon’s District 5, Cholon still maintains a different feel from the rest of the metropolis.

Describing Cholon’s founders, the Hoa, as a single uniform culture can be misleading. Within the dim, smoky pagodas of Cholon, for example, you’ll find a mix of various cultures from within China, such as the Fujianese, Cantonese, Hainanese and Teochew. They would often bring their local folk deities with them to be enshrined in their new home abroad. Oftentimes, particular pagodas were established by a single ethnic group, with the structures doubling as both their places of worship and community centers.

It should be noted, by the way, that the term ‘pagoda’ takes on a slightly different term in Vietnam than it does elsewhere. In most Asian countries like China, Thailand or Indonesia, a pagoda refers to a tiered tower. These are usually religious in nature and often (but not always) part of a larger temple complex.

In Vietnam, on the other hand, a pagoda is most certainly a place of worship, but it doesn’t even necessarily need to feature the tiered tower (though it sometimes might). This is possibly due to an old custom of not wanting to upset feudal lords by building structures taller than their homes. Therefore, it’s best to think of a Vietnamese pagoda as more less what you’d call a basic temple complex in other countries. Though inside of the pagodas of Cholon, for instance, you’ll likely be a little surprised by what you find.
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