Dong Ho paintings: One of the best Vietnam's souvenirs to bring home

1. Dong Ho paintings, a masterpiece of Vietnamese folk culture

What are Dong Ho paintings?

Dong Ho paintings, or traditional woodblock prints, come from a small village called Dong Ho, located in Bắc Ninh, just about 25 km from Hanoi. 

These paintings are so varied: showing all kinds of scenes from everyday life. There are paintings of people herding buffaloes while playing flutes, harvesting coconuts, wrestling, and even jealous fights. You’ll also find images of pigs, chickens, and the dream of a home full of abundance.

But at their core, they all reflect two things: the hopes and dreams for a better life, such as wisdom, virtue, wealth, and prosperity, all deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture.

Why are Dong Ho paintings special?

Dong Ho paintings are special because they go beyond just showing material wishes. They touch on aspects of marriage, relationships, and life’s lessons, often with humor and hidden messages.

These paintings are loved by the Vietnamese not just as decoration but for the wisdom they carry, reminding people of how to live well. 

In Dong Ho paintings, each color also has its own special meaning. Red brings luck and prosperity, yellow stands for wealth and nobility, green is all about life and vitality, black represents strength, and white symbolizes purity.

Dong Ho paintings hold a special place in many Vietnamese childhoods. They bring back memories of Tết, the happiest time of the year (and it’s my favorite too!). The colorful images would fill the house, adding to the excitement and joy of the holiday.

I remember when I was a kid, my mom would buy Dong Ho paintings to get ready for Tết, and those moments are still some of my happiest memories.

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2. How are Dong Ho paintings made?

In 2025, I’ve visited Dong Ho Village myself to admire and learn about the steps involved in making the paintings. Master Artisan Nguyễn Hữu Quả gave me a thorough explanation, and here’s a basic overview of the process, which will help you understand why these paintings are so valuable.

1. Designing the pattern and creating the woodblock

In this step, the artist carefully designs and outlines the painting, paying close attention to every detail. To carve the woodblock, they use tools called "ve" (chisels), made from hard steel. Each set of ve contains around 30-40 different pieces, each with a unique purpose to bring the artwork to life.

2. Making the paper

Dong Ho paintings are printed on giay diep (paper made from shellfish). To make this paper, the shells of so diep (shellfish) are dried, soaked in water, then mashed and pressed to remove excess water. 

The pulp is mixed with rice paste and applied to giay do (paper made from Rhamnoneuron balansae). The paste is created by boiling rice flour, sometimes with tapioca flour, and applied with a pine leaf brush to create smooth, flowing lines. 

3. Mixing the colors

The colors in Dong Ho paintings are made from natural materials:

• Black from xoan wood (Aphananthe aspera), rice straw, or bamboo leaves, which is soaked in large jars for several months before use.
• Green from copper rust or tram (Holarrhena antidysenterica) leaves, often depicted in the painting as moss green.
• Yellow from danh danh (gardenia flowers) or hoe (Sophora japonica).
• Red from sappanwood or red pebble, often depicted in reddish-brown hues.
• White from shellfish.

These raw pigments are mixed and blended with rice flour before being used for printing, which helps stiffen the paper after it dries.

4. Printing the painting

The printing process is all done by hand using woodblocks, with no brushes for drawing or coloring. There are two types of woodblocks: line blocks for the outlines and color blocks for the hues. To print, the artist coats the carved block with ink and presses it onto the giay diep (shellfish paper).

Each color is printed separately, so if there are five colors in a painting, it takes five rounds of printing. Each person focuses on one color, carefully passing the paper to the next artist once their part is done. Special markings on the woodblocks help ensure that every print lines up perfectly.

So, the process of making Dong Ho paintings is quite intricate and really demands skill, attention to detail, and a lot of passion for the craft.

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3. Some famous Dong Ho paintings and their meanings

Not only did I learn how the paintings are made, but I also got to hear about the meaning behind each famous style of painting, which can be found in many places across Vietnam. Here are the most notable paintings:

Đám cưới chuột (The Mouse Wedding)

A famous Dong Ho painting, Đám cưới chuột humorously shows mice offering a gift to a cat, symbolizing corruption and bribery in feudal society. The cat represents oppressive power, while the mice, forced to flatter the powerful, represent the common people. (Learn more about: Vietnamese Wedding)

This painting inspired a famous Vietnamese song and, for generations, has symbolized childhood memories.

Đàn lợn âm dương (Yin-Yang Pigs)

This painting, with piglets around their mother, symbolizes prosperity, peace, and fertility. Traditionally displayed during Tết, it wishes for wealth, health, and many children, often given to newlyweds.

Vinh Hoa - Phú Quý (Glory - Wealth)

Vibrant and joyful, these paintings depict children and animals, symbolizing hopes for success and prosperity. Their simple yet striking design has made them some of the most recognizable and cherished pieces in Vietnamese folk art.

Chăn trâu thổi sáo (Buffalo Herding and Flute Playing)

This painting celebrates the peaceful life of rural Vietnam and the hopes for success. The buffalo, an important part of the family, is both a source of livelihood and a close companion. The artwork captures the simplicity and joy of rural life, with the buffalo listening to the flute and running freely, while the boy is sheltered under a lotus leaf or kite.

Good to know: Vietnam has four types of traditional paintings that are definitely worth checking out, and Dong Ho is just one of them. While Dong Ho paintings are closely tied to everyday life, if you're looking for something more intricate and detailed, you should explore Tranh Hang Trong.
Also, Tranh Lang Sinh from Hue and Tranh Kim Hoang are both stunning and make for a fantastic addition to any collection.

4. Dong Ho painting village

Dong Ho Painting Village is a traditional craft village with over 400 years of history, and it’s the birthplace of the famous Dong Ho paintings. Located about 35 km (22 miles) north of Hanoi, in Song Ho Commune, Thuận Thành District, Bắc Ninh Province.

It’s not too far and easy to navigate, so I drove from Hanoi (took me about 3 hours). 

You can also take Bus Route 204 (Hanoi – Thuận Thành) to Hồ Town, then grab a motorbike taxi to the village. However, this can be a bit less convenient, especially if you’re traveling with family or carrying a lot of things. Personally, I’d recommend hiring a car or driving yourself, it’s more comfortable and gives you more freedom.

Dong Ho has a rich history of over 400 years as the birthplace of traditional folk paintings. Though only two families continue the craft today, the locals are friendly and eager to share their art. I’ve visited several times and always appreciate how welcoming the people are.

The best time to visit is from January to March, when the weather is cool. If you're there between March 14th and 16th (Lunar calendar), you can experience the lively Dong Ho painting festival.

Not only can you admire Dong Ho paintings, but you can also take part in the painting process and create your own vibrant painting with guidance from the skilled artisans at the village!

Good to know: In addition to visiting the village, there are also Dong Ho painting workshops you can join during your trip with Kampá Tour.

5. Where to buy Dong Ho paintings?

If you're not buying directly from Dong Ho Village, you can find Dong Ho paintings in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City at these locations:

In Hanoi

1. Bán Tranh Đông Hồ

• 19, Alley 179, Hoang Hoa Tham, Hanoi
• 2, Alley 174, Doi Can, Ba Dinh, Hanoi

2. AmiA Painting Supermarket
211 Vu Tong Phan, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi

In Ho Chi Minh City

Bán Tranh Đông Hồ

• 72/37 Street 4, Quarter 6, Hiep Binh Chanh Ward, Thu Duc District
• 612/1 Vo Van Kiet, Cau Kho Ward, District 1

6. How to spot real vs. fake Dong Ho paintings

So,...

Dong Ho paintings, with their rich and diverse themes, perfectly capture the hopes, dreams, and emotions of the working people. They've become deeply ingrained in the hearts and minds of generations of Vietnamese. I believe that 100 or even 1,000 years from now, Dong Ho paintings will still be a cherished souvenir to take home from Vietnam. What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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