Artisans in the ancient village of Đường Lâm transform straw and rice stalks into attractive tourism products.

Executed by: Bao Trung | October 3, 2024

(To Quoc) - Using discarded straw after each harvest season, artisan Nguyen Tan Phat (Duong Lam, Son Tay, Hanoi ) has come up with a unique idea to create sculptures of animals such as buffaloes and horses, impressing and attracting a large number of young people in the Doai region to participate.

The ancient village of Đường Lâm (Hanoi) captivates tourists with its many historical and cultural relics associated with national heroes and prominent figures. The village is famous for its unique ancient houses made of laterite stone. In recent years, tourism in Đường Lâm has flourished. One of the attractions for visitors is the toy-making space of artisan Nguyễn Tấn Phát (born in 1983).

Using straw as the raw material, lacquer artist Nguyen Tan Phat has created unique sculptures of animals such as buffaloes and horses from folklore, impressing and attracting a large number of young people in the Doai region to participate.

According to artisan Nguyen Tan Phat, this initiative not only helps preserve folk culture but also becomes an attractive tourism product, transforming it into a folk game for children and serving as a bridge to attract international tourists to visit the Duong Lam ancient village tourist area in Son Tay, Hanoi.

Speaking about the idea and materials used to create the product, artisan Nguyen Tan Phat shared that the straw collected by farmers after harvesting is usually used or discarded. To utilize this natural resource, Mr. Phat bought it back, dried it, cleaned it, and selected the most beautiful and strong straw stalks for use.

The straw is divided into sections such as buffalo horns, horse heads, manes, legs, and tails, then braided together in a calculated manner to achieve high aesthetic value. "These products not only bring joy to the children in the village but also contribute to enhancing the value of local tourism," artisan Nguyen Tan Phat expressed.

According to lacquer artisans, tourist groups visiting Duong Lam ancient village often enjoy experiencing traditional folk products, especially those with a novel design. This shows that straw can become a valuable resource, bringing high economic value and efficiency, instead of just being considered waste.

"In the future, I will try to create some new innovative products made from straw like this. This will also help farmers earn more income from discarded materials, while fully promoting the unique folk values ​​of Vietnamese rural life," added artisan Tan Phat.

The straws are divided into parts such as buffalo horns, heads, horse manes, etc.

With this idea, farmers also earn extra income, contributing to diversifying local tourism activities and promoting the beautiful images of Vietnamese rural life.

Toys in the shape of buffaloes and horses are quickly made.

A weekend at the creative art space of artisans from the Đoài region. This space boasts a spacious garden and traditional architecture, attracting visitors of all ages.

Besides making toys for children, artisan Nguyen Tan Phat also offers free lacquer art workshops. During the summer of 2023, he welcomed approximately 5,000 visitors to experience his craft.

To better exploit the value of the ancient village and increase the attractiveness of the heritage site, the Management Board of Duong Lam Ancient Village has collaborated with individuals and organizations to organize many creative tourism activities.

Source: https://toquoc.vn/nghe-nhan-lang-co-duong-lam-bien-rom-ra-thanh-san-pham-du-lich-hap-dan-20241003132302334.htm