Artisans of Duong Lam ancient village turn straw into attractive tourism products

Performed by: Bao Trung | October 3, 2024

(To Quoc) - From the straw discarded after each harvest, artisan Nguyen Tan Phat (Duong Lam, Son Tay, Hanoi) had a unique initiative to create animals such as buffaloes, horses, etc. in folklore, impressing and attracting a large number of young people from the Doai region to participate.

Duong Lam ancient village (Hanoi) attracts tourists with many historical and cultural relics associated with famous people and national heroes. The village is famous for its unique ancient houses made of laterite. In recent years, tourism in Duong Lam ancient village has flourished. One of the attractive destinations for tourists here is the toy making space of artisan Nguyen Tan Phat (born in 1983).

Using straw as raw material, lacquer artist Nguyen Tan Phat had a unique initiative to create folk animals such as buffaloes, horses, etc., impressing and attracting a large number of young people from the Doai region to participate.

Artisan Nguyen Tan Phat said that this initiative not only helps preserve folk culture but also becomes an attractive tourism product, turning it into a folk game for children, and at the same time a bridge to attract international tourists to visit the ancient village of Duong Lam, Son Tay, Hanoi.

Talking about the idea and materials to create the product, artisan Nguyen Tan Phat shared that the straw material collected by farmers after harvest is often used or discarded, taking advantage of natural resources, so Mr. Phat bought it back, dried it, cleaned it and selected the most beautiful and strong straw to use.

The straws are divided into parts such as buffalo horns, heads, horse manes, legs and tails, then braided together in a calculated manner to achieve high aesthetic value. "These products not only bring joy to 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 when coming to Duong Lam ancient village often love to experience traditional folk products, especially those with novelty. The above reality shows that straw can become a rare resource, bringing high economic value and efficiency, instead of just being a waste product.

"In the future, I will try to create some new creative products made from straw like this. This will also help farmers earn more income from discarded materials, while promoting the traditional values ​​typical of Vietnamese villages," artisan Tan Phat added.

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

With this idea, farmers also have more income, contributing to diversifying local tourism activities, promoting beautiful images of Vietnamese countryside.

Buffalo and horse shaped toys are quickly created.

A weekend at the creative art space of Xu Doai artisans. This space has the advantage of a large garden and ancient house architecture, attracting visitors of all ages.

In addition to making toys for children, artisan Nguyen Tan Phat also opens free lacquer art experience classes. In the summer of 2023, he welcomed about 5,000 tourists to visit and experience.

To better exploit the value of the ancient village and increase the attractiveness of the heritage, the Management Board of Duong Lam Ancient Village has coordinated with individuals and units 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