1. No one remembers exactly when the craft of making bamboo dragonflies began, but for the last 20 years, artisans have worked with bamboo, glue, and paint to create this simple and rustic gift each day. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Every day, Nguyen Van Khan and his wife Nguyen Thi Chi from Thach Xa village diligently work with bamboo to craft delicate dragonflies. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Khan says that making bamboo dragonflies requires care and precision in every detail to ensure that the final product is not only visually appealing but also perfectly balanced, allowing the dragonfly to "perch" anywhere. (Photo: VietnamPus)
Each step, from bamboo splitting, making the body and wing of dragonflies, making the wing assembly, and decoration. The most difficult stage is to assemble the wings to the body which must be precise to ensure that the dragonfly will be perfectly balanced on the sticks or twigs. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Bamboo dragonflies are special in that they can keep balance and perch on anything. The craftman uses a heated iron rod to shape the dragonfly's head, ensuring balance with the wings and tail so the dragonfly can perch gracefully. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
The process of balancing the dragonfly to ensure it can "perch" anywhere is the final step in the shaping process, before the product is coated with colorful paints and vivid patterns. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Mr. Nguyen Van Tai – a neighbour of Khan, is also one of the first craftmen in Thach Xa village to be closely associated with the craft from the beginning until now. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
In addition to making basic parts of the dragonflies, Tai’s family also has a painting workshop to finish products, making them colourful and eye-catching. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
After completing raw dragonflies, craftmen then officially create their "soul" by painting and drawing patterns. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Bamboo dragonflies are beautified with various colourful paints, inspired by artistic themes that reflect the simplicity of rural village life. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
1. Artisans must be skillful in evenly spreading the paint to avoid colour blotches. Painting helps make bamboo dragonflies both durable and beautiful. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
The brightly coloured bamboo dragonflies wait to "dry" before “spreading their wings” and “flying” to every corner, becoming “unique” souvenirs. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Thach Xa bamboo dragonflies have become a simple gift – the symbol of the Vietnamese countryside, alongside conical hats and To he (toy figurines). (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Thach Xa bamboo dragonflies – unique gift of Vietnam’s countryside
In a village near well-known Tay Phuong pagoda in Thach That district on the outskirts of Hanoi, skilled craftspeople create beautiful bamboo dragonflies, a symbol of the Vietnamese countryside, which are favoured by domestic and foreign visitors.
