La Xuyen carpentry village

Following the stories of the gods, the carpentry’s founder is Ninh Huu Hung, was born in 936 in Chi Phong Commune, Gia Vien District, Ninh Binh Province. He comes from the continuity of a carpentry family line so that he became a great famous carpenter in his area.

When Dinh Tien Hoang had unified the nation, he recruited variety of talents and skilled worker in localities across the country to helping the Court. One of them was Ninh Huu Hung. He was assigned to construct the Palace in capital city. It was an opportunity for him to show his talent. He was nominated for the position Supervising General of the Army. 

The Le was taken the place of the Dinh, Dai Hanh Emperor had the palace rebuilt after defeating Tong army. And at this time, Hung was used at an important function. As an undaunted man, Hung was selected to King’s escort protecting the King. Le Dai Hanh usually visited many places and Hung was picked out following with him. Once, Le King crossed over Cai Nanh (nowaday La Xuyen), he saw an ancient temple appeard intermittently. 

The King decided to stop the board to visit. Realized that’s a beautiful land but sparse population, the King let Ninh Huu Hung stay there. Since then, Hung settled here and moved his descendants, relatives to set up a bigger hamlet. He devoted his own money to enroll people, encourage farming expansion, develope handicraft. Carpentry which was imparted to local native by Hung more and more developed. His merit was penetrated into the hearts of people so that people who came to do business all get the surname – Ninh. Therefore, this area had been called Ninh Fief and then Ninh Xa. Hung died on April 6th 1020. To show deep gratitude and respect, the villager had set up a temple for Hung.

La Xuyen is the craft village having a rich history of thousands of years with dozens of skilled workers who participated in building palaces, temples for feudal dynasties. Ninh Huu Hung, the first founder in setting up hamlet, imparting to local native, was the famous craftsman in both of Dinh – Le dynasty using at an important function.

Traditional carpentry in La Xuyen which the pinnacle is the carving art almost reached perfectly. These local carpenters had been not only in Eastern but also in Western country to make a lot of villages’ beauty. Their huge productions are the architectural works with widen spaces and heighten the height of antique dome. Plentiful and common productions such as incense-table, hammock, sindora wood bed, tea chest… all showed high level technique.

Till now, a part of traditional craft village has remained in communal house. The talented carpenters contributed their minds, skilled hands into a huge architectural works. These artisans really infused a vital spirit into the carving and relief works throughout the time. Nowadays, La Xuyen is just a small village of Yen Ninh commune, Y Yen district, but this craft village is still alive throughout the time and become more and more famous. With the tradition of a long-standing craft village, La Xuyen has been contributing to bring fame to motherland.