The Son Dong craft village (Son Dong commune, Hanoi ), with over 1000 years of history, still retains the bustling rhythm of a major center for the production of traditional religious artifacts and Buddha statues in the country. Throughout the villages, the sounds of chiseling and the distinctive aroma of fresh wood and lacquer have become the very breath of life for the people here.
Son Dong is considered one of the cradles of Vietnamese spiritual sculpture art. In 2007, the Vietnam Record Organization (VietKings) officially recognized Son Dong as "The largest village specializing in sculpting Buddhist statues and religious artifacts in Vietnam". The skilled craftsmen and talented artisans of the village are living human treasures, preserving folk knowledge and top-level crafting skills through hundreds of generations.
The process of creating a sculpture at Son Dong begins with the meticulous selection of wood, most commonly jackfruit wood, mahogany, or acacia wood, which are known for their softness, flexibility, resistance to cracking, and high durability. From the raw block of wood, the craftsman proceeds to carve and sketch the proportions of the statue's form with absolute precision in the face and posture according to traditional spiritual standards.
The intricate carving process demands skillful hands and absolute concentration from the artisan. From the soft folds of the robes and the subtle patterns on the hems to the delicate fingers, flowing hair, and compassionate countenances of the Buddhas and Saints, and the graceful movements of dragons and phoenixes... everything is meticulously hand-carved, conveying profound spiritual essence and philosophical insights.
The core secret to Son Dong's brand success lies in its use of traditional Vietnamese lacquer. Through dozens of complex processes such as applying a base coat, layering, and repeated sanding, the wood core is firmly protected from the elements. Unlike industrial lacquer, traditional Vietnamese lacquer creates a mystical depth, a smooth, glossy finish, and exceptional durability over time.
The skillful hands of the craftsmen of Son Dong have contributed to the restoration, preservation, and creation of thousands of religious artifacts at famous historical and cultural sites throughout the country, such as the Temple of Literature - National University, Ngoc Son Temple, Quan Thanh Temple, One Pillar Pagoda, Tran Quoc Pagoda (Hanoi), Bai Dinh Pagoda (Ninh Binh), and Phat Tich Pagoda (Bac Ninh)...
Beyond national borders, Son Dong's exquisite Buddhist statues and wooden handicrafts have been exported to numerous international markets such as the United States, France, Russia, Thailand , and Laos. Serving the Vietnamese diaspora and Buddhist centers worldwide, Son Dong's products contribute to promoting the image of Vietnamese culture globally.
Beyond its artistic value, the Son Dong handicraft village, specializing in sculpture and lacquerware, is also a solid economic pillar of the locality. Currently, the village has nearly 700 households and 10 production enterprises, providing employment for over 4,000 local workers. The village's annual revenue exceeds 1 trillion VND, resulting in an impressive average income of 130-140 million VND per person per year for rural residents.
Recently, the Son Dong lacquerware carving village and the Chuyen My mother-of-pearl inlay lacquerware village officially became members of the World Creative Cities Network (WCC), marking a historic milestone affirming the international standing of these craft villages in Hanoi.
To meet the stringent criteria of the World Craft Council, Son Dong commune has invested in building a Creative Design Center, showcasing OCOP products, creating a multilingual website, and digitizing hundreds of documents, royal decrees, and ancient patterns. This represents a transformation from a traditional production model to a modern creative space.
Creative handicraft products from Son Dong village.
In implementing Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW of the Politburo on the development of Vietnamese culture, the Son Dong lacquerware carving village is undergoing a strong shift in mindset from pure preservation to a close integration of preservation and creativity. Joining the WCC Network helps the village transform folk knowledge into intellectual property.
Following the direction of Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW on developing the cultural industry into a pillar of the economy (striving to reach 7% of GDP by 2030), Hanoi is planning Son Dong as a heritage tourism center linked to a series of 10 key craft village tourism routes. The journey of Son Dong is a vivid testament to the enduring vitality of Vietnamese culture in the era of national development.
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/tinh-hoa-nghe-moc-son-dong-but-pha-cung-cong-nghiep-van-hoa-thu-do-1759150.html
