28 Feb Traveling rings in Hoi An, Vietnam
From the first time I visited Hoi An, an ancient town on the central coast of Vietnam, I felt an immediate connection to the place. The friendly people, the mind-blowing food, the tranquil landscape — I knew this was a place worth returning to. That was nearly ten years ago… and the place has changed immensely since then.
At the end of 2019 I contacted my friends, Kim Duc and Dat (creators of ThinkPlaygrounds), to ask if there was any possibility of building a set of traveling rings in Vietnam. “How about in Hoi An?” was the enthusiastic response they gave me — and so the die was cast.
On a cloudy morning, I arrived on site to find Mr. Ky and the ThinkPlaygrounds crew awaiting the hardware I was about to deliver. Despite a language barrier, we quickly found common ground in trying to finish the project in time for the community’s opening ceremony the following weekend.
We spent the next few days installing the rings and adjusting the sand to accommodate the architects’ master plan. The structure itself is composed of 6 posts connected by a central header, from which 6 rings are hung. Unlike the “Original Muscle Beach” rings of Santa Monica, these rings use sealed ball bearing swivels for super smooth spinning.
As soon as the rings were attached a group of local kids arrived to figure out what the heck we’d installed. Within minutes they were helping each other reach the rings and swinging around with smiles on their faces.
Opening day was a low-key event involving the local officials and residents. It was great to see parents bringing their kids to try out the new equipment. Did I mention this is the first set of traveling rings in all of Asia?
One of the best thing about traveling rings is the interactions you have with people there. Long-term bonds are formed at the rings, more so than other public places. Case in point: my friend Yoshi flew to Vietnam from Japan to try out the new rings in Hoi An. Yoshi spent several days teaching the local residents how to use the rings — and showing off his skills, too!
All-in-all this was a great opportunity to share my passion for traveling rings with an international community, and awesome learning experience as well. It could not have come to fruition without the hard work of the team at ThinkPlaygrounds (thanks Duc and Dat!) and the financial support from Cedric Dahl (who also sponsored the Mokrin, Serbia rings).
If you happen to find yourself in Vietnam, I strongly urge you to take a small detour from the tourist trail and visit this park. There will be new additions (including a soccer field) to the park in 2020 and onward. Please be sure to leave a review on Google Maps and take photos with the hashtag #travelingrings for posting on social media.
Google maps:
Traveling Rings Cửa Đại, Hội An, Quang Nam Province
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5FJCB3ZAZeheFSZWA
How to get there: From Cưả Đại road make a right onto the coastal road Âu Cơ until you pass an abandoned beach resort. Shortly after make a right turn at the community house (visible cell tower beside it).
If arriving by taxi, ask the driver to take you to the “Vinpearl resort Cua Dai” and walk about a block from the entrance to the resort.
Where to stay
There are a plethora of guesthouses, hotels and resorts within cycling distance (3km) of the rings. Price ranges vary from $10/night for a hostel to $100+/night for a room in a fancy resort.