Visit Hoi An to see artisans create smiling bamboo roots.

In the heart of Hoi An's old town, many tourists linger in front of a small shop on Bach Dang Street to watch as gnarled bamboo stalks are gradually transformed into smiling or pensive faces by the skillful hands of artisan Huynh Phuong Do.

Mr. Huynh Phuong Do (Do Tre) - the "father" of Hoi An's bamboo sculpture art - Photo: THANH NGUYEN

Locals in the old town and tourists often refer to Mr. Huynh Phuong Do as "Red Bamboo," the "father" of Hoi An's bamboo sculpture art.

From a bamboo stump swept away by a flood to a unique artwork.

In front of his small stall at 26 Bach Dang Street (Hoi An Ward, Da Nang City), Mr. Do, with his small stature, sun-tanned face, and gentle smile revealing his characteristic missing teeth, was attentively carving while also greeting tourists fluently in English and French.

Mr. Do recounted how his passion for carving bamboo roots began during a major flood in 1999. At that time, the Hoai River rose high, sweeping clumps of bamboo ashore in front of his house. Having some free time and readily available wood carving tools, he retrieved a bamboo root to try carving it out of curiosity.

Unexpectedly, from that lifeless bamboo root, a human face emerged, rustic yet soulful. This first artwork was bought by a souvenir shop, opening up a completely new path for Mr. Do.

"At the time, I didn't think this would become a profession, I was just doing it for fun. But the more I did it, the more I loved it, and the more I realized that bamboo has its own unique soul," Mr. Do recalled.

Mr. Do developed a passion for sculpting at the age of 16, having previously apprenticed in wood carving in Kim Bong carpentry village. However, according to him, sculpting bamboo is much more difficult than sculpting wood.

Many of Mr. Do's works are crafted from bamboo roots and wood - Photo: THANH NGUYEN

“Wood has grain and a specific shape, but no two bamboo roots are alike. There are long roots, short roots, knots, and intricate patterns of nodes… The craftsman must be able to identify the character from the moment the bamboo root is intact. In particular, bamboo should not be harvested when it is producing shoots, as the harvested roots are easily infested with termites,” he said.

According to him, each bamboo stalk carries its own destiny, combined with the emotions and creativity of the craftsman at each moment, so each finished work is a unique and irreplaceable entity.

While admiring a bamboo stump placed on the table, he suddenly smiled: "This stump can be carved with the image of Phúc (the God of Fortune) from the set of Phúc - Lộc - Thọ (Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity)."

For him, that was the most crucial moment: capturing the character's pose. From that pose, his hands began to move. The large mallet shaped the overall form, while the smaller mallet refined each wrinkle, beard, and eye. In less than 30 minutes, a face emerged from the rough bamboo base.

The bamboo stalks that seem to "smile" captivate tourists.

Mr. Do's works often feature familiar figures from Eastern culture such as Guan Yu, Bodhidharma, the deities of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity, and the God of Wealth… All retain the original, rustic look of bamboo, without elaborate painting. Every day, many tourists visit Mr. Do's stall to watch him craft human faces from bamboo firsthand.

Ms. Le Huyen My (a tourist from Thanh Hoa ) shared: “When I came to Hoi An, I bought a bamboo root sculpture as a souvenir because I found it very unique and rustic. I've traveled to many places, but nowhere else have I seen sculptures carved from bamboo roots like this.”

In about 30 minutes, a product made from bamboo roots gradually takes shape under Mr. Do's hands - Photo: THANH NGUYEN

Each day, Mr. Do can complete about 15 simple works. Currently, many people passionate about bamboo root carving seek him out to learn the craft, and the teacher and students work continuously to keep up with the orders for souvenir shops. Shaped bamboo roots are priced from 200,000 to 500,000 VND, while those with unusual or unique shapes can fetch several million VND.

Not only are his bamboo artworks sold domestically, but they also travel abroad with tourists to many countries, becoming souvenirs that bear the distinctive mark of Hoi An.

When asked about his greatest wish, he mused, "I only wish to have a village specializing in bamboo carving. I'm willing to teach the craft to anyone who wants to learn. It would be a great loss if this craft weren't passed on."

Mr. Do's stall selling products made from bamboo roots is popular with many tourists - Photo: THANH NGUYEN

Each bamboo root carries its own unique destiny, combined with the emotions and creativity of the craftsman at each moment, so each finished work is a one-of-a-kind, unrepeatable creation. Shaped bamboo roots are priced from 200,000 to 500,000 VND, while those with unusual, unique shapes can fetch several million VND. - Photo: THANH NGUYEN

THANH NGUYEN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/den-hoi-an-xem-nghe-nhan-lam-goc-tre-biet-cuoi-20260114144725551.htm