In a humble house in Thuan Thanh ward, Meritorious Artisan Nguyen Thi Oanh (born in 1960) lives and works in a house surrounded by the rustic beauty of moss-covered tiles, areca palms, and blossoming fruit trees.

Meritorious Artisan Nguyen Thi Oanh in her family’s painting studio.

The space is not only her home but also a studio, teaching room, and a living museum of Dong Ho folk paintings.

The subtle scent of do paper, diep colors, and sticky rice paste fills rooms that preserve iconic artworks such as “Dam cuoi chuot” (Mice’s wedding), "Dan ga me con" (Mother hen and chicks), “Dan lon am duong” (Yin-Yang pigs), “Vinh quy bai to” (Returning home to pay tribute to ancestors after achieving academic honours) and “Hung dua” (Coconut Catching).

Dang Ngoc Phung showcases his handcrafted bamboo and rattan products.

Together with her husband, artisan Nguyen Huu Hoa, and their children, Oanh diligently breathes life into each brushstroke and colour layer on paper.

Every step—from sketching ideas, mixing pigments, to hand-printing each colour layer—is performed with great care and precision to ensure sharpness and vibrancy in each painting.

These skilled hands produce paintings that are both visually unique and rich in cultural meaning, reflecting Vietnamese hopes for family happiness, prosperity, and a just society.

Nguyen Duc Tao, a resident of Tho Ha residential area of Van Ha ward, has preserved the traditional craft of making rice paper for over 50 years.

With over 50 years dedicated to the craft, she said: “Dong Ho village has long been renowned for its colour-layering printing technique, which creates vivid visual effects. The village still preserves about 1,000 woodblocks that showcase the blend of tradition and innovation in Dong Ho art.”

At its peak, over 220 households in the village practiced the craft, providing stable livelihoods for the locals.

Similarly passionate and innovative, Dang Ngoc Phung (born in 1963) in Xuan Hoi village (Tan Chi commune) has helped bring traditional bamboo and rattan weaving to international markets. Growing up in a family of weavers, he learned the craft before turning 10 and has remained devoted ever since.

“In the past, the products were rustic daily items. To keep the craft alive, I began designing new patterns and colours suited for modern living spaces,” he shared.

Products like ornamental vases, drums-patterned trays, decorative lamps, and export baskets are highly valued for their aesthetics, durability, and cultural richness.

Seven of his products have earned OCOP (One Commune Once Product) certification, and many have been showcased at trade fairs and promoted through social media and e-commerce platforms.

Through collaboration between artisans, cooperatives, and businesses, Xuan Hoi’s bamboo and rattan products have reached markets such as Japan, Taiwan (China), the Republic of Korea, and Russia, generating significant economic value.

Currently, Bac Ninh province has over 100 traditional craft villages across sectors such as woodworking, papermaking, ceramics, metal casting, and bamboo weaving.

Many of these have developed strong brand identities, collective trademarks, and geographical indications.

Foreign tourists experience Dong Ho painting.

They include rice noodles from Thu Duong (Nam Duong commune), Van village rice wine and rice paper from Tho Ha (Van Ha ward), crispy rice cakes from Sau village (Bac Giang ward), Phu Lang ceramics (Phu Lang commune), and Dong Ky woodcrafts (Dong Nguyen ward).

Notably, Tho Ha’s rice paper-making village was recently recognised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as national intangible cultural heritage. These villages not only generate significant revenue but also provide jobs for tens of thousands of rural workers.

A vital force in passing on these traditions are the artisans themselves. Bac Ninh is currently home to 50 recognised artisans, honoured with the titles of People’s Artisan and Meritorious Artisan for their outstanding contributions.

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