Xanh xanh đỏ đỏ vàng vàng

Cứ đến tháng chạp là làng làm hoa.

(Roughly translated: Green, red and yellow

Every December our villagers make flowers)

Those who come to Thanh Tien, a village in Hue in the last lunar month quickly get acquainted with the folk poem. Lying 7km to the Citadel, Thanh Tien has long been known for its traditional paper flower artisans.

Nguyen Hoa and his paper follower workshop (Photo: Le Hoai Nhan)

Since the feudal time, Thanh Tien flowers have been indispensable Tet and altar decoration in Hue. Now 60 years old, Nguyen Hoa is among the oldest paper flower-making artisans in the village. Every year, by the 10th month of the lunar calendar, he, his wife, and children get ready to put their farming job aside to focus on making paper flowers for Tet.

Even Hoa cannot remember when the profession was introduced into the village. He was taught to make paper flowers by his father 50 years ago. "I learned since I was a child playing on my grandparents' laps. Gradually, I became skillful and keep on doing the job until today," said Hoa.

The origin of Thanh Tien's paper flower profession date back more than 300 years ago. "Growing up I was told by my father that Hue was a harsh land with unusual weather. Especially several months before Tet. We had to cope with continuous floods and storms. No flower could grow here, so the local people made flowers out of paper to offer to their ancestors' altars."

Thanh Tien's five-color flowers for Tet (Photo: Le Hoai Nhan)

The origin of Thanh Tien's paper flower profession date back more than 300 years ago. (Photo: Le Hoai Nhan)

Thanh Tien paper flowers are special because they are 100% handmade. In the past, paper flowers were mainly used in altars and pagodas in Hue. Through many ups and downs, with its own identity, Thanh Tien paper flowers today have spread into tourism and interior decoration. Many restaurants, hotels, living rooms, and dining rooms now have Thanh Tien products to remind of Hue.

Thanh Tien paper flowers are special because they are 100% handmade. (Photo: Le Hoai Nhan)

Thanks to that, in recent years, the paper flower industry has bloomed, creating a stable income for many families in Thanh Tien village. This year, Hoa and his wife are excited when the number of orders went up. People from all parts of the country are reaching out to Thanh Tien, asking to buy their delicacies.

"In the past, Hue people only bought several flowers for their home altars during Tet. Nowadays, many people and hotel owners want to bring an old Hue vibe into their spaces. Thanks to that, we have orders all year round," Nguyen Thi Thanh Tam (62 years old, Hoa's wife) said.

Many hotels and restaurants use Thanh Tien paper flowers to decorate their spaces (Photo: Le Hoai Nhan)

By early December of this year, Hoa's family had received orders for nearly 10,000 paper flowers from customers near and far. The price has also increased slightly. A finished flower will be sold for VND 7,500.

These days, the colorful paper flowers have become a sign of Tet in Hue. Hue residents place a large pot of Thanh Tien flowers in the middle of their yards, turning the peaceful citadel vibrant, signaling a coming spring.

(Photo: Le Hoai Nhan)

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