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A passion for antiques
"You're just like your grandfather," my mother would always say whenever I brought home a couple of items from somewhere. My grandfather was also an antique collector in Hanoi. Although not as famous as Mr. Vinh in Ly Thai To or Mr. Duoc in Nguyen Truong To, he still kept many valuable items for himself. On the day he passed away, many friends and artists from Hanoi came to pay their respects, and many people asked to buy some of the items, but the family refused to sell them and only fulfilled reasonable requests from the Vietnam Historical Museum. The rest continued to be carefully preserved by the family.
Continuing that tradition, from a young age I showed a burning passion for things my mother considered "discarded," from Indochinese silver coins to the bucket hat my uncle used during the anti-American war. Initially, it was just old items scattered around the house, but gradually, over time, I amassed a "treasure trove" in both the literal and figurative sense. In my free time, I always spent time admiring, cleaning, and imagining the stories they had told. Where did they come from? Whose hands did they pass through? What made them special?
I remember the day my uncle returned from a business trip to the Soviet Union and gave me a hourglass. For the first time in my life, as a 10-year-old boy, I saw something so strange. Sand flowed vertically from one jar to another. It was amazing that they called it a clock, because at that time, the only thing I knew was the sound of the pendulum clock hanging on the wall (which was also a very old item belonging to my grandfather). I played with the hourglass all day, taking it to school, keeping it beside me while eating, and gazing at it endlessly. Every time the sand ran out, I would turn it upside down to let the sand flow again from the beginning, which was so amusing. I asked my mother, "How are people so clever, Mom? They come up with so many wonderful things!" My mother just smiled and turned to my father, saying, "It's just like your grandfather!"
Twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye. My uncle has passed away, and while the past and people have changed, I'm fortunate to still have that hourglass, which I cherish and keep in my possession. Sometimes, watching the tiny grains of sand fall and flow like a stream, I reflect on life. I call them antiques because they are witnesses to history, carrying with them unforgettable stories and memories of loved ones, of society, and of life itself. Looking at them, it's as if I'm reliving that moment, that time, that place. My uncle is still here, his hands still warm when he gave me the hourglass. My grandfather still sits in his rocking chair, his eyes half-closed, listening to music from the East German radio, and the pendulum of the wall clock still ticking away the time.
A reunion of "colleagues"
I call those who share my hobby of collecting and collecting antiques "fellow collectors," even though we work in all sorts of different professions in real life. My fellow collectors are incredibly diverse, ranging from elderly people in their twilight years, writers, poets, architects, and businessmen, to little boys with a few copies of the 1992 Doraemon comic book.
Occasionally, on weekends, we meet at Lam Cafe on Nguyen Huu Huan Street. This cafe, famous for its paintings by the "Hanoi" artist Bui Xuan Phai, evokes strong emotions in antique enthusiasts like me. Many say that people with this kind of hobby are often eccentric and artistic, with unpredictable temperaments. I like that idea, because only truly artistic and romantic individuals can recognize the hidden values behind the unsightly appearance of a thick cotton jacket—what our elders called a "dai can" jacket—or the engravings on ancient coins. During these meetings, we usually exchange information about recently acquired items, share preservation tips, and tell each other stories about them. Each person has their own unique collecting interests. Some bring Soviet-era items, others war relics, some old books, others coins… Have you ever noticed that these old items somehow exude the charm, elegance, or nobility of their owners?
The writer Mai Lam, an elder brother whom I deeply respect, once said: "Just like clothes and shoes, watches, in a certain sense, are just a fashion item that may suit one person but not another. Therefore, except for true collectors who aspire to own every type, amateur collectors should find a watch that suits their taste, regardless of whether they are a businessman, an artist, or a civil servant."
Mr. Lam started collecting antiques in the 1990s, beginning with watches, then moving on to wind-up music players like the Grammophon or Edison Phonograph, and later masks, paintings, and sculptures… He always cherishes and cares for them as if they were a part of his own body. Every time we see him admiring them, listening to the ticking of the clock hands, and nodding in satisfaction, it warms our hearts. Or the young guys I introduced to the group; they were initially shy and hesitant when they first met the older members, but gradually they became more mature. They learned how to use tweezers to examine antique stamps, how the colors of two stamps didn't seem unusual at first glance, but the difference was only noticeable when viewed in sunlight. That's how antique collectors are; they don't need many words, but they always understand each other. Just through their eyes and gestures, you can see how much passion they have for their craft.
Antique market
When swallows begin to soar in the sky, peach blossoms bud in delicate pink, and trees turn lush green, it is also the time when antique dealers, collectors, and enthusiasts from all over the country, mainly from provinces surrounding Hanoi such as Bac Ninh, Nam Dinh, and Vinh Phuc, gather at Hanoi's unique antique market. Although it only lasts 10 days, running concurrently with the Hang Luoc flower market, it has long been an integral part of the spring atmosphere of the thousand-year-old capital.
How could I forget the feeling of my grandfather taking me to the Tet market for the first time? Back then, it was simpler and not as bustling as it is now. There were still peonies, violets, and kumquat branches, but my grandfather and I only visited the antique stalls. We looked around, pointed, asked questions, and chatted. Sometimes we didn't buy anything, but sitting and talking with the "fellow traders" brought back the spirit of spring. My grandfather especially liked Buddha statues, various religious artifacts, bronze incense burners, and mythical creatures like dragons and turtles… Some were from the Tran Dynasty, some from China or India, or simply had unique designs that could be considered antiques, allowing the shopkeepers to charge high prices to buyers. He pointed out a statue of Quan Yin (Guan Yin), saying it was from the Tang Dynasty, and explained to me the characteristics, shapes, and identifying features of an item to determine its age and whether it was genuine or fake. It takes someone with profound knowledge and intense passion to remember things so well and for so long.
This year's weather is favorable, with a cool monsoon breeze and a touch of spring rain, making this transitional moment even more sacred. A blend of old and new styles. The antique market is open from morning till evening; some people come just to look without buying, others just to purchase a few small items to reminisce about a bygone era, but everyone is excited and intrigued by the items at the market. From antique oil lamps and old swords to charcoal-powered fans... even the most "ugly"-looking items become topics of lively discussion.
The prices of antiques vary widely, from cheap to expensive, and even extremely expensive, ranging from a few hundred thousand to hundreds of millions of dong, depending on the actual value of the item. It might seem like an exorbitant price, but most of the people browsing are fellow professionals, buying and selling to support each other. Many are simply curious, sometimes finding something interesting to show off to their friends after a day of shopping. Buying and selling antiques at the end of the old year and the beginning of the new year also carries spiritual significance and a wish for good fortune.
As a child, I used to think that collectors of antiques had to be wealthy because those items were truly valuable. But later I learned that besides money, collectors must first and foremost possess passion and knowledge. Collecting or collecting antiques brings not only material value but, more importantly, spiritual value. When I'm feeling down or tired from the hustle and bustle of market life, what lifts me up are those seemingly "worthless" items. They remind me that with each passing day, I myself become "antique," yesterday becomes old, and everything I do will become a memory. Therefore, live your life in such a way that you become an "antique" that everyone respects and cherishes, just like my grandfather once was.
