Dong Ho Village

Dong Ho village, formally called Mai village, belongs to the Song Ho commune, Thuan Thanh District, Bac Ninh province which is located along the southern bank of Duong River Dyke, 30 km to the East of Hanoi. Dong Ho Painting (Tranh Đông Hồ in Vietnamese) or Vietnamese woodblock prints is a distinct Vietnamese folk art. Dong Ho paintings reflect people's innermost feelings,

wishes, and simple dreams.It is one of the most popular Vietnamese folk arts.

Dong Ho folk painting is very famous because Dong ho is the only village where people know to make the "Dzo" painting with completely natural materials. The printing paper is made of bark of a tree called "Dzo" The background paper is originally white. People use natural materials to change the colors of the papers which are usually orange, pink, yellow; purple ... Colors of the painting are refined from various kinds of tree leaves that people can easily find in Vietnam.

Particular, the red color is taken from earth of hills and mountains; the black color is from coal of burned bamboo's leaves; the glitter white color is made of sea shells; the original point of Dong Ho folk painting is the durability of colors. The painting is covered by a layer of sticky rice paste (called "ho nep") to protect the painting and their colors. They are so long lasting, so that it is very difficult to make them dimmer even time or daylight.

Dong Ho paintings have about 300 years of history in the north of Vietnam. It is always considered a symbol of traditional culture and aesthetic value of Vietnam.