Preserve the poetic heritage of ancient Hue. Fold, pleat, dye, and assemble intricate Thanh Tien paper lotus flowers under master artisan mentorship.
- Authentic 300-year-old Hue papercraft technique taught by a native artisan
- All handcrafted natural bamboo paper and traditional plant-based dyes provided
- Complete hands-on guidance from initial petal cutting to final stem assembly
- Take home your own bouquet of 3-5 everlasting handcrafted paper lotus flowers
- Complimentary Hue imperial herbal tea and lotus seed pastries served
About this experience
Originating more than three centuries ago in Thanh Tien village on the banks of the Perfume River, handcrafted paper lotus making is one of the most revered and poetic folk arts of Hue. In times past, these ethereal creations adorned royal shrines and imperial palaces across the ancient capital. Hosted in an evocative heritage studio, this workshop invites you into the delicate world of royal floral craft. Our master artisan will introduce you to traditional mulberry and bamboo bark papers, natural botanical dye baths, and the bespoke wooden creasers passed down through generations. You will master delicate accordion-pleating techniques, shape graduated petals with organic contours, and bind them with silk thread and rice starch glue onto natural bamboo stalks. By session's end, you will take home a stunning bouquet of everlasting paper lotus blossoms that will never fade.
What you will do
- 01
Heritage Story & Paper Selection
Explore the 300-year history of Thanh Tien village and select handmade plant-dyed papers.
- 02
Precision Petal Creasing
Learn traditional wooden blade creasing to create delicate micro-pleats that give petals realistic texture.
- 03
Lotus Core & Calyx Assembly
Sculpt the central seedpod and calyx from natural cotton fibers and mulberry paper.
- 04
Petal Layering & Bamboo Stalk Mounting
Layer inner and outer petals with silk-thread wrapping and fix onto flexible bamboo stems.
What's included
- High-grade handmade Thanh Tien mulberry papers in varied hues
- Handcrafted bamboo stalks, natural brass wire, and silk binding threads
- Specialized wooden floral folding tools and rice-starch craft paste
- Eco-friendly craft carrying case for safe travel transport
- Warm Hue imperial lotus seed tea and delicate mung bean cakes
Before you arrive
- Accessible to participants of all ages from 10 years and above; zero experience needed.
- A patient, meditative session—magnifying reading glasses are available if desired for fine work.
- Paper flowers are lightweight and packed in protective cardboard tubes for easy luggage packing.
- Free bicycle and motorbike parking available in the shaded studio courtyard.
Location
14 Le Thanh Ton, Phu Hau, Hue
Hue, Vietnam
Open in Google MapsMeet your instructor
Fourth-Generation Hue Heritage Paper Artisan
“A paper flower holds no transient perfume, yet captures an eternal spring. In every crease, we honor three centuries of imperial Hue memory.”
Nguyen Dinh Thang is a fourth-generation maker from Thanh Tien paper flower village. He has dedicated over 15 years to reviving ancestral paper crafting techniques and sharing Hue royal decorative arts with travelers worldwide.
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