Thạch Xá Village, located in Thạch Thất district is about 35 km west of Hoan Kiem Lake in the center of Hanoi. The craft began in the late 20th century when local artisans discovered that carefully balanced bamboo pieces could stand steadily on a fingertip or small surface.
Each dragonfly is made from light bamboo, carefully carved, polished, and hand painted with bright colors. Over time, these small handcrafted toys became popular souvenirs, representing the creativity and craftsmanship of the village.
Nghệ Nhân Liên Xoan
Artisan Liên Xoan (Mr. Đỗ Văn Liên) is one of the skilled craftsmen who has been making bamboo dragonflies for many years. With patience and experience, she carefully shapes and balances each piece by hand. Through her work, she helps preserve the traditional craft of Thạch Xá and shares the charm of this unique handmade toy with visitors.
When our Onetrip With Local team came for a visit, he and his wife proudly shared many stories about the process of making bamboo dragonflies. Now their daughter also supports their business. The dragonflies are also “flying” to Italy and the USA, proudly shared by Mr. Liên, and are also sold on popular e-commerce platforms like Shoppe. They are passionate about teaching the next generations to keep the tradition, the soul of Vietnamese culture.
Nghệ Nhân Tái Tân
We also visited another artisan, Tái Tân, near Tây Phương Pagoda. The family warmly welcomed us with green tea and shared their techniques for making bamboo dragonflies.
Tây Phương Pagoda
The village is also well known for its proximity to Tây Phương Pagoda, a historic pagoda famous for its ancient wooden architecture and remarkable collection of Buddha statues. Together, the traditional craft and the cultural heritage site make Thạch Xá an interesting destination near Hanoi.
Come visit to experience the craft, learn the stories behind it, and discover the process of making these beautiful bamboo dragonflies.
