Young people in the Port City 'keep the fire' of the craft village alive

Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, many young people in Hai Phong are still diligently keeping alive the profession of their ancestors.

Tourists enjoy products from Bao Ha sculpture village at the Con Son - Kiep Bac Autumn Festival 2025.

Young people are helping traditional craft villages not only revive, but also shine with the creativity of the new era.

Young people "keep the fire" of the old profession

Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, somewhere in small villages, the sounds of chisels, hammers, the smell of paint, the smell of wood still resound… Those seemingly ancient sounds are actually the beauty of Vietnamese culture preserved through many generations. In Hai Phong , many young people are making efforts to preserve the old profession, turning traditional craft villages into vibrant living spaces of the present.

Nguyen Cong Dat, a young man born in 1992 in Thanh Lieu village (Tan Hung ward), chose for himself a path less traveled, which is to revive the woodblock engraving profession. Born in a rural area once famous for its engraving profession, Dat soon fell in love with engraved wooden boards and delicate printed lines. Although he had studied interior design, he still decided to leave the city to return to the village, starting over with chisels, knives, hammers, tools that were thought to be only preserved by elderly artisans.

Young artisan Nguyen Cong Dat (right) is still diligently preserving the traditional craft of Thanh Lieu woodblock printing. (Photo provided by the character)

“Many people say I’m foolish. Nowadays, who can make a living from woodblock carving? But if no one does it, our ancestors’ memories will disappear. I want to leave something for the next generation,” Dat confided.

Not only did he learn Chinese and Nom characters to read ancient documents, collect antique tools, and organize classes to experience hand-printing for students. With a group of young people, Dat carried out the project “Back to the Village”, both preserving traditional crafts and creating applied products and building woodblock tourism experiences.

Each print, each engraving tells a story about the past, a testament to the love of the profession and the dedication of young people. “When I see children excitedly holding a carving knife, I believe that this profession will not disappear. Because as long as there are people who appreciate it, woodblocks will live on,” said Mr. Dat.

Today, the small village of Thanh Lieu is no longer quiet. Tourists come to visit, schools sign up for experiences. The memory of the woodblock printing craft is still preserved and revived in a new way.

In Duong An commune, Chau Khe village is still bustling with the sound of hammers of the traditional gold and silver crafting profession that has been around for more than 500 years. According to the village's history, since the early Le Dynasty, Chau Khe people were assigned by the royal court to be in charge of casting silver bars for currency circulation. Although there was a period when the profession was in decline, after Doi Moi, thanks to their passion and determination, the people here have made the old profession famous again.

One of the young people who contributed to preserving the profession is Mr. Luong Duc Tung, born in 1991. Graduated from Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Mr. Tung had many opportunities to work in big cities, but he chose to return to his hometown to start a silver jewelry workshop. “I grew up with the sound of hammers and grinding from my father. I always thought that if I did not do this job, who would continue my father’s legacy?”, Mr. Tung shared.

After graduating from Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Mr. Tung returned to his hometown to start a silver jewelry factory.

Thanks to investing in machinery, applying new techniques, and combining modern designs, his workshop's products are increasingly diverse and sophisticated. Each year, the facility creates jobs for 6-8 workers with a stable income of 6-8 million VND/month, with revenue reaching 1-2 billion VND. For Mr. Tung, success is not just profit, but seeing his hometown's profession shine and stand firm in the industrialized market.

From the hands of the craftsman to lasting cultural values

More than 30 km from the center of Hai Phong, Bao Ha sculpture village (Vinh Hai commune) still retains the peaceful beauty of a northern countryside. For generations, this place has been famous for wood carving, gilding and folk puppetry. Despite the passage of time, the sound of chiseling still resounds regularly in every house, proving the enduring vitality of the craft village for more than 7 centuries.

Last August, the City Cooperative Union coordinated to organize a sedge mat weaving class for 50 young students in Bao Ha craft village. In the small workshop, the clumsy hands are learning how to weave, spin sedge, print patterns, etc. under the guidance of artisans. The “hands-on” model helps students master the techniques and feel the value of traditional labor.

Bao Ha statue carving village has been preserved by the people for more than 7 centuries. Photo: DO TUAN

Mr. Do Van Lam, Deputy Head of the Department of Culture and Society of Vinh Hai Commune, shared: “Bao Ha is not only a place to preserve the profession but also an attractive rural tourist destination. During the summer, each month, we welcome about 10 groups of visitors, especially students, to experience. We hope that the students will both learn and be proud of their hometown's profession.”

Within the framework of the Culture, Tourism and Trade Promotion Week at the Con Son - Kiep Bac Autumn Festival 2025, the booth of Bao Ha sculpture village attracted a large number of tourists. They enjoyed admiring the delicately carved wooden statues, horizontal lacquered boards, and parallel sentences, checking in with the wooden statues. The craft village not only sells products, but also introduces culture, history and pride.

Thanh Lieu woodblock printing, Chu Dau pottery, Chau Khe gold and silver, Dong Giao wooden furniture, wood carving, Bao Ha lacquer, Xuan Neo embroidery... each craft village is a slice of culture, a place to preserve the quintessence of Vietnamese hands. In the digital age, many crafts are at risk of being forgotten, but in that challenge, the spirit of creativity is ignited more strongly than ever.

Vocational training projects, experiential programs, and craft village tourism models are becoming new directions. When the young generation not only practices the craft but also promotes and connects, the value of craft villages will be more alive, closer, and bring sustainable economic value.

Preserving traditional craft villages in modern life is not only preserving a profession, but also preserving Vietnamese culture. As long as the sound of chiseling, carving, and forging still echoes in the countryside, the “fire of the craft” will still burn strongly in the midst of modern life.

PHUONG LINH

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/nguoi-tre-thanh-pho-cang-giu-lua-lang-nghe-524989.html