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 meterials 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 day light.
These paintings are
bought in Dong ho
village, and are made by
Mr. Nguyen Huu Sam and
Mr. Nguyen Dang Che, two
famous masters of Dong
Ho folk painting, who
are still living in Dong
Ho village. Each
painting is completely
hand printed on Dzo
paper following the
ancient style and
tradition. The
provocative color is
made by natural material
especially the glitters
are made by sea shells.