About Dong Ho Folk Painting Village
Dong Ho Folk Painting Village is a traditional craft village located in Song Ho Commune, Thuan Thanh District, Bac Ninh Province, about 35 km east of Hanoi on the south bank of the Duong River. Renowned for centuries for its distinctive woodblock folk paintings, the village preserves a unique Vietnamese folk art form made from natural materials and hand-carved woodblocks.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a quiet rural village setting with family-run workshops and galleries where artisans demonstrate the traditional process of making Dong Ho paintings. You can see woodblocks, natural dyes and diep paper, watch printing and coloring, browse finished paintings depicting daily life, animals and folklore, and visit small exhibition houses and local homes dedicated to preserving the craft.
Key highlights
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Traditional woodblock printing demonstrations by local artisans
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Paintings made on diep paper with natural colors from plants and minerals
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Historic woodblocks and family workshops passed down through generations
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Exhibition centre showcasing classic Dong Ho motifs such as pigs, chickens and village scenes
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Opportunity to try hands-on painting and purchase authentic folk paintings
History of Dong Ho Folk Painting Village
Dong Ho painting craft is believed to have originated in the 16th century during the Le Dynasty and flourished in the 17th-18th centuries. The village historically supplied folk paintings for Tet celebrations across northern Vietnam, with techniques and motifs preserved within artisan families for generations.
Culture & Context
Dong Ho folk paintings are recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage of Vietnam. The paintings reflect Vietnamese rural life, folk beliefs, and aspirations for prosperity and happiness, using natural materials such as diep paper and dyes from plants, and remain an important symbol of Vietnamese folk art and Bac Ninh cultural identity.
Route
| By air |
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