At the "Spring Colors of the Orchard" program organized by the Can Tho City Museum during the recent Lunar New Year, the performance by artisan Danh Vu attracted many visitors. From small pieces of wood, he crafted and painted intricate patterns to create exquisite and beautiful Ngo boats. His nimble hands skillfully applied each brushstroke, embellishing the miniature boats, only a few inches long, with details indistinguishable from larger Ngo boats.
Nguyen Truong Vu, a visiting student, excitedly said, "Before, I only saw Ngo boat races on TV, but now I see this tiny Ngo boat, it's really beautiful and cute." Meanwhile, Mr. Danh Hoa, a visitor from Vinh Long province, chose to buy a mini Ngo boat from Mr. Danh Vu and said that the mini Ngo boat, displayed in a glass case, is very beautiful and elegant, and will be showcased at home to represent his pride in traditional heritage.
The exhibition space of artisan Danh Vu also features beautiful, traditional miniature Ca Hau boats, in charming small sizes. Dozens of miniature Ngo and Ca Hau boats are displayed, retaining their original shape, patterns, and "spirit." Mr. Danh Vu said: "I spent more than 10 days completely building over 10 Ngo and Ca Hau boats for the program. I worked day and night to complete them, and now I'm painting and adding some finishing touches."
When groups of students and tourists come to visit and experience the craft, artisan Danh Vu directly demonstrates the technique of painting Ngo boats, introducing the boat's structure, how to shape the bow and rudder, the secrets of selecting wood, and adjusting the curvature so that the boat can glide quickly while maintaining balance on the water. Each action of artisan Danh Vu is like telling a story about the craft and the Ooc-Om-Boc Festival of the Khmer people in Southern Vietnam. Such demonstrations have become a vibrant "heritage class," helping tourists to better understand the cultural values behind the exciting Ngo boat races.
Artisan Danh Vu stands beside his beautifully crafted miniature Ngo boats and Ca Hau boats.
Artisan Danh Vu was born into a family with a long tradition of building Ngo boats, a craft that has been passed down through four generations. Although 46 years old this year, he has nearly 35 years of experience in the trade. In the Mekong Delta, the talent of artisan Danh Vu is renowned. Many of the Ngo boats he built have helped the teams from various temples achieve high rankings in provincial and regional Ngo boat races in the Mekong Delta.
“At the age of 10 or 11, I followed my father and grandfather to build Ngo boats. My father and grandfather sketched the outlines for me to paint, and gradually, I was taught the basic techniques as well as the deep secrets of this craft,” Mr. Danh Vu said. It wasn't until he was 27 that he participated in the main stages of building Ngo racing boats.
Showing us numerous certificates and awards he had received, artisan Danh Vu continued: After the first boat he built was safely launched, operating smoothly and swiftly, many Khmer temples in the area continued to seek him out to build boats. From then on, he officially became the fourth-generation "heir" of his family, continuing the tradition of building Ngo boats and preserving the cultural essence of the Khmer people of Southern Vietnam.
According to artisan Danh Vu, building Ngo boats requires a seamless combination of experience, meticulousness, skillful hands, and a deep understanding of hydraulics. The boats must not only be aesthetically pleasing and conform to traditional standards, but also possess the speed and stability necessary to gain an advantage in competitions. He has built and repaired over 100 Ngo boats for Khmer temples in various localities. Most memorable among them are the pair of Ngo boats belonging to the men's and women's teams of Tum Nup Temple (An Ninh commune), which won the championship for three consecutive years at the Ooc-Om-Boc Festival - Ngo Boat Race in Soc Trang province (formerly) and Can Tho city (2025).
Recently, in order to promote the image of the Ngo boat and the Ca Hau boat, Mr. Danh Vu thought of miniaturizing them. From there, a unique local tourism product was created, which became well-known and sought after by many people. He also strives to pass on his skills to the next generation.
Mr. Do Phung Ngoc Quy, son-in-law of Mr. Danh Vu, said: Thanks to his father-in-law, he was able to paint patterns on Ngo and Ca Hau boats from his father's sketches of the frame, and make the oars himself… The more he learned and worked, the more he understood and cherished the traditional Ngo boat. Mr. Vu, on the other hand, was happy to have someone learning the craft, understanding and appreciating the national heritage.
Amidst the springtime atmosphere of the city, the image of artisan Danh Vu diligently working with his Ngo boats spreads a message of preserving, cherishing, and promoting the value of cultural heritage in contemporary life.
Text and photos: DANG HUYNH
Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/giu-gin-di-san-ghe-ngo-a199023.html
Comment (0)