From morning until late at night, saws, chisels, and sanders echo across the community as craftsmen work tirelessly to complete a flood of orders for handcrafted wooden altars and worship items.

Located in the former Y Yen district of Nam Dinh, Dang Chuong is a centuries-old woodcraft village, famous for producing intricately carved spiritual products including ceremonial doors, altar tables, ancestral tablets, thrones, and prayer panels.

These ornate pieces are priced from a few million VND to over 100 million VND, or from several hundred to over 4,000 USD depending on material, design, and size.

Quang Hung, owner of a busy workshop, said demand this year is stronger than ever.

“Since the eighth lunar month, orders started rising fast,” he said.

To cope, he’s hired more staff and is running machines at full capacity.

Hung’s facility currently employs 11 full-time craftsmen, and around 30 households in the village also take on commissioned work, often bringing unfinished pieces home to complete.

The products are mainly made from durable woods such as dổi, gụ, gõ, and hương đá.

Toward year’s end, the workshop uses 35–40 cubic meters of timber per month - up from just 25 during the off-season.

Each month, the shop produces more than 100 sets of carved panels and calligraphy boards, in addition to dozens of other altar items.

According to Hung, producing a high-quality worship item is a multi-stage process that demands meticulous care.

It begins with selecting the right wood, followed by cutting, shaping, detailed carving, sanding, and finally coating with PU or gold-lacquered paint.

“Every step must be done with skill and heart,” he said.

The craftsman’s job is not just physical - it also requires imagination to bring soul to the wood.

From rough lumber, Dang Chuong artisans create deeply expressive, one-of-a-kind pieces.

Thanks to consistently high quality, work is available year-round in the village.

Pham Van Trinh, another craftsman born in 1979, said he and his wife have been in peak production mode since the eighth lunar month.

With orders up by 60–70%, they start work at 7 a.m. and don’t stop until 11 p.m., breaking only for quick meals.

“Our craft demands attention to detail and real passion. Even when we’re rushed, we polish every piece carefully to maintain our standards,” Trinh said.

Not only the carvers, but those responsible for finishing the pieces are also under pressure.

Pham Thi Tuoi, whose family specializes in polishing and painting, said all three family members are working from early morning to late night to keep up.

The pieces delivered to her shop for finishing are re-sanded to ensure a smooth surface before being coated in PU or traditional gold leaf lacquer, depending on the client’s wishes.

“This time of year, every household in the village is working at full speed.

Our orders have tripled, but when we think of a joyful Tet ahead, we feel more motivated,” she said.

Trong Tung