Picture perfect: Production of paper pictures at Ky Huu Phuoc's workshop in Hue's Sinh village. — VNS Photo Phuoc Buu

THUA THIEN HUE (VNS)— Sinh village, a traditional craft village producing paper pictures for ritual ornamental purposes, is starting production ahead of Tet.

First artisans create black and white wood-block prints, which they then paint with various colours.

"Many wholesalers in other central provinces have sent us orders," said Ky Huu Phuoc, one of the artisans in the village.

Phuoc and 50 other families will devote themselves to the craft from now until Tet, which occurs on January 31.

The pictures will replace older ones on altars of the chicken god, male god and female god. Every Vietnamese house has an altar for the kitchen god in the kitchen.

Many Vietnamese also keep the old tradition of Mau (Mother) worshipping and devote an altar to this purpose. Pictures of Mau, like other ritual pictures, are replaced once a year on the threshold of Tet.

Others burn paper pictures of men and women in family ceremonies to end the year and welcome the new year, wishing for health and peace.

Sinh village, built in the 15th century on the bank of the Perfume River, once supplied 50 different types of pictures. Today, only about 10 are sold. Phuoc is an avid supporter of modernising the craft, although some experts worry that the traditional style will vanish. — VNS