[Wanderlust Tips April 2019] With the theme “Travel through movies”, Share the love Section of Wanderlust Tips Travel Magazine April 2019 will give our readers the thrilling stories of memorable journeys inspired from the renowned moves of characters to have a better understanding of “marriage” between travel and movies.
[rpi]
SETTING FOOT IN THE FILMING LOCATIONS OF YOUR FAVOURITE MOVIES IS THE BEST FEELING EVER
NGUYEN QUANG HOANG LANG, GRAPHIC DESIGNER, HCMC
To begin with, we have to mention the famous movie Inceptionthat won 4 golden statuettes and was nominated for BestPicture at the 2011 Oscars. Since I love this movie so much,I immediately went to the Bir-Hakeim Bridge once I arrivedin France. It crosses the Seine, is the location of a scene inthe movie and now sometimes goes by the name InceptionBridge. Standing on Bir-Hakeim Bridge, imagining myself asa character in the movie, looking at the sights right before myeyes, the Eiffel Tower gave me an indescribable and incrediblymemorable feeling.
Or the time I visited Italy, the country that is considered the cradle of art. Walking on every small street corner in Rome reminded me of the many famous movies that have taken place here. The Trevi Fountain is the first thing I had to visit in Rome, throwing a coin into the fountain wishing to have a chance to come back here. It is also the background of the romantic movie To Rome with Love which tells of an exciting adventure of people vacationing in Rome.
Next stop is Amsterdam, the Netherlands. After an afternoon walk along the canals, I found the wooden bench where Hazel and Gus confessed their sweet love for each other in the movie The Fault In Our Stars.
There were many other beautiful places I got to see on my European journey that perhaps a movie addict like me will never be able to forget.
NOSTALGIA OF THE LOVER AT THE ANCIENT HOUSE OF BINH THUY
NGUYEN HOAN HAO, STUDENT AT TAY DO UNIVERSITY, CAN THO CITY
On the topic of classic movies with beautiful scenes, I’m deeply impressed with The Lover or in French L’Amant. The story portraits love with such depth and fascination, set in the context of Vietnam under French colonial rule.
Among all the scenes of the movie, I particularly remember one house for its unique architecture. The house is a mix of French and Asian culture known as the Ancient House of Binh Thuy, located in Can Tho. Because of the fondness I have for The Lover as well as the beautiful setting of the movie, I have visited the house many times.
The moment I set foot in the Ancient House of Binh Thuy, I feel totally comfortable, a feeling of gradually sinking into the nostalgia that the house has kept for many years. I like to touch the ironwood pillars with my own hands or sit by the window and enjoy the fresh air.
All the feelings that this place gives me are hard to precisely articulate, but above all, it’s perhaps its peacefulness and tenderness.
And not only for The Lover, the unique architecture of the Ancient House of Binh Thuy has also become the filming location for many other famous movies such as Tay Do Beauty, Long Distance Roads and Life’s Debt.
A VERY DIFFERENT NINH BINH IN KONG: SKULL ISLAND
HOANG THI THUY DUNG, OFFICE WORKER, HA NOI
I am a person who loves to be on the move, and Ninh Binh is the place that makes me want to return to it the most. Before the movie Kong: Skull Island, I’d already visited the ancient capital of Ninh Binh twice, and after the film was released, I decided to go there again.
The first two times I visited Ninh Binh, I was in a depressed mood and wished to find joy in a new land. I went there to temporarily forget life’s pressures and stresses and also because Ninh Binh is quite near Hanoi. On my third visit, I observed more, felt more and captured its essence for myself.
This time, I was extremely impressed with the set of Kong: Skull Island. It is hard to imagine such a magnificent movie set was built right in the middle of the peaceful land of Ninh Binh. In particular, the indigenous village on Skull Island in the film was restored to almost exactly as it was in the film, about 40 huts mainly made out of bamboo. Outside the huts, there were many ancient-looking household tools, wall hangers and the kitchens were also arranged in great detail.
One thing I specifically remember is the detailed layout of the huts, the way the lives of the indigenous people were also recreated in a real and attractive way. When I met and chatted with the locals in the costumes of indigenous people, I felt like I really was in the movie.
LOVE FOR DA LAT FROM THE MOVIE 100 DAYS WITH YOU
PHAM TRUNG, PHOTOGRAPHER, HCMC
Artists like me often take the time to watch movies, learn their configuration as well as creative frames. Among the movies I have seen, I was really impressed with 100 Days With You for its gentle feelings, its thoughtful story of youth and its carefully crafted visuals. I fell in love with Dalat through the film, making me want to explore this land.
Dalat, with its cool climate, massive pine forests and flowers blooming through all four seasons, stole my heart right away. On my arrival in Da Lat, I suddenly recalled the young people in the movie, Nhat Minh (Jun Vu), Anh Duong (Kha Ngan), and Le Huy (B Tran) and their lifestyle of living in complete loneliness. But then love itself led them to experience waves of emotions, challenge them to be more brave and open, and acknowledge that better things are awaiting them outside their comfort zone.
On my wandering days in Dalat, I fell more in love each day with the simplest and most modest things. Like when I woke up early and welcomed the new day in a beautiful place or when I rode my motorbike along a small ridge in the afternoon, surrounded by whispering pine forest. I also found the inspiration to continue making more impressive works of art.
And for you, if you want to soak in the beauty of Dalat completely, then I am sure that you only need to travel there and experience it yourself.
Wanderlust Tips