The essence of a century-old traditional craft village.
Amidst the early spring rain, we returned to the traditional craft village to rediscover the ancient culture of the Northern Vietnamese countryside. In the silvery light of the sky and earth, the brightly colored handcrafted fans appeared, seemingly holding onto the warmth of the craft village, becoming a vibrant cultural space where people and memories intertwined.
Located about 30km west of Hanoi's city center, Chang Son fan-making village in Tay Phuong commune (formerly Thach That district) has long been known as a "village of many crafts," having existed for approximately 200 years. Along the narrow alleys are households dedicated to the craft of handmade paper fans, creating a picture of an ancient rural village that has survived and thrived for hundreds of years.
According to villagers, in the 19th century, the Chang Son fan, once an everyday item, was exhibited in Paris. Gradually, this handcrafted hand fan became a cultural symbol, appearing in folk songs, Dong Ho folk paintings, and traditional Vietnamese theater performances, carrying with it the simple philosophy of life of the Vietnamese people.
Chang Son fans come in a wide variety of designs and styles, attracting tourists to visit. Photo: Nhat Chi
While in the past Chang Son mainly produced paper and bamboo fans, today the craft village has developed many diverse product lines such as silk fans, brocade fans, embroidered Do paper fans, decorative wall fans, calligraphy fans, and fans as souvenirs.
Speaking with a reporter from the Industry and Trade Newspaper, Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuan (66 years old), who was born, raised, and is currently working as a fan maker in Chang Son, said that to make a complete fan, the craftsman must go through dozens of different steps, with each line of text being hand-carved. A paper fan requires about 17 steps, but a silk fan requires up to 20 steps, demanding patience, skill, and years of experience from the craftsman.
Wooden fans are the most time-consuming and difficult to make due to their large size and intricate designs. Photo: Nhat Chi
In the process of making fans, the bamboo must be soaked in a muddy pond for about 8 months to a year to increase its flexibility, toughness, and durability. Afterward, the bamboo is dried in the sun, then split into strips, whittled thinly and smoothly, and strung together to form the fan frame. This is a crucial step, because the more uniform the strips, the stronger and more beautiful the fan. Furthermore, the process of attaching the fan cover also requires absolute care, because even a slight mistake will cause the fan to lose its inherent exquisite craftsmanship.
Regarding prices, paper fans measuring 5-6 cm cost around 10,000-15,000 VND, larger ones range from 30,000-50,000 VND, and decorative wooden fans can cost tens of millions of VND.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuan, 66 years old, is an artisan in Chang Son fan-making village. Photo: Nhat Chi
Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuan shared that fan-making is not physically demanding but requires patience. Each fan is the result of a love for the craft passed down from generation to generation.
“My family has been making traditional fans for three generations. We specialize in paper fans, floral fabric fans, linen fans, and we also utilize leftover fabric from tailor shops. In the last two years, we have been recreating the traditional fans of our ancestors, such as needle-stitched dó paper fans, silk fans shaped like scrolls or dragons encircling the moon, to preserve and protect traditional culture,” Ms. Tuan said.
Although traditional fans are gradually being made from more beautiful and durable materials thanks to advanced technology, the core of the traditional fan still lies in the skill and meticulousness of the craftsman. Technology only assists, it cannot replace human hands, and the unique touch makes them beloved by both domestic and international tourists.
Passing on traditional crafts and preserving Vietnamese culture.
In modern life, as machines gradually replace many manual jobs, there was a time when Chang Son fans seemed unlikely to survive. However, those who preserved and passed on the craft, like Ms. Tuan's family, revived and preserved the ancient Chang Son craft village, expanding its reach far and wide, and exporting to markets in South Korea and France.
Beyond just production, the Chang Son fan-making village has become a "mini -tourism " destination, promoting and offering experiential tourism by passing on the craft to the younger generation. They organize experiential activities in the village and collaborate with schools to introduce the craft in extracurricular programs, aiming to spread its value and awaken national cultural pride.
The fans are neatly bundled at Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuan's workshop. Photo: Nhat Chi.
To ensure each fan is a "cultural story" deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture, each artisan prioritizes durability, safety, and environmental friendliness, creating designs that suit consumer tastes while preserving the spirit of traditional craftsmanship. Thanks to innovation, Chang Son fans not only hold their own in the domestic market but also appear in many international festivals and exhibitions.
"My family focuses on making paper fans because the material is environmentally friendly, easily biodegradable, and the selling price to consumers is also reasonable, only a few tens of thousands of dong," Ms. Tuan emphasized.
Even today, with life becoming increasingly convenient, Chang Son paper fans still hold a firm place due to the nostalgic value and centuries-old aesthetic of these handheld fans.
In its development, the hand fan will find it difficult to compete with electric fans and air conditioners. Therefore, many artisans, like Ms. Tuan's family, have boldly innovated their thinking, taking the Chang Son fan beyond the limits of an ordinary household item to become an art product, a cultural symbol, suitable for festivals, events, and tourism.
Handcrafted patterns reflecting the rich cultural identity of Vietnam. Photo: Nhat Chi
Artisan Nguyen Thi Tuan also shared: “Every year, the people of Chang Son still welcome groups of tourists from near and far, both domestic and international, from young children to adults, to experience the craft. This activity not only helps spread the image of the traditional craft village domestically but also contributes to promoting the beauty of Vietnamese culture to international friends.”
Visitors to craft villages can tour production sites, listen to the stories behind each handcrafted product, and participate in some stages of production. In return, craft villages have more opportunities to introduce and promote local products, attract visitors to view and buy them as gifts, and even promote international integration and trade.
Each handcrafted product is a symbol of creativity, excellence, and pride of a long-standing craft village. Not only does it preserve traditional values, but Chang Son craft village is also an attractive destination, allowing visitors to admire the beauty of Vietnamese culture through each product.
Source: https://congthuong.vn/net-dep-lang-nghe-quat-chang-son-444565.html
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