Travel Guide Nhi Khê

In Thuong Tin district, Nhi Khê owes its reputation first and foremost to the famous Nguyên Trai (1380-1422), a leading figure in Vietnamese history who distinguished himself in the fields of literature, politics, diplomacy and military art. In the village, a temple and a statue honor the memory of the great mandarin. Nhi Khê is also a woodturning village. For centuries, craftsmen have been producing objects for cultic use (incense burners, censers, candlesticks...) or used in the musical arts, in particular the mo, a wooden instrument (ideally jackfruit heart) partially hollowed and carved, often in the shape of an animal (frog, fish...). The mo is used in Buddhist funeral rites, religious ceremonies and water puppet shows. The skill of the craftsmen lies in their ability to master the process of hollowing out the wood to obtain a sound of optimal quality. In addition to wood, Nhi Khe craftsmen also work with horn, bone and stone. They have adapted to new market demands by mechanizing part of their production (the widespread use of electric lathes has replaced the pedal lathe) and by diversifying their production beyond traditional objects: car seat covers made of wooden balls, statuettes, balusters..