Ha Thai OCOP products promote the development of craft villages

The mother-of-pearl lacquer boxes and horn-mounted lacquer boxes of An Huy Production and Trading Service Joint Stock Company are ranked 4-star OCOP.

At that time, the village only had the craft of painting and drawing, which was highly valued because it had many talented and skillful artisans. Because it specialized in making objects for the king and mandarins at that time, people called this place the “king-serving” craft village. In the 1930s, the Ha Thai lacquer and gilding ward had many big changes in the process of cultural exchange between the East and the West. The first Vietnamese painters who studied at the Indochina College of Fine Arts researched and discovered other colored materials such as eggshells, snails, bamboo ribs, etc.; especially adding the grinding technique to create unique strokes. The terms lacquer and lacquer painting appeared from then on.

According to Ha Thai lacquer artisans, each lacquer product, whether small like a cup, bowl, vase or “large” like a painting… requires meticulousness, sophistication, meticulousness, and skill in each stage and step. Ha Thai people have developed many diverse lacquer products and exported them to many countries around the world. Participating in the OCOP Program, Ha Thai lacquer products are ranked 3 stars, 4 stars, and have the potential to be upgraded to 5 stars. Typically, 2 products: Lacquer box with mother-of-pearl inlay and lacquer box with horn of An Huy Production and Trading Service Joint Stock Company are ranked 4-star OCOP by Hanoi People’s Committee.

Director of An Huy Production and Trading Service Joint Stock Company Do Hung Chieu informed that in order to develop and expand the market, in 2011, the company was established, producing additional items: Trays, boxes, bowls, plates, vases... with MDF wood and Taiwanese plywood.

Ha Thai lacquer products are present in many countries around the world.

Lacquer products are also expanded to many materials such as bamboo, pressed paper, ceramics; eggshells, mother-of-pearl; buffalo horn; silver, gold… “To have a perfect lacquer product, it must go through 15 different stages; with raw materials such as natural paint, cashew nut paint, Red River alluvial soil, stone powder, sawdust. The frame making stage alone must go through 9 painting stages, each painting stage is a smoothing stage. Continuously like that, painting and polishing, 9 stages to complete a product. After the frame stage, comes the decorative art stage, depending on the theme, using eggshells, mother-of-pearl, snail shells; buffalo horn, or silver, gold… When the decorative painting is finished, it is covered with 2 layers of clear paint and continues to polish the product until it meets the standard”, Mr. Chieu shared.

With meticulous techniques and a love for the craft, the people of Ha Thai lacquer village have created many special products, conquering many countries around the world. With the unique painting material of Vietnam as its characteristic, Ha Thai village attracts many tourists to learn and experience. Ha Thai lacquer village has become a prestigious address with domestic and international customers; Ha Thai lacquer products are present in many countries, such as: England, France, Russia, America, Spain, Australia, Italy, Japan, Korea...

Being evaluated and ranked as 3-star and 4-star OCOP, many Ha Thai lacquer products have the opportunity to expand the market, promoting the development of the craft village. Along with that, Ha Thai also develops a model of craft village tourism. Coming to Ha Thai, visitors not only hear about the history of the craft village, but also participate in the production process and many other interesting activities.