Bringing traditional arts closer to Dong Nai’s young people

Born and raised in the cultural space of the Dong Ho folk painting village in Bac Ninh Province, Artisan  Do Duc Thuan has carried his love for heritage to Ho Chi Minh City, continuing his journey to spread traditional arts.

Artisan Do Duc Thuan instructs students in Dong Nai on the steps of creating Dong Ho folk paintings. Photo: Cam Thanh

For many years, artisan Do Duc Thuan has served as a bridge bringing hands-on Dong Ho folk painting experiences to schools and cultural institutions in southern Vietnam, including Dong Nai. For him, every meeting and exchange with pupils and students is an opportunity for one of the UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding to be revived.

Keeping the flame of folk culture alive through Dong Ho paintings

Sir, what from your childhood in Dong Ho painting village inspired you to remain devoted to this folk painting tradition for so many years?

– I was born in Thuan Thanh, Bac Ninh. This land has long been renowned for the Dong Ho folk painting tradition, which embodies a strong national cultural identity. From a young age, I was guided by my elders through each step of the painting process. That love gradually became the driving force behind my commitment to researching, practicing, and promoting this traditional art form. In addition to preserving, collecting, and restoring what our ancestors passed down, I also create and collect new themes, allowing Dong Ho folk paintings to continue to grow richer and further develop.

Along that journey, what concerns you the most?

– I am deeply concerned to see that younger generations have fewer and fewer opportunities to engage with folk paintings. The gap between cultural heritage and modern life is vast, and without those who act as bridges, traditional arts can easily fade into obscurity. That is why, for many years, I have collaborated with institutions and schools across southern Vietnam, including Dong Nai, to bring Dong Ho folk paintings closer to young people through hands-on experiences, practical activities, and cultural stories tied to each piece of art.

In your view, what significance do Dong Ho folk painting experiences hold for students?

– Dong Ho folk paintings are not only visual art but also embody life philosophies. Through hands-on experiences, students gain a better understanding of the natural materials used to create the paintings, how people in the past observed life, and how they conveyed messages through works such as Ga me va dan con (Hen Surrounded by Chicks), Lon am duong (Yin and Yang Pig Herd), Dam cuoi chuot (Rat’s Wedding), Hai dua (Scene of Catching Coconuts), Ca Chep (Carp), and others. More importantly, these activities nurture aesthetic sensibility and help students appreciate national cultural values in the modern world.

Creating heritage experience spaces for Dong Nai students

During the process of introducing Dong Ho paintings to students in Dong Nai, what impressed you the most?

The students were excited to explore the materials used in the paintings, the process of making do (poonah) paper, and traditional woodblock printing techniques. Many were not only intrigued by the vivid colors but also captivated by the stories of labor, customs, and folk philosophies woven into each image. Although it was their first time completing every step of a Dong Ho folk painting on their own, they showed impressive skill, and that gives me confidence that this heritage still has “living ground” when it reaches the right audience.

The Lunar New Year of the Binh Ngo (Fire Horse) 2026 is approaching. Do you plan to introduce additional experiential activities related to this zodiac theme?

– Within the Dong Ho painting tradition, there are several works featuring horses, such as Vinh Quy Bai To (Returning home to pay thanks to ancestors after achieving academic honours) and Ma Dao Thanh Cong (Win Instant Success). These paintings all convey auspicious messages associated with aspirations for academic success, achievement, prosperity, and perseverance in overcoming difficulties. The New Year is an exceptionally suitable occasion for me to introduce this theme more deeply to students in Dong Nai, in particular, and to the southern region of Vietnam in general. When students personally print colors, shape images, and complete the painting, they will more clearly feel the spirit that people in the past embedded in each work.

For Dong Ho folk painting experiences to become a sustainable component of local cultural education, what conditions do you believe are necessary for this to happen?

– The most crucial factor is close coordination among institutions, schools, and the artisans who hold the heritage. When programs in life skills education, local history, and fine arts are expanded, traditional arts will have more opportunities to enter real life. I hope that in each academic year, students will have at least several direct interactions with artisans, so they can understand that heritage is not distant and does not exist only in books. I am very pleased that the Dong Nai Museum has proactively connected opportunities for students to practice and experience Dong Ho folk painting. Such attention helps students feel more proud and contributes to the wider dissemination of intangible cultural heritage.

What are your expectations for connecting the Dong Ho folk painting heritage with young people in Dong Nai in the time ahead?

– Dong Nai is a land with more than 325 years of formation and development. It is also a dynamic locality with a large student population and many cultural institutions that have been, and continue to be, invested in and expanded. This feature creates a highly favorable environment for the preservation and promotion of traditional arts. I hope that in the time ahead, more schools will continue to incorporate Dong Ho folk painting activities into their extracurricular programs. When young people are nurtured with a love for culture from an early age, their heritage will naturally become an integral part of their everyday life and evolve sustainably.

Thank you very much.

By Cam Thanh - Translated by Quynh Nhu, Minho