The guardian of Ha Thai lacquer art

With 50 years of dedication to the lacquer craft, Meritorious Artisan Nguyen Thi Hoi (Duyen Thai Commune, Thuong Tin District, Hanoi) still devotes every decorative brush stroke on ceramic and wooden vases to create exquisite works of art.

Nowadays, most of the production stages are supported by machines, but the craftswoman maintains all the manual steps because her love for lacquer has never faded.

A distinctive craft village in the capital 

Meritorious artisan Nguyen Thi Hoi presents lacquerware from the Ha Thai Lacquer Village at the Hanoi Lotus Festival 2024. Photo: Moc Mien

Amidst the vibrant colors of Tay Ho lotuses at the Hanoi Lotus Festival 2024 and an assortment of OCOP products from the northern provinces, the Ha Thai lacquerware booth drew attention with the delicate charm of ceramic vases, porcelain vases, porcelain plates, wooden plates, and paintings featuring a variety of lotus motifs. The event was an opportunity for visitors to admire the craftsmanship while chatting with the artisan who has accumulated half a century of experience.

Born into a family with a lacquer tradition, Nguyen Thi Hoi was introduced to lacquer painting techniques at an early age. At 16, she began studying and working at a local cooperative. However, when the cooperative was dissolved in 1991, the skilled craftswoman returned to farming and working the fields.

Driven by her passion, Hoi decided to work as a seasonal worker in lacquer workshops to pursue her long-term dream. In 2003, she took the bold step of "starting up" by opening her workshop, a move that was considered risky at the time. With little demand for their products, Hoi and her husband would cycle from the suburban district of Thuong Tin to Hang Khay Street in downtown Hanoi to market their work.

By infusing each lacquered item with her unique touch, Hoi has successfully built a personal brand. She is now the most renowned figure in the Ha Thai craft village, celebrated not only for her exquisite products but also for her innovative approach to production technology and promotion. Currently, artisan Nguyen Thi Hoi serves as the Director of the Ha Thai Lacquer Cooperative and the President of the Lacquer Craft Village Association in Duyen Thai Commune, Thuong Tin District.

International visitors at Ha Thai Lacquer Village. Photo: Huy Pham/The Hanoi Times

According to the veteran artist, the lacquerware production process involves 20 meticulous steps that are equally important: selecting and working the wooden core, lacquering the core, decorating with silver leaf or eggshells, or polishing the paint. Her current lacquerware bears 12-15 coats of paint to ensure shine and durability.

What sets Ha Thai lacquerware apart is the use of natural materials, as well as drawings that are steeped in traditional culture: the ferry pier, the banyan tree, bamboo leaves, the one-pillar pagoda, Hanoi's Old Quarter, lotus flowers, peach blossoms, apricot blossoms, and other patterns. In addition, manual lacquer techniques leave a unique mark on the village's handicrafts.

Through ups and downs, Ha Thai Lacquer Village today witnesses about 70% of its households practicing the trade. Its main product groups are gifts, interior decoration and spiritual worship items. The quality of these products is measured by customer satisfaction, which is reflected in large orders both domestically and overseas.

Developing the craft village associated with tourism

In 2020, Ha Thai Lacquer Village was officially recognized by the Hanoi People's Committee as a destination for craft village tours. Accordingly, the local government has invested in the infrastructure, especially the product display areas, by encouraging families and production workshops to install equipment and build areas to experience some stages of the lacquerware production process.

At the same time, members were encouraged to participate in the One Commune, One Product (OCOP) program to enhance quality and build a strong brand for the craft village. In 2021 and 2022, Nguyen Thi Hoi's family received a 4-star OCOP certificate from the Hanoi People's Committee for products such as the mango-shaped ceramic lacquer vase, lotus-shaped ceramic lacquer vase, and a lacquer painting depicting a pine tree and cranes, among others.

An artwork by artisans from the Ha Thai Lacquer Cooperative in Duyen Thai Commune, Thuong Tin District, Hanoi.

As Director of the Ha Thai Lacquer Cooperative, Hoi aims to transform the craft village into a popular tourist destination. The workshops will collaborate to train local youth and develop the village alongside tourism.

Hoi's workshop is a pioneer in the application of new techniques in lacquer painting, guaranteeing durable, beautiful products with high aesthetic value. The workshop has become a favorite destination for many domestic and international tourist groups.

Despite the use of advanced technology in production, intricate handicrafts still require the experience of a skilled artisan. The artisan's concern is to pass on her love of the craft to the younger generation. "I hope that in addition to their studies, the younger generation will still have the awareness to preserve the traditional crafts of their hometowns and promote the identity of local craft villages," Hoi said.

Nguyen Thi Hoi's devotion to traditional handicrafts has earned her the title of Meritorious Artisan (2020), a commemorative plaque from the Ministry of Industry and Trade (2021), a certificate of merit from the Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee (2021), the title of Typical Good Person - Good Deed (2022), and many other awards from the Thuong Tin People's Committee for the preservation and development of traditional handicrafts and craft villages.

Artisan Nguyen Thi Hoi has been honored among eight outstanding artisans for their contributions to preserving and promoting traditional cultural values by the Hanoi People's Committee.