VIETNAM'S ARTS & CRAFTS
Vietnam, having a long tradition in artistic crafts, offers
a comprehensive range of art and craft products: woodcrafts; bamboo; rattan,
rush and leaves; ceramics; embroidery and lace; textiles; metal arts; handmade
paper; stonework; horns, glass and in combination; and fine art.
Vietnamese craft items are reputed for their affordability
as well as a large variety of unique and distinct designs owing to Vietnam's
tremendously rich ethnic diversity, the main features that fuel their growing
popularity in overseas' markets. The domestic market consumes half the total
craft products; the overseas' market also is significant, with it consuming the
remaining half of the output.
The export market plays an important role in maintaining and
celebrating the varied handicraft traditions found throughout Vietnam. Most
handicraft products are exported and the growth of export revenue has been
maintaining a consistent increase of 20% a year.
(Source: Vietrade)
Vietnam's
treasure-house of traditional arts and crafts
Vietnam is rich in traditional arts and crafts. Many have their origins in other traditions, Chinese, Indian, Malay, European, and so on, but over the centuries they have evolved into something distinctly Vietnamese.
Vietnam is rich in traditional arts and crafts. Many have their origins in other traditions, Chinese, Indian, Malay, European, and so on, but over the centuries they have evolved into something distinctly Vietnamese.
Lacquerware
Vietnamese lacquerware is a good example of the evolution of a craft. Introduced into Vietnam from China, the skill of creating highly-polished articles by coating them with several layers of resin developed into sophisticated art. The brilliant colours and gilded embellishments in pagodas and temples, delicate items of polished furniture, large wall-hung artworks, and tourist souvenirs are all being created by modern craftspeople, and show influences from all over Asia and beyond.
Vietnamese lacquerware is a good example of the evolution of a craft. Introduced into Vietnam from China, the skill of creating highly-polished articles by coating them with several layers of resin developed into sophisticated art. The brilliant colours and gilded embellishments in pagodas and temples, delicate items of polished furniture, large wall-hung artworks, and tourist souvenirs are all being created by modern craftspeople, and show influences from all over Asia and beyond.
Wood
and stone carving
The tradition of wood carving can be seen in Vietnamese statuary, furniture, architecture and ornaments. Typically, they are heavily incised and often stained to very dark colours or lacquered. Inlaying, usually with mother of pearl, is also a highly-developed Vietnamese craft.
The tradition of wood carving can be seen in Vietnamese statuary, furniture, architecture and ornaments. Typically, they are heavily incised and often stained to very dark colours or lacquered. Inlaying, usually with mother of pearl, is also a highly-developed Vietnamese craft.
An abundance
of high-grade limestone and the early influences of the Hindu motifs of the
Cham people have encouraged a long tradition stone carving. In the past, the
craft was closely associated with embellishments to royal and religious
buildings, but is now more often expressed in the form of public statuary. The
fine work in the large cities shows a variety of styles from classic styles
through Soviet realism to modern art.
Craft villages
A particularly Vietnamese tradition is the ‘craft village’, small communities where the inhabitants work together to manufacture particular products such as knives, rush mats, bamboo birdcages, ceramics, rice wine, and dozens of other commonplace and unusual articles. Most craft villages are in the north, mainly clustered around Hanoi.
A particularly Vietnamese tradition is the ‘craft village’, small communities where the inhabitants work together to manufacture particular products such as knives, rush mats, bamboo birdcages, ceramics, rice wine, and dozens of other commonplace and unusual articles. Most craft villages are in the north, mainly clustered around Hanoi.
Ethnic
crafts
The richness and diversity of ethnic craft in Vietnam can be seen in many shops and galleries in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Advanced skills include embroidery, batik, appliqué work and different styles of weaving, often with highly stylised patterns, as well as intricate jewellery, usually fashioned from silver and local gemstones.
The richness and diversity of ethnic craft in Vietnam can be seen in many shops and galleries in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Advanced skills include embroidery, batik, appliqué work and different styles of weaving, often with highly stylised patterns, as well as intricate jewellery, usually fashioned from silver and local gemstones.
Music
Both the mainstream and ethnic musical traditions in Vietnam are associated with religious ceremonial and ritual. The Kinh majority group has a musical tradition stretching the back to the lithophones and stone gongs of the ancient past, and the magnificent ‘rain drums’ of the Dong Son people that are on view in the museums of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Cham music and songs are part of that tradition, as is the Chinese oriented classical forms linked to the Imperial Court.
Both the mainstream and ethnic musical traditions in Vietnam are associated with religious ceremonial and ritual. The Kinh majority group has a musical tradition stretching the back to the lithophones and stone gongs of the ancient past, and the magnificent ‘rain drums’ of the Dong Son people that are on view in the museums of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Cham music and songs are part of that tradition, as is the Chinese oriented classical forms linked to the Imperial Court.
Architecture
The construction of religious and royal buildings has always been regarded as a pre-eminent art form in Vietnam, and is intertwined with complex beliefs about the spirit world and religious ceremonial. Many pagodas, temples, palaces and tombs display exquisite examples of symbolic and devotional motifs and embellishments.
The construction of religious and royal buildings has always been regarded as a pre-eminent art form in Vietnam, and is intertwined with complex beliefs about the spirit world and religious ceremonial. Many pagodas, temples, palaces and tombs display exquisite examples of symbolic and devotional motifs and embellishments.
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