After decades of decline and near extinction amid rapid modernization and the digital age, this centuries-old craft is now experiencing a revival.

For generations, do paper from Buoi village was used for books, poetry, calligraphy, and Dong Ho, Hang Trong, and Kim Hoang folk paintings. Known for its durability and resistance to mold and insects, do paper was considered a cultural “treasure”. Following industrialization, the handmade paper fell out of popularity.

“A friend of mine, an overseas Vietnamese in Germany, once saw a calligraphy master teaching children at a pagoda beside West Lake. He wanted to promote Vietnamese calligraphy globally to support the livelihoods of its artisans. I joined him in the project. That’s when I discovered do paper for the first time and watched a craftsman pulling sheets by hand. I realized how tragic it would be if this craft vanished, and I decided I had to do something to preserve this beautiful paper.”

That spark of intense feeling flared within Tran Hong Nhung and led her to found the Zo project, a social enterprise dedicated to reviving and developing traditional do paper making and creating sustainable livelihoods for local artisans.

Nhung said, “We want to preserve Vietnamese do paper because of its beauty and because it’s on the verge of being lost. To preserve it, we needed a modern approach. The only way I saw was to create products that fit today’s lifestyles but use the traditional material. That’s how the craft can live on.”

Under the Zo project, do paper has found new life beyond calligraphy and folk art. The project now produces a diverse range of creative, practical items, including intricate earrings, elegant invitations, decorative lamps, and floral art. These products are visually striking and expressive of Vietnamese identity.

Pham Thanh Tra, a student at Hanoi University of Industrial Fine Arts and admirer of traditional culture, praised the project’s work, “Zo’s products evoke nostalgia and familiarity. They’re really beautiful, and the display spaces and traditional tools used in making the paper add to the charm.”

Thanks to collaboration between local authorities and the Zo project, the Yen Thai paper craft has been revitalized at the cultural tourism space located at 189 Trich Sai Street, known as the Do Paper Museum.

Visitors can watch the entire process, from selecting the do tree bark, to pounding and cooking natural glue from the mo plant, to pulling, pressing, and drying paper sheets. The museum offers a hands-on experience, allowing tourists to try their hand at pounding bark, grinding hemp, and pulling paper sheets under the guidance of the Zo project team.

Hudson, an Australian tourist passionate about Hanoi’s traditional culture, shared his enthusiasm after experiencing do paper making at the Museum. He recalled the incredibly memorable experience when visiting Vietnam where he had the opportunity to take part in the paper making process himself.

“Though paper is remarkably thin, light and delicately beautiful, together with a group of young locals I created handmade items such as notebooks, earrings, and bracelets using Do paper.” “Each piece was not only creative, but also carried a sense of cultural heritage and craftsmanship. I'm bringing these souvenirs back home as a special gifts for my friends and family and as a meaningful way to share a piece of Vietnam,” said Hudson.

Do paper products have been showcased at workshops, exhibitions, and online platforms, reaching markets in Japan and soon the US.

“We collaborate with local and foreign artists and designers to create value-added do paper products. This is how we’re introducing the craft to the world. We’re continuously researching and developing the paper to ensure that artisans can sustain their livelihoods through this art,” said Nhung.

The revival of Yen Thai’s do paper craft preserves a unique cultural legacy of the ancient capital Thang Long and strengthens Vietnam’s cultural identity in a rapidly changing world.

Vietnam’s Do paper making craft in dire need for preservation

VOV.VN - Vietnam’s traditional craft of making Do or poonah paper dates back thousands of years. Although this paper has been used widely in Dong Ho paintings and other Vietnamese folk art, the techniques of making Do paper are on the verge of extinction.