The journey from memory to woodblock prints.
Hanoi in the days leading up to Tet 2026 takes on a unique charm as it welcomes back the "soul" of Chuon village (An Truyen, Hue). Behind this journey is Ngo Quy Duc (born in 1985) – a native of Hanoi who has quietly spent over 20 years tracing the origins of traditional folk paintings.
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Ngo Quy Duc stands beside his artwork, a Chuon village scroll painting – a type of Hue folk painting that has been lost for nearly a century. |
After a trip through central Vietnam in 2022, Duc stopped in Hue and was shocked to realize that the craft of making traditional Vietnamese scrolls in Chuon village had faded away since the last artisan – Mr. Huynh Ly – passed away. Unable to bear seeing such a precious heritage fade into oblivion, in October 2025, he decided to live permanently in Hue to embark on a challenging revival project.
"The revival of the traditional craft of making Liễn (a type of bamboo scroll) in Chuồn village needs to be done urgently because if it is delayed any longer, not only will the craft disappear, but the last traces of the village's memory will also fade away with time," shared Ngô Quý Đức.
A gathering of talented hands
In this restoration project, Ngo Quy Duc played the role of the "soul" connecting the two, while young artisan Nguyen Cong Dat (from Thanh Lieu woodblock printing village, Hai Phong ) was the one who brought the ideas to life.
Because the original woodblocks were gone and the photographic documentation was fading, Duc had to take a "detour," which involved searching for and piecing together the smallest details from rare photographs, and then digitizing each detail.
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These woodblock prints were meticulously collected and created by the project team. |
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These prints are unique and valuable representations of the Chuồn village's traditional scrolls. |
Next, Duc went "knocking on the doors" of famous painting villages such as Hang Trong, Dong Ho, Kim Hoang, Sinh… to ask for advice on how to dye paper and mix colors.
Meanwhile, artisan Nguyen Cong Dat spent months diligently transforming drawings on paper into vibrant woodblock prints on gleaming golden persimmon wood. Dat's hands have preserved the majestic yet delicate "spirit" characteristic of the traditional Chuon village scrolls.
While the project team only introduced a set of three panels at the launch event in Ngự Hà Viên (Hue) in early January 2026: a large panel with the character "Phúc" (meaning fortune/blessing) interwoven with the Four Sacred Animals motif and a pair of couplets, the most complete version has now been unveiled in Hanoi.
This newly released set of couplets is a five-piece set, with the addition of two "Crane Riding on a Dragon Turtle" panels. These symbolize longevity, nobility, and harmony between heaven and earth – a creative upgrade based on in-depth research into the grand worship spaces of our ancestors.
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Ngo Quy Duc introduced the unique painting style of Hue to international delegates. |
The aspiration to integrate heritage into the contemporary world.
The project doesn't stop at just exhibitions. With the support of Hue cultural experts, Ngo Quy Duc and his team are taking the next steps, which include bringing the Chuon village couplet motifs to book covers, fans, packaging, and fashion; creating smaller fonts and Vietnamese Quốc ngữ scripts so that visitors can print them themselves.
The next objective is to research the art form that has been lost for over 80 years in order to complete the picture of Hue's folk culture.
On the eve of the Lunar New Year of the Horse, in Hanoi, the project "Reviving the Traditional Craft of Chuon Village's Ceramic Vases" had an emotional and fulfilling launch event for Vietnamese researchers and international visitors through the exhibition "Chuon Village Ceramic Vases – The Colors of Hue's Spring in the Heart of Hanoi".
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Through the Chuon Village Scroll project, the team hopes to continue connecting folk painting styles with new life. |
Ngo Quy Duc expressed: “Bringing the Chuon village scrolls to Hanoi is not simply an exhibition, but for me, it's a 'homecoming'. A homecoming to report to our ancestors in the North, the place that nurtured and helped us restore these precious woodblock prints. A homecoming to see that the source of Vietnamese culture, wherever it flows, whether in Hue or Hanoi, is still the same stream, the same heartbeat.”
In the luxurious setting of the Sofitel Metropole Hanoi hotel, what captivated the project team was the large turnout of young people. The auditorium was packed with enthusiastic faces and curious eyes as they listened to the story of the journey "going against the current" to rediscover the heritage. Under the youthful direction of director Ninh Quang Truong, the story of Lien Chuon village touched the hearts of these young people – those who will continue and keep the flame of heritage alive for future generations.
This interest is proof that traditional culture is neither outdated nor alien; it still possesses a powerful appeal if we know how to tell stories and pass them on.
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The exhibition "Chuon Village Scrolls – The Spring Colors of Hue in the Heart of Hanoi" attracted the attention of experts and tourists. |
Ngo Quy Duc also stated that he will not stop at Chuon village. His next mission is to collaborate with "brother" painting villages such as Hang Trong, Kim Hoang, and Dong Ho to restore lost printing plates, contributing to the preservation of the nation's precious woodblock printing treasure.
And, in particular, a larger endeavor is being conceived: the revival of the Tay Ho village paintings of Hue. This will be the final piece to complete the vibrant tapestry of Vietnamese folk culture.
The resurgence of Chuon village's traditional stilt houses is not just the story of a craft village, but also the spirit of young people like Duc and Dat – those who are using their love to build bridges so that the past can have a firm place in today's life.
Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/lien-lang-chuon-va-chuyen-tau-di-san-ket-noi-3-mien-1025786
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