HCM CITY – An exhibition is showcasing 70 traditional Vietnamese lanterns based on historical materials of old Vietnamese lanterns.

The exhibition, titled 'Tầm & Tập,' is organized by the architect couple Nguyễn Thị Kim Thủy and Hoàng Sơn, along with members of the 'Khởi Đăng Tác Khí' group. 

According to Nguyễn Thị Hồng Bân, the exhibition presenter, the 'Khởi Đăng Tác Khí' group was founded in 2022 by architecture students from HCM City University of Architecture.

The exhibition has been planned over a year and is targeted to launch during the Mid-Autumn Festival, she added.

She also said that the lanterns are mainly made from bamboo for the frame, offering flexibility and termite resistance, while the cellophane of the lanterns is custom-made by an artisan in District 5, HCM City.

The highlight of the exhibition is a 10-metre-long dragon-shaped lantern, inspired by images from the Phủ Giầy lantern festival in Nam Định province in 1920.

This handcrafted piece took over 370 hours, with 220 hours for the dragon's head and 150 more to complete the rest.

There are other lanterns shaped like animals, inspired by the festival, such as the giant crab, sea dragon, a carp jumping a dragon gate, and butterfly.

Bùi Thị Bích Phượng, a visitor at the exhibition, said this is the first time she has seen so many traditional lanterns like this, and she is happy to learn more about other types of traditional Vietnamese lanterns.

Nguyễn Lê Hằng Nga, another visitor at the exhibition, said she was amazed and learned more about the traditional culture of Vietnamese lanterns and the Mid-Autumn Festival. 

She was also inspired by the young people’s efforts to preserve the cultural values of Việt Nam.

The exhibition runs until September 20, with visiting hours from 4 pm to 8 pm at the 'Tích - Fragments du Passé' space in Tân Bình District, HCM City. – VNS