The Lam Son driftwood carving village (Luong Son district) in Hoa Binh province has been famous for many years. Every year, it produces thousands of driftwood sculptures for the market, made from dead ancient tree trunks or rotten, termite-infested tree trunks.
The dry tree stumps are brought back by locals to be crafted into unique wood sculptures (Photo: Minh Nguyen).
According to the elders here, carpentry is not a long-standing traditional craft in the area. In 1990, a few households in the commune found many tree stumps with strange shapes, so they brought them home, cleaned them, and carved them to their liking, displaying them in their houses.
It was from here that the idea of sculpting and crafting works of art from tree roots and driftwood emerged in a few households. Initially, people would dig up dead tree roots in the mountains and forests, carve them into simple works, and then sell them. Later, seeing the high value of the craft, many people followed suit, and their skills gradually improved.
Mr. Bui Anh Quy, Vice Chairman of the Lam Son Commune People's Committee, shared that the craft of driftwood carving has been present in the locality for about 30 years. Currently, there are many highly skilled artisans in the commune who create valuable works, building a brand for the craft village.
The process of crafting driftwood is carried out meticulously by artisans (Photo: Minh Nguyen).
"For a long time, the craft of driftwood carving has provided a stable income for people in the commune. Currently, this craft is developing most strongly in Doan Ket hamlet with more than 40 households involved in carving and trading. With the development of the craft village, people have a stable income, and the number of skilled craftsmen has also increased to more than 100 people," Mr. Quy said.
Mr. Cuong, the owner of a workshop, said that since he was a child, he had seen his grandparents, parents, and everyone in the neighborhood carving unique works of art from lifeless tree trunks and pieces of wood.
"After finishing high school, I asked my parents for permission to learn this craft and have been doing it ever since. I love this profession, so I hope to create even more works showcasing the unique beauty of driftwood," Cường confided.
Those who work with driftwood seem to "breathe life" into inanimate pieces of wood (Photo: Minh Nguyen).
The young man added that, unlike ordinary wooden statues, each product made from driftwood is unique due to its natural beauty. Driftwood is the core of dead ancient trees, surrounded by termites, but the core is very hard.
"From the core of the tree trunk, following the existing shape, the craftsman will create works such as: the God of Wealth, Bodhidharma, various mascots, animals, trees, birds... The finished works are beautiful, and the wood never gets damaged, so they have very high aesthetic and economic value," Mr. Cuong revealed.
The driftwood products made by the people of Lam Son craft village are usually valued from a few million (for small items) to tens of millions of dong. Some exceptional pieces can even sell for hundreds of millions of dong.
Unique driftwood sculptures can sell for up to hundreds of millions of VND (Photo: Tran Trong).
"The artwork is worth hundreds of millions of dong thanks to the bizarre and unique shape of the driftwood and the quality of the wood," Mr. Cuong added.
According to Mr. Thanh, who is involved in crafting driftwood sculptures, creating a complete driftwood artwork requires many steps. Starting with the tree stump or initial piece of driftwood, the craftsman will develop an idea, then sketch it on paper, attach it to the actual wood material, and only then proceed with drilling, carving, and polishing to create the desired artwork.
"A craftsman doesn't just need talent or skill. To create a masterpiece, one must have a special love for the craft. When creating a piece, it's like breathing life into it, transforming a lifeless piece of wood into something more vibrant and lively. Only then will it attract viewers, inspire appreciation, and make them willing to spend money to buy it and display it at home," Thanh confided.
Crafting driftwood brings high income to people in the highlands of Hoa Binh (Photo: Tran Trong).
In the Lam Son driftwood craft village, each stage of the process requires skilled craftsmen. Highly skilled artisans create high-quality works, earning tens of millions of dong per month.
Conversely, those who are new to the trade or working in general-purpose jobs perform simple tasks, earning a stable income of 300,000-500,000 VND per day.
The Vice Chairman of the Lam Son Commune People's Committee added that the craft village has been recognized and established by the Provincial People's Committee since 2017. In the future, the local government has also planned to develop a concentrated production and product display area to further develop the craft for the people, contributing to the local economy.
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