Experiencing handmade products

With a vivid imagination and familiar natural materials, artist Nguyen Van Tien, from Kim Long Ward, has created an engaging experiential space through the Tataki-zome handcrafted fabric-dyeing technique.

In Bao Vinh Old Town, Ms. Tran Thi Minh Phung still carefully holds her brush each day to paint on glass, just as her family has done for generations. As most of the artisans from the old days have nearly disappeared, the hands of this woman in her fifties have become a place where a craft once closely associated with the royal art of Hue is being preserved.

During this Binh Ngo Lunar New Year, the community of Hue heritage enthusiasts receive good news. That is the comeback of the once-renowned lien lang Chuon (the Chuon village decorative scroll). The journey of reviving this valuable type of folk painting, which has been lost for some time, is a long story which took not only sweat, buy also dedication of young people who love the heritage.

During their spring outings, beyond visiting heritage sites and familiar attractions, many travelers to Hue have chosen a distinctive way to experience Tet: seeking out traditional craft spaces, personally experiencing hands-on activities, and creating handmade products imbued with the rich cultural identity of Hue Ancient Capital.

As Lunar New Year approaches, areas around universities grow increasingly quiet. Traffic thins out, while many eateries and photocopy shops close for the holiday. Boarding houses fall silent as most students head home by the 24th or 25th day of the lunar December; those who remain are mainly from distant hometowns, working part-time, or hoping to experience Tet in a new place.