The photo book "Vietnam’s Traditional Crafts" by photographer Tran The Phong will be widely introduced to the public along with his 19th solo exhibition.

"Vietnam’s Traditional Crafts," published by Thong Tan Publishing House, will be presented at a one-day exhibition from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on August 1 at the Majestic Saigon Hotel (01 Dong Khoi Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City), Tran The Phong shared.

In an interview with VietNamNet, the photographer revealed that he had been nurturing the idea of creating a photo book about Vietnam’s traditional crafts for ten years.

"Throughout this long period, I quietly visited craft villages across Vietnam, from Cao Bang, Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Hue, Phu Yen, Ninh Thuan, Ho Chi Minh City, An Giang, to Quang Nam. Wherever I went, I accompanied the workers, listened to their stories, documented them through images, and noted detailed information," Phong said.

Sixty-six photo series were completed after hundreds of trips. He then selected 45 series representing 45 traditional crafts to include in the book.

According to the photographer, these are craft villages that still maintain traditional manual methods, not replaced by industrial machinery.

"Vietnam has hundreds of traditional crafts that reflect the depth of its culture and history, and the uniqueness of each region. However, with the development of science and technology, these craft villages have gradually been replaced by new production methods. Witnessing these inevitable changes, I wanted to create a photo book to honor and preserve the remaining heritage values," Phong said.

During his ten-year pursuit of this theme, the author faced many challenges. Objectively, the craft villages are no longer as vibrant as before, and some only have a few households still practicing the craft, sometimes pausing production due to a lack of orders. Weather conditions were not always favorable, affecting photo quality, necessitating rescheduling. Subjectively, financial conditions were tight, requiring careful planning for travel and accommodation expenses.

Phong expressed that this journey felt like destiny, driving him to explore villages and alleys where traditional, finely crafted products of each region are made.

"I traveled, saw, and felt the simple beauty of labor, the love for the craft, and the dedication of the artisans. They strive to keep the traditional craft alive, contributing to the preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage of these craft villages," he added.

In his 13th book, Phong challenges himself by printing only 100 copies on high-quality paper. He aims to honor Vietnam's traditional crafts and highlight the value of these centuries-old trades.

To create an impressive format, the photo and lining papers are selected from Italian art paper, the book cover is made from Dutch paper, and the book box cover is made from Finnish cardboard. All materials are environmentally friendly.

Each book includes a sheet of paper purchased from a traditional paper craft village in Cao Bang, with a handwritten certification of the limited edition. The book box is crafted by the distinguished lacquer artisan Le Ba Linh.

Some craft villages featured in this photo book include the mat-weaving village in Phu Yen, embroidery village in Ninh Binh, Sinh village paintings (Thua Thien - Hue), conical hat making (Binh Dinh), bronze casting (Ho Chi Minh City), traditional paper making (Cao Bang), and silk weaving (Quang Nam).

"'Vietnam’s Traditional Crafts' tells stories and offers glimpses into the craft villages I want to introduce and share with everyone. These stories hold cultural significance, uniqueness, and are a source of pride for the Vietnamese homeland. I sincerely thank the connections, friends, and benefactors who have accompanied and helped complete this photo book that I have cherished since 2014," Phong said.

Tran The Phong is the author of several renowned photo books, including: "Ganh" (Carrying Burdens), "Nhung Neo Duong Tuoi Tho" (Paths of Childhood), "Vuot Qua Bong Toi" (Overcoming Darkness), "Anh Sang Cuoc Song" (Light of Life), "45 Ngay Tai Thuy Si" (45 Days in Switzerland), "Muu Sinh" (Making a Living), "Chan Dung" (Portraits), "Nhip Song Sai Gon" (Rhythms of Saigon), "Sai Gon Covid-19" (Saigon Covid-19) "Cuoi" (Smiling), and "Bong" (Shadow).

Photographer The Phong has received over 200 awards for art and journalism photography both domestically and internationally, including: 16 city and national press photo awards; 12 national excellence awards from the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists; Grand Prix Award (Japan); 3 Gold Medals at the Trierenberg Super Circuit (Austria); and 5 Asahi Shimbun Medals (Japan).

Luu Dinh Long