The journey of preserving the essence of traditional crafts in Quang Nam province.

VHO - Among the six individuals recently awarded the title of "People's Artisan" by the President of Vietnam for their exceptional contributions to preserving and promoting the heritage of traditional crafts, Quang Nam province is honored to have two representatives: Mr. Le Duc Ha (ceramic artisan in Dien Ban town) and Mr. Huynh Suong (wood craftsman in Hoi An city).

Both were born into traditional families, dedicated their lives to the craft village, not only contributing to preserving ancestral techniques but also pioneering innovation and training the next generation.

They are living proof of the journey of preserving cultural identity with skillful hands and passionate hearts, contributing to the revival and sustainable development of traditional craft villages in Quang Nam province within the flow of contemporary culture.

Artisan Huynh Suong at Kim Bong carpentry village - Hoi An

The guardian of the soul of Kim Bong carpentry village.

Amidst the ancient charm of Hoi An, where the Hoai River flows through the over 500-year-old Kim Bong craft village, a carpenter quietly awakens the soul of wood, depicting tradition through each carving stroke. He is People's Artisan Huynh Suong, who not only inherits the essence of the craft but also contributes to reviving a thriving traditional village.

Born in 1969 into a family with a long tradition of carpentry, Huynh Suong learned the craft from a young age, following his father amidst the familiar sounds of chiseling and carving in the woodworking workshop. His father, People's Artisan Huynh Ri, was the 12th-generation descendant of the renowned Huynh family in Kim Bong carpentry village, who was once awarded the rank of Ninth-Rank Team Leader by the Nguyen Dynasty and was responsible for restoring numerous ancient houses in Hoi An.

After 1985, Huynh Suong officially began his craft, following his father in the restoration of numerous historical sites and churches in Hoi An, Tam Ky, Da Nang, Hue, and Ho Chi Minh City. Simultaneously, he expanded production at his family's traditional carpentry workshop, crafting a range of handicrafts, household items, and souvenirs imbued with Vietnamese spirit. His works have traveled with tourists to many countries around the world .

Recognizing the decline of the traditional craft, in 1996, the People's Committee of Hoi An City collaborated with artisan Huynh Ri to organize a training course for 15 young apprentices from outside the family lineage. With the support of UNESCO, Mr. Huynh Suong rekindled the passion in 30 full-time apprentices. Subsequently, he expanded his teaching and training both locally and outside the area, steadfastly committed to his mission of "preserving the craft, building a livelihood, and nurturing talent."

Not only a skilled craftsman, Huynh Suong is also a creative artist with a rich cultural identity. His work , "Rural Tea Set," reached the finals of the 2003 National Handicraft Competition jointly organized by JICA.

In the early 2000s, he was invited to serve as a handicraft consultant for artisans in Jamaica, Belize, and Suriname as part of a World Bank project. He also participated in consulting and teaching for many programs to revive traditional crafts domestically.

In particular, he contributed to preserving cultural symbols such as the crafting of traditional boats and fishing vessels, means closely associated with life on the waterways of Central Vietnam, which are displayed at the Quang Nam and Da Nang Museums. Many of his works have won high awards at national competitions, becoming vivid evidence of his skillful hands and dedication to preserving ancient crafts.

“Woodworking requires not only skillful hands but also a heart and soul for each piece of wood. I learned that from my father, and I hope my descendants will understand that as well,” shared artisan Huynh Suong. From a young apprentice alongside his father, he has become the “keeper of the soul” of Kim Bong woodworking village, where the sounds of chisels and saws still resonate every day, encapsulating the ancient spirit of Vietnam in every wood grain.

Clay kilns by the Thu Bon River

Beside the tranquil Thu Bon River, where layers of cultural sediment converge and spread, there is a potter who has quietly nurtured the flame of his craft for over three decades: People's Artisan Le Duc Ha (born in 1960), who carries within him the blood of heritage, deeply imbued with love for the earth, fire, and the soul of the Quang Nam countryside.

As the son of Mr. Le Tuat, the first Party Secretary of Duy Xuyen district and co-founder of the Viet Quang pottery kiln—a facility that both produced porcelain and provided financial support to the Central Committee of the Indochina Communist Party in the 1930s—Le Duc Ha grew up in Dien Phuong pottery village, steeped in the spirit of the craft from his early days "playing with clay" by his father's kiln. Despite spending years serving in the Southwestern battlefield (1978) and traveling to many places to learn pottery production techniques in Bat Trang, Binh Duong , Hai Duong, etc., his passion for the traditional craft always burned brightly within him.

After the Thang Binh Ceramic Factory was dissolved, he returned to his hometown in 1990 and rebuilt his family's pottery kiln from scratch. Without industrial molds or chemical glazes, he chose a handcrafted approach, using only local clay and firing at low temperatures (900-1000 degrees Celsius), creating unglazed ceramic products with natural colors and a unique character.

Drawing inspiration from earth and fire, artisan Le Duc Ha is one of the few who have successfully recreated the Cham brick-making technique, the building material used in the construction of the Tra Kieu citadel, My Son sanctuary, Dong Duong tower, Chien Dan pagoda, and other sites. Using clay from the lower Thu Bon River, he has revived a product line imbued with the soul of local culture, bringing history to life through every piece of clay.

The works at Le Duc Ha's terracotta workshop are all handcrafted by him and his team of artisans, who have been with him for over 20 years, mostly from the village. They carry a cultural message, from the clay itself to the design inspiration, connected to life in Central Vietnam, with its architecture, festivals, and village memories.

Quang Nam currently has over 2,000 production facilities in 45 craft villages, of which 34 have been officially recognized. However, according to People's Artisan Nguyen Van Tiep, Chairman of the Quang Nam Handicraft Association, the key factor in preserving craft villages remains the people. Artisans like Mr. Le Duc Ha are the "living bridge" between the ancestral craft and the future.

Caring for the clay, devoted to the fire, faithful to traditional methods yet constantly innovating – that is the path chosen by People's Artisan Le Duc Ha. A quiet but enduring path, like the Thu Bon River flowing endlessly, carrying the form, appearance, and soul of Quang Nam pottery village to future generations.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/hanh-trinh-gin-giu-tinh-hoa-lang-nghe-xu-quang-140707.html