Half a century of practice
Born into a family with a four-generation tradition of making traditional toys, from the age of six or seven, little Nguyen Duc Huong was guided by his father, getting acquainted with each piece of paper, bamboo stick and the first beat of a drum. After nearly six decades of attachment, Mr. Huong is still passionate about every small detail in the drum production process as if it were part of his flesh and blood.
According to him, the characteristics of folk toys in general and the drum in particular lie in the simplicity of materials and colors. The traditional drum consists of a handle, a drumhead, a face, a frame and a drumstick. In the past, the handle was made of bamboo, with two pieces of aluminum woven across the top to create gears; the drumhead was a hollow bamboo tube covered with paper; the drumstick was a small bamboo stick fixed with hemp or thread.
Over the past 20 years, the materials have been replaced with more modern materials, but the traditional shape and sound are still maintained. The drum body is now molded from clay, dried, and wrapped in colored paper. The drum head has two layers: a thick cardboard layer and a white paper layer dyed yellow, printed with a red star. The “clear, soulful” sound of the drum depends on the meticulousness in each step - from gluing the drum head to fitting the drummer so that it fits properly.
To increase production while still maintaining the “old” quality, Mr. Huong used to stay up all night to improve the production process. One of the effective initiatives was to use plastic molds (used in making silk flowers) to cast the drum handles, helping to save labor and increase productivity. Thanks to that, every Mid-Autumn Festival, his family can make tens of thousands of drums, supplying to the main markets in Hanoi , Hue, Ho Chi Minh City, etc.
However, economically , this is still a “work for profit” profession. A wholesale drum costs only about 5,000 VND; after deducting expenses, the maker earns a few hundred VND per drum. But for Mr. Huong, he always believes that drum making is not simply a means of earning a living; the greatest benefit is the joy and cultural significance that the profession brings.
Preserving and promoting traditional crafts
Recognizing the unique cultural value of the craft of making drums, many practical activities have been organized in recent times to promote and preserve the traditional craft village of Bao Dap. Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh - Mr. Huong's daughter - takes on the role of "ambassador" of the craft village and regularly represents the family in performing at cultural events and extracurricular activities at schools in and outside the province.
Seeing children eagerly making drums with their own hands, many parents were moved to recall their childhood. Mr. Tran Duc Ngoc ( Nam Dinh ward) shared: “I feel like I am reliving my childhood when I hear the crisp sound of the Bao Dap drum. If there are no programs or classes teaching how to make traditional toys, soon our children will no longer know about the drums, paper doctors, and lanterns… the pure Vietnamese toys that have been with them throughout their childhood”… Those confidences are not only personal feelings, but also a warning about the risk of fading traditional values in modern life.
A good sign is that every year, on the occasion of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology invites Mr. Huong’s family to Hanoi to participate in instructing children on how to make drums. Every time he attends an event in Hanoi, he takes the opportunity to walk around Hang Ma, Hang Giay, Dong Xuan Market… and cannot hide his joy when seeing his products among the stalls: “Bao Dap drums here!” - a short but proud introduction that warms the old artisan’s heart.
In particular, after the administrative unit rearrangement in 2025, Hong Quang commune was merged with Nghia An commune and Nam Van ward to form Hong Quang ward. The change is not only a name, but also opens up new development opportunities, creating more favorable conditions for the work of preserving and promoting craft villages.
Discussing the orientation, comrade Le Van Hung, Vice Chairman of Hong Quang Ward People's Committee affirmed: "The merger does not obscure the value of traditional craft villages. The local government will have a practical support mechanism for artisans and production households; at the same time, coordinate with the cultural sector to organize vocational training classes for the younger generation."
The drum is not simply a handicraft product, but a part of the precious cultural heritage of the homeland. And on this journey of preservation, artisan Nguyen Duc Huong and his family are no longer alone. They have had the support of the community, the government and the sounds of the drum resounding in schoolyards, street corners...
Saying goodbye to the family of artisan Nguyen Duc Huong, on the small road leading out of Bao Dap village, the “clanging” sound of the drum still resounds somewhere. The rustic sound is like a bridge connecting the past and the present, like a message: Old values, if cherished and preserved, will always have a place in today’s life - durable, simple, but full of meaning.
Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/gin-giu-nghe-thuat-lam-trong-boi-138906.htm
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