On the morning of January 4, at Ngu Ha Vien, the project “Reviving Chuon village traditional scroll (lien) making craft” was officially launched to the public, marking an emotional milestone in the journey to rediscover and restore a part of cultural memory that was once on the brink of extinction.

For many years immersed in the sounds of chisels and hammers, Mr. Vo Huu An, born in 1975, cannot remember how many wooden works he has created.

Among the approximately 70 traditional villages living on practicing crafts in Hue, the craft of making parasols is a special one. Beyond the meticulous craftsmanship required in the crafting process, this craft is also special because the finished products carry profound symbolic value in the local cultural life. Far exceeding their practical function of shielding from sun and rain, the parasols serve as markers of order, ritual, and reverence.

Born in Hue - a place where traditional crafts are deeply intertwined with spiritual life, Tran Phuoc Hoang (28 years old) chose to dedicate himself to the craft of carving ancestral tablets. After nearly 10 years in the craft, he has quietly preserved traditional values through every product meticulously created with his passion.

Going through many generations, the traditional drum-making craft of the Co Tu people has gradually faded, remaining only in the memories of a few elders. In Doi Village, Khe Tre Commune, artisan and village elder Vuong Van Cua is one of the last people still preserving the ancient secrets of making traditional Co Tu drums.

Unable to rely solely on love for the craft or pride in the past, Hue’s craft villages must step beyond traditional pathways toward a new journey: Transforming production thinking, applying technology, embracing green transition, elevating quality, and telling cultural stories in more modern ways.

More than just creating a space to promote and support craft villages on-site and bring Hue’s specialties farther afield, the young founders of Dac san Kinh Do – Songcentre Hue (Imperial Specialties – Hue Living Center) brand also embed a story in each product and apply technology to production, with the aspiration to fulfill the mission of inheriting and renewing traditional crafts so that Hue’s craft village brands can take off and expand their markets.

The culinary festival titled “Vietnamese Noodle Heritage - Van Cu Noodle Village” opened on the afternoon of February 18 at Van Cu Hamlet, Nam Thanh Village. This is one of the main activities to respond to the celebration of receiving the national intangible cultural heritage recognition for the “Traditional Craft - Van Cu Noodle-Making Craft”, which is scheduled to be held on February 19.

As a “pillar of the community” with over 40 years of experience, Nguyen Ha (Giang Hai, Phu Loc) is not only revered for his deft hands but also respected by fellow fishermen for his dedication to the craft of net weaving and his journeys on the open sea.

Sunday Handicraft & Art is an activity organized by Legend of Hue and craft units on March 19 at Hue Innovation Hub (53 Nguyen Hue Str., Hue City).