Reviving traditional crafts: [2] When lotus bloom from crepe paper

Four centuries of preserving the colors of flowers

More than 400 years ago, driven by a simple desire to offer their ancestors long-lasting, vibrant flowers, the residents of Thanh Tien village (Phu Mau commune, now Duong No ward, Hue city) created a unique craft. According to local historical records, under the harsh weather conditions of heavy rain and intense sun, which made fresh flowers wilt quickly, the people of Thanh Tien crafted durable and beautiful paper flowers for worship. Initially made from "Lung" fibers, bamboo, and colored paper, these flowers, known locally as "Bong Lung" or "Hoa Tre" (Chopstick flowers), were found exclusively on family altars across the land of Hue.

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Reviving traditional crafts: [1] Which way forward for Vietnamese craft villages?

From those simple initial flowers, guided by their creative minds and skillful hands, the Thanh Tien artisans have emulated a range of natural flowers, including morning glories, single and double chrysanthemums, baby lamberts, lotuses, and, most notably, the sacred lotus. This very creativity has forged the renowned brand of the Thanh Tien paper flower village in the land of Hue.

According to ancient customs, paper flowers were solemnly displayed in sacred spots like the altars of male and female deities, outdoor shrines, and the Kitchen Gods. Each year, these flowers would be replaced once during the Lunar New Year. When the new flowers were put up, the old ones were taken down and ritually burned.

Centuries have passed, and today, whenever Tet arrives and spring returns, these vibrant paper flowers still grace rural markets, urban streets, and the altars of many Hue families, adding to the spring atmosphere and preserving a beautiful cultural tradition. Beyond their spiritual value, paper flowers are now widely integrated into home decor, hotels, restaurants, cultural events, festivals, and the iconic Hue Festival, serving as souvenirs, gifts, and export commodities.

Despite this transformation, the craft faces significant challenges. Only about a dozen households continue to produce paper flowers, with most young people leaving the village for urban jobs. Today, the craft survives largely thanks to the dedication of elderly artisans, while seasonal demand during festivals and Tet helps sustain production and keeps traditional skills alive within the community.

Thanh Tien paper flowers reach far and wide

While the art of making paper flowers has been passed down in Thanh Tien for hundreds of years, more interestingly, it has also become a source of inspiration and the catalyst for young outsiders to start their own paper flower businesses. In fact, this craft has transcended the boundaries of a single village by the Huong River to spread to many localities across the country.

For Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh, her journey into paper flowers was not just a career shift, but a way to infuse culture into every single creation. Having spent ten years working in architecture, Ms. Lan Anh decided to pivot after realizing that a corporate office job no longer suited her family life. Her fateful encounter began when she read an article about the Thanh Tien craft village and visited a close friend's workshop. The origin story of Thanh Tien, combined with the soft colors and elegant lines of the paper flowers, left a deep impression on her, gradually binding her to the craft before she even realized it.

Among the many flower varieties she creates, Nguyen Thi Lan Anh has chosen the lotus as her signature product. To her, the lotus represents not only elegance but also Vietnamese cultural identity, symbolizing purity and serenity. A lotus arrangement is therefore more than a decorative piece, it is well suited to living rooms, workspaces, family altars and meaningful gifts.

Creating a single paper lotus involves meticulous craftsmanship. Lan Anh begins with the flower's center, carefully shaping the yellow seedpod, stamens and pistils before dyeing the paper, cutting each petal, embossing its veins and hand-shaping it into a natural form. Layers of petals are then assembled one by one to recreate the depth and graceful bloom of a real lotus.

“The greatest challenge lies in craftsmanship and artistic judgment,” she said. “A slight mistake in shaping the petals, blending the colors or arranging the composition can make the flower look unnatural. Sometimes I spend hours refining the smallest details.”

Lan Anh remains committed to paper flower making as a way to preserve traditional craftsmanship while giving it new relevance in contemporary life.

From her first customers, family and friends, Lan Anh has built a growing clientele both in Viet Nam and abroad. Her handcrafted paper flowers, especially lotus arrangements, are popular among customers aged 25 - 50 for home decoration and as meaningful gifts, with each flower priced between USD 9 - 13, depending on its complexity.

Rather than teaching the craft, Lan Anh currently focuses on product development and expanding her business. She believes the greatest challenge lies not in mastering the techniques but in building customer trust and creating products with a distinctive identity. Looking ahead, she hopes to organize paper flower-making workshops to introduce more people to the beauty and craftsmanship of the tradition.

For Lan Anh, making paper flowers is a meditative creative process rather than simply producing handicrafts. “No two handmade flowers are ever exactly alike. People who appreciate them can feel the artistic soul in each piece - something machines can never replicate,” she said.

Leaving her career as an architect was more than a change of profession; it was a long-term commitment to preserving traditional craftsmanship. Inspired by Thanh Tien paper flowers, her creations have found a place in weddings, hotels, restaurants, art gifts and modern homes. Though each artisan follows a different path, they share the same passion for keeping traditional crafts alive.

The revival of a craft village cannot be measured solely by the number of artisans or products sold. Equally important is its ability to inspire a new generation to carry the tradition forward. From Thanh Tien Village, a 400-year-old craft continues to evolve through young artisans like Lan Anh, who are giving it new life while preserving its enduring spirit.

Nguyen Thi Lan Anh, a Hanoi-based artisan and founder of the Lana Paper Flower brand, is renowned for her handcrafted crepe paper lotus flowers. Her creations are celebrated for their intricate craftsmanship, natural color palette and faithful expression of Vietnamese cultural heritage.