Preserving and upholding traditional paper-making craft
Over 15 years ago, while working on a non-governmental project, Tran Hong Nhung first witnessed the traditional Do paper-making process in Duong O village, Bac Ninh province. She described that moment as a "fate" that led to the founding of Zo, a social enterprise, in June 2013. The company’s original mission was to preserve and develop handmade Do paper.
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Red Dao ethnic people (Lai Chau) forming Do paper by hand |
During its operations, Zo has expanded its mission beyond Do paper to promote and preserve Vietnam’s broader handmade paper-making traditions. Traveling through many villages in the northern mountainous regions, Nhung discovered that Vietnam is home to not only Do paper but also various other handmade papers created by ethnic groups like the Red Dao, Dao Tien, Nung An, and Hmong. These papers are little-known because they are primarily used within these communities for rituals related to funerals, weddings, and other ceremonies.
This realization led Zo's vision to evolve toward building a complete Vietnamese handmade paper ecosystem. To achieve this, the enterprise has organized workshops where the public can experience making paper, notebooks, fans, and earrings, allowing them to engage more closely with the material.
Zo’s work extends beyond Vietnam’s borders. The enterprise has collaborated with foreign artists to organize exhibitions in Japan, the U.S., and other countries. Through these events, the project not only showcases Vietnamese handmade paper but also expands its connections with the global artistic community and worldwide network of paper-makers, helping to spread Vietnamese cultural values on the global handicraft map.
Creating jobs for ethnic people
Beyond preserving traditional techniques, Zo also aims to create sustainable livelihoods for ethnic communities. The enterprise transfers skills, provides technical training, and supports local production, enabling people to earn a stable income from their traditional craft without having to leave their hometowns.
In addition to traditional techniques, Zo has promoted the application of technology in handmade paper production. Currently, some stages, such as boiling the bark and pounding the pulp, have been mechanized to reduce manual labor and improve efficiency.
"In the time to come, we hope to gradually expand the use of technology to more stages of the paper-making process. Once the products are completed, Zo is committed to ensuring a stable market for participating families, helping them feel..."
Translated by Quynh Oanh