Gateway to the Dong Vinh – a traditional mother-of-pearl inlay handicraft village

The ancestor of mother-of-pearl inlay craft is worshipped at the village’s temple.

The shells of pearls and snails are cut.

A craftsman flattens raw materials.

Villagers use sandpaper to sand the surface of wooden products before the pearl is applied.

A craftsman cuts the shells of pearl into small pieces to shape them.

Craftsmen at a small workshop in the village mold the shells into shape.

The materials are glued onto the surface of wooden products.

A villager uses a chisel to scribe around the edges of the shell designs, then gently removes the shells from the wood and begins routing out a mortise in which to seat the shells.

The shells are epoxied into the mortises as firmly as possible.

Villager Duong Thi Duyen is very enthusiastic about her job.

Trimming the shells requires precision as well creativity from craftsmen.

Photo: Craftsman Duong Van Duc completes his product.

The tools for trimming the shells

Villagers use sanding machines to make the surface of shells smooth and clean.

The villagers paint inlaid lines with a special kind of black paint.

A craftsman completes his project.

Craftsman Duong Xuan Quan introduces a completed mother-of-pearl inlay piece.

An embossed mother-of-pearl piece made by Dong Vinh villagers

The peaceful life in Dong Vinh village