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Hue has long been known not only as a tranquil ancient capital, but also as a land that nurtures and preserves many unique traditional crafts such as hand embroidery, conical hat making, enamelware, woodblock printing, jewelry making, pottery, and folk painting... Each craft not simply creates a tangible product, but also embodies the slow pace of life, refined aesthetics, and a respectful attitude towards nature - values that have shaped the unique identity of this ancient imperial city.
The craft of making products from leaf skeletons is like a low note because this work requires almost absolute patience and meticulousness.
In this enduring tradition, the craft of making products from leaf skeletons stands out as a quieter note, demanding almost absolute patience and meticulousness; it's not for haste or mass production. It can be said that this is a job of time, of skillful hands, and of the ability to listen to and understand the rhythm of nature to create delicate yet valuable products.
Originally working in the creative field, Ms. Vo Thi Nhu Nguyen, a native of Hue, has quietly chosen to return to nature and family memories to continue the journey of her father, Mr. Vo Ngoc Hung, an artisan who makes conical hats from palm leaves.
The journey begins with family memories and the slow pace of life in Hue.
Artisan Vo Ngoc Hung, the father of Nhu Nguyen, is one of the rare people in Hue who has a great love for conical hats made from palm leaf skeletons. Since a trip in 2018, when he accidentally found a palm leaf in the forest, Mr. Hung has continued to make products from palm leaf skeletons as a daily hobby in his sixties.
That love later inspired Ms. Nhu Nguyen to become the successor and developer of handcrafted products made from natural leaf skeletons, especially from the leaves of the Terminalia catappa forest. Although she has only been seriously involved in this work for the past few years, her love for it was sown in her from a very young age.
She candidly shared: “My mother was a seamstress, and she was the first person to teach me how to hold a paintbrush and appreciate beauty. My father, an artisan who makes products from the leaves of the banyan tree, taught me patience, meticulousness, and respect for nature.”
Although she has only been seriously involved in this work for the past few years, her love for it was instilled in Nhu Nguyen from a very young age.
From a young age, I had the opportunity to observe and assist with small tasks by watching him work. Later, I got to create my first products myself, albeit very clumsily. I myself was trained and guided by teachers at an art school in Hue and later worked in the field of fine arts and creative arts.”
Blessed with a keen eye for aesthetics and inheriting her father's specialized craft, Nguyện felt right at home, free to express herself in her creative world. With her parents' support, she developed a deeper appreciation and seriousness for her work.
"My father didn't do the work for me; he just stood by, observed, and offered timely feedback. There were some tasks I had to do repeatedly to learn from my mistakes. My father's support was quiet but steadfast, both as a mentor and a source of emotional support for me," she gently expressed.
Ms. Vo Thi Nhu Nguyen, a daughter born and raised in Hue, has quietly chosen to return to nature and family memories to continue her father's journey.
The first products that Ms. Nguyen started making had many shortcomings, and even she herself wasn't satisfied. At that time, she also faced new challenges. She had to learn to master the techniques and, most importantly, maintain perseverance, because traditional crafts require a lot of time and precision. There were times when she repeatedly produced defective products, and she became discouraged.
"My father only said one very short sentence to me: 'You're on the right path, just keep going.' That sentence has stayed with me until now," she confided, recalling her father's gentle yet powerful reminder.
Leaf bones enter the creative language of young people.
Fans and hats made from the skeletons of wild Terminalia catappa leaves possess a rustic, gentle beauty that is rich in artistic value. In particular, hats made from leaf skeletons have an unexpected transparency, allowing them to be worn comfortably in the rain without fear of getting wet, and they will dry naturally.
According to Ms. Nguyen, the biggest advantage of each product made from leaf skeletons is its environmental friendliness. In addition, each piece is unique, no two are alike, and they are meticulously handcrafted with continuous creativity.
However, because the materials used in the product are entirely natural, the maker faces many difficulties. During the production process, she herself has ruined the materials many times.
The leaves used for the product must be mature, with clearly visible veins, and free from pests and diseases. The leaf selection process requires high concentration to avoid errors in subsequent steps. After harvesting, the leaves are soaked in a baking soda solution to allow the leaf tissue to decompose naturally.
After about a month and a half, the leaves are harvested, and the process of brushing away the decaying parts begins, revealing the leaf skeleton which retains its original green color. Each delicate leaf must be brushed little by little with a toothbrush, following the direction of the leaf veins.
For Ms. Nguyện, this is also the most difficult step because she has to keep the leaf skeleton intact and transparent. Next comes the process of bleaching, selecting, and attaching the leaf skeletons to the product.
The materials used in the product are entirely dependent on nature, so the makers face many difficulties.
"A complete leaf skeleton product goes through many stages: selecting leaves, processing leaves, brushing and cleaning the leaf skeleton, shaping, reinforcing, and finishing entirely by hand. It took a very long time, and many failures, before I could master the techniques," she said.
Inheriting core techniques from her father, Nhu Nguyen didn't stop at preserving the original form. She further developed the aesthetics, materials, and applications. Besides the bones of the Terminalia catappa leaves, she expanded to exploit products from the bones of the magnolia leaves, queen's leaf, and transparent lotus leaves.
Each type of leaf has its own unique characteristics: the leaves of the Terminalia catappa tree are slightly oval-shaped, the leaves of the Magnolia tree are pointed, the leaves of the Queen's tree are round at the tip and almost butterfly-like in shape, while lotus leaves are round and have a structure that is extremely difficult to make transparent.
Besides the leaves of the Terminalia catappa tree, she expanded into exploiting products from the leaves of the Magnolia tree, Queen's leaf, and transparent lotus leaf.
Ms. Nguyen shared: “Because lotus leaves are soft, they tear easily, requiring the craftsman to be much more skillful and meticulous. Alongside the technique, I focus more on design, color, and contemporary artistic elements. I hope that the products my father or I create are not just handicrafts, but also a continuation of a cultural story.”
In a context where many traditional crafts are facing the risk of disappearing, her journey shows a different approach by young people, not just preserving crafts through nostalgia, but through creativity and adaptation.
From a simple forest leaf, a quiet creative journey continues in the heart of Hue.
